New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-07
MARIPOaAS.
to stay.


intent 70 wrench from her stubborn rocks the
shining metal they have clutchcd and hidden
since creaton--to toll in gloom and grlmo, ana
in smoke and damp. to drag from cavernous
depths, far beneath the primcval hills, the
coveted mineral that clothes its posscssor with
measureloss power, making even Rascallty
almost rcspectablc-lhis is to marry Adventure
to Thrift and enjoy the pleasure OF gambling
willie holding fast TO the sober ways of diligence
and duty. We do not wonder therefore, that
Mining-especially for the precious metals
has are-istless attraction for ~ many thousands.
especially of The young, that they eagerly brave
priya,ion, exposure, hardship, and even death
itself in the fascinating pursuit. Who does not
feel, however he may resist, the witchery of
vocation wherein the revelations of the next
| blast, the next blow of sledge, may uncover
riches like those which irradiated the cave OF
Aladdin
California, after yielding within the
last fifteen years over Five Hun
drcd Millions of Gold to the civilized world.
seems in some degree worked Out-that Is, her
river.bcds and banks. past and present, no
longer yield loose gold in such abundance or
over 50 wide an area as formerly. Washings
there still are; but they are less numerous and
in tho average less productive than they former
ly were. The hardy pioneers who 'prospectcd'
them are dead, rrch, or have retired in disgust,
or they are now pursuing the phantom that still
allureS aud eyades them in British Columbia, or
on Salmon River, or at 'WaShoc,' or in the
Rocky Mountains. or in Arizona The places
that once knew them know them no more; the
rude cabins hastily thrown up. that sheltered
their early cookery from captious criticism now
stand windowless, silent, deserted. or are ten
anted by poddng farmers. Panning and 'rais-
ing the color in California will soon be among
the things that were.
Quartz or Vein Mining is gradually coming in
as the rudcr and earlier sort goes out; but this
is business requiring large capital, and real
scientific and practical nowlcdgc, and inyinci-
Die patience, and a spice Of good luck. II is q
vocation Ike farming. or numbering. or manu-
featuring, wherein those who have the proper
qualifications and the requisite means may
achieve decided success. but which cannot long
or wisely be prosecuted al all unless thoroughly.
II takes mine To work a mine. is an old
spanish proycrb founded on worldwide
experience.
Tho famous Mariposas estate, so rcsoluiely
struggled for and for some years possessed and
developed by Gen. John &. Fremont. recently
7 pnsscd into the hands of a Company, whereof
Z bee il director and prcsumptlycly heavy
7 ,to, kAodcr. hu, of which a pamphlet now be-
/ fore us name. Mr. Jane Hoy - President, Mr.
Morfis kc,chum as Treasurer. aud Mr.. Ccorgr
y. farlce a. Secretary. From thi- pamphlet
wc CLEAN such facts a. W. pTcsurn" viii interest
/ the general reader.
Tie estate is fifteen miles long, with an aver
age width Of nearly five mic-. 20 that II has an
area Of IS, ~ acres, ar about seventy square
miles. II stretches from the Mcrced river
here very large mill-strcam at its lowest
s,agc-on the NORTH 70 n to include the town
OF Marposas ON The little river Of that name
toward the south. II Is a region OF generally
wooded hill- and mountains aud Of long, narrow
yalsys-,hc mountain ridges forming the west
! crn "pot.hils" Of the Sierra Nevada. The
-oil of some Of the yallcys Is fertile, but the
long and intense Summer drouih renders irriga-
ton necessary to the production Of most crops
Tho rock il granite, slrcaAcd with veins Of
quartz; the number and extent OF god-bcariug
quartz veins il probably not elsewhere exceeded.
Tu,niy-scrsn Of these veins are known and
named; and there probably are hundscd- more
TO be discovered. 1hfoe only have yet been
worked 10 any considerable extent The first
wa. opened by Gen. Fremont In ls50; but,
a. hs title to the estate Wa not con-
hrncd by United States patent ull lrj6,
be was Of course involved IN proiTactcd
and violent controversy with Swarms of squat
/ ten. ruljccting him 10 expensive lawsuits and
! soriou~ collisions. The erection of mills and
stamp the opening oi veins and adits, long
tested the energies and resources OF the pro-
pricior; for an outlay OF millions would have
been required Ia open and prepare the mines
properly for adyantageou, working. Bu, though
very much yet remains 10 be done, yet the az
pregaie yield of gold IN l-GI amounted 10
S63i ,2I7; and in Ten months of l-G2 (whcn the
principal mill was long idle because Of the
carrying away Of H. dam over the Merccd) to
S4I2, go. The aggregate yield Of the first five
months of the present yonr was S3'l 900; and 1t
is calculated in the pamphlet before us that the
present mills may be so run as to yield $4,000
per month, or 81 oct, 900 per annum, with a net
profit 10 the stockholders Of SGI2, 900 per an