Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-09-07
Our Quartz Interests.

1he county of Calaveras is situated in the
very center Of the mining interests of the
State, and her resources, if properly devel-
oped, would make her one Of the first min
ing counties in California. While our neigh
bors are progressing in wealth and popula-
ton, Calaveras appears to be at stand still,
with the exception of our copper lodes,
which are being extensively worked. All
other kinds Of mining seems to be eparalyzed.
The quartz ledges of Amador are attracting
capital and enterprise, while the lodes of
this county, only a few miles distant, are
languishing for want of the means necessary
to develop them.
The recent Improvements in machinery
and the new methods of reducing quartz
rock, which are daily brought into use, will
make ledges which have long been abandon
ed valuable, and render quartz mining prof
liable. Calaveras has long been celebrated
as a mining county. While the precious
dust could be easily extracted from placer
diggings, Or be got by tunneling into the
mountains, immense quantities of gold were
tai, patience and perseverance were required
in order to render our quartz lodges profta-
bic, there seemed to come over all a perfect
stagnation; and while other districts have
gone forward, we have laid supinely on our
oars waiting for something to turn up"
The time has arrived when something mr., st
be done in order that we may extricats. onr-
selves from the immense debt which is slow
ly but surely eating out our subs, lance. In
less we open up some new Sources of reve-
nue., Calaveras will have 70 sLccumb to the
outside pressure. As the amount of nron-
erty decreases, the rate of taxation increa ses.
and unless we exert ourselves in order to
increase the available capital of the county.
we shall soon lose the little we have. Now,
it is almost impossible to sell quartz lodges.
unless We prove to capitalists that they are
valuable. We may take them on to the
leads and expatiate on the wealth that is
contained within the enclosing walls: but
unless we sink shafts upon them and demon
strate their worth, they will still continue to
be ribs within the rock instead of veins con-
tanning the life-blood of the county. Where
ever there are quartz lodes in neighborhood,
those living in the vicinity should fully as
sist in opening them. For instance, COM
pany of ten would be able to sink shafts
deep enough to show whether the lead was
really good or worthless. If prove worth
less the money will be spent in the country,
which is far preferable to sending it out of
the state; while if the lode is Sufficiently
rich to pay for working, capitalists stand
ready to purchase it at figures that will re-
munerate the company handsomely. As
soon as good lead gets into the possession
of monied men buildings are erected, ma
chinery put up and men employed, which
at once adds to the available wealth of the
county, and gives US besides an additional
population. We have looked too long for
foreign capitalists to open our quartz lodges.
outside capital for the means to work them.
During the past four years sufficient money
has been sent out of this county for mining
purposes to open every known quartz ledge
within it. Supposing that money had been
kept at home and had been put to use among
us, Calaveras would now ring with the mu-
sic of quartz mills and have thousands of
taxable property which is now worthless.
Without our quartz and copper interests the
future prospects of this county would indeed
be gloomy; but if we make the most of
those sources of wealth which Nature has
kindly placed at our disposal we have un-
failing resources, and may soon take rank
among the richest and most populous coun-
ties in the State.