Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-10-16
CALIFORNIA MINES AND MINING.

California mining is usually obscured
by the grander and more brilliant results
in Nevada. We hear but little of it,
but it is unquestionably the chief industry
OF the State so far as pecuniary interests
are concerned. The gold product Of the
State is generally ahead Of the grain
yield. The gold harvest Of ls74-and it
was not a good year for gold mining
amounted to S2l, coo, 600. There are
only a very few of these mines on the
stock list The business is quiet
one, and for the most part private. There
are $4,000 men engaged in the pursuit,
and the amounts paid in Assessments in
the year stated was triaing- only about
Sl50,O0O. The gold miners Of California
are well anchored in their places.
As II consequence, homes are here null
tplied, the youthful population increase,
schools and other educational institutions
are established, and the whole community
advance in culture and the amenities OF
civilized life. The California miner does
not average more than eight months
steady work in the year, his leisure time
being generally devoted to the planting
Of orchards, gardens and vineyards, or
| the cultivation Of the land. As a result,
no class OF citizens enjoy more physical
comfort, or are less dependent upon others
I = l., - 81 ,,,l, .,bi 81
our mining districts. In this respect the
condition of things has greatly changed
within the past few years. The miner,
| content, after much wandering, to settle
down in one place, is now scarcely more
nomadc in his habits than the farmer of
California. That he is tolerably thrifty is
evident from the fact that he is able,
working only two-thirds Of the time, with
but little outside aid, to earn on an aver
age, $40 yearly. Looking over the State
we find many costly Improvements have
been made for the turtherance Of mining
operations. Thus there have been erected
for the promotion Of this industry no less
than 100 quartz mills, carrying an aggre-
gate OF nearly 5000 stamps, and costing
fully $50, ,000,0 900, while an extent Of 1000
miles of water bitches, supplemented with
immense reservoirs, has been constructed
at further cost of $4,000 900. Nearly
all these are permanent and highly Useful
improvements, now in active service and
capable Of so continuing for many years
to come. Indeed, these great hydraulic
works, with their accompanying franchise
constitute properties of such large and
constantly increasing value that most
other mining Improvements seem poor
beside them. After they shall have
yielded grand revenues for generation,
they will probably be worth more than
they are to-day.
The plan Of the gold miners is to form
themselves into small associations, made
up, as far as practicable, of parties well
acquainted with each other, and having
selected competent and trusty manager,
proceed to purchase property Of ascer-
tained merit, and open up and work the
same in careful manner, paying in their
money as the work progresses.
BY adopting this course the trouble and
expense Of Incorporating and Of maintain
| ing Il board OF trustees and all other Off
cials, save only foreman, are dispensed
| with, the members Of the association
managing their own affairs, the vote Of
majority in interest controlling.
That California presents an inviting
field for mining investment may be seen
from the fact that our mines have shown
themselves to be nearly self-sustaining.
While scarcely more than half a dozer of
our mines enrolled on the Stock Board
have called for assessments the past year,
nearly one hundred and fifty of this class
elsewhere, have exacted such tribute from
their shareholders, not Il quarter Of this
number yielding ore enough to sensibly
reduce current expenses, while much the
larger proportion yield no ore at all.
That so few Of our California mines
should have been avalcd of for specula-
tive purposes is, no doubt, due in coed
part to the fact of the way in which they
are held, and because from their very ma
tare, they are not adapted for ready ma
nipulaton. With the organization Of
large companies to mine and work the
argentiferous lead bearing ores of Inyo
county, the numerous quicksilver deposits
and auriferous quartz lodes of the State,
there may be expected to ensue much
more lively traffic in the stocks of Cali
fornia mines than has yet been seen.
This is alluded to as a probable occur
renee and not as an event likely to pro-
mote legitimate mining or commercial
morality y.-BHiietm.