Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-11
AROUND MURPHYS.
FURTHER ATTRACTIONS OFFERED
BY CALAVERAS COUNTY.
ARCH UNDEvELOPED SECTION.
Great Mineral Wealth. Grand Timber
RegiOD-The Famous Big Trees
Natural Bridges-wonder-
full Cayes-Etc.

quota Of gold, and It's depths still contain
untold thousands of dollars of this precious
metal. 1t is the terminus of the stage
road that connects the town with Stockton
and San Francisco 30 miles by stage and
q miles by rail to the former, and $50
miles to the latter During the summer
months the tourist travel is large to Gala
veras big trees, - miles distant The
stage IS run and mail carried regularly to
that place, and those who wish, from bust
ness or pleasure, to cross the mountains to
Virginia City, Carson City and other
points in Nevada, or lnger in the high
attitudes for health or pleasure, at attrac-
tive points, where there is excellent trout
ing and hunting, and where the lovers of
nature find genial companionship, can do
so.
The altitude of Murphy's is 2.3OO feet
The soil is good and productive in the lit
tie picturesque valleys that greet the eve
with their green pastures and the fruit
orchards here and there. The hillsides are
not much cultivated, but that it can be
done with profit, proof is given in the
nelghborng county of Tuolumne, where
excellent crops of grain are raised. Fruit
Is now claiming the attention of those who
engage in such pursuits, and the higher
ground Is peculiarly adapted for its Guilt
walton, particularly grapes. The fruit
raised IN this vicinity is of superior quail
ity and of delicious flavor. and commands
the highest price in market
The climate is healthful and the air
a.
rarely, if ever, indicates a greater degree of
cold than zero and in the heat of summer
the mercury rarely reaches 1902. The
community consists more of a mining and
lumber-producing people, however, and to
these industries they will in future be
more closely allied. Mining, in quartz is
yet in its infancy in this vicinity but with
the present encouragement given it by
wealthy capitalists who have become in
terested here, gigantic strides in develop
ments viii be made on the opening of
spring.
AMONG THE Foremost MINES
In the district are the Orc Plata Compa-
ny's mines, the shaft being 300 feet deep
Red Wing mine, with shaft 100 feet deep
Pay-Rock and White Wing, all more or
less worked. All are in limestone forma-
tion. The motive power employed is
w@ter and steam. The combined milling
capacity is about so tons daily. There are
Eustlne pulverisers and a 15-stamp bat
terry, and SIX Frue concentrators are in the
mill. The facilities for the extraction of
quartz are excellent, and sufficient to keep
the mill running up to its full capacity. /
have no reliable authority to give as to
bullion shipments. The concentrates are
and
duction.
The Calaveras Company's mines were
extensively worked some years ago,
and a large number of tons Of quartz re-
duced. The deepest shaft in them is 500
feet. An engine, air-compresser, ETC., are
near the main shaft. This mine is in good
condition. Formerly there was a 20-stamp
mill on the mine, but was destroyed by fire
some years ago. There is no work at pres
ent upon this property.
The Cunliff and Driver mine near by.
has been worked successfully by shafts and
tunnels for several years. The quartz is of
high grade and yields handsome returns to
the owners, Cunliff and Driver A five
stamp mill is on the premises, and is kept
steadily running, crushing ore. Water is
the motive power, and four men are en-
ployed.
\ mile west of town are number of
mines worked by tunnels mostly, that are
rich in promise. The Beatrice has two
tunnels running into the lode-the upper
one over one hundred feet in length, cut
ting the lode at a depth of hundred feet.
exposing good body of sulphuret quartz
Of high grade The lower tunnel. which
Is now in over one hundred feet will tap
the lode at a depth of two hundred feet
sixty feet have got to be cut in good slate
to accomplish this. In close proximity to
the Beatrice is the Comet, Mayhower, O.
N, Buckhon, Treasure, and a number Of
other mines more or less worked.
On the outskirts of the town are the
Plety Hill group of mines, owned and
worked 10y Morse and Stone The veins
are well defined and the ore of the rich
character found in limestone formation.
One ton OF quartz worked recently ut the
Selby smelling works, Benicia, yielded
$l0I free Of expenses.
L. y. Goodwin, now operating in the
Stnislaus district, 4 few miles distant
from Murphys, is completing a mill on
the Sunnyside mine TO work the ore of the
Sunnyside and other mines belonging to
the group near by. The motive power is
water, and Twelve men are now employed.
IlABEE WORKS AND SUPPLY.
There are two lumber mills at distance
of twelve miles in the mountains, owned
by John Manuel and the Mckay Brothers,
respectively, They have a cutting ca
pacity OF 100000 feet in the season of six
months. in the event of the narrow-gauge
road coming here two more mills of much
greater capacity will be erected to cut
lumber for marlet-One on the Weston
tract on Indian creek, the other on the
Clifford and Day tract on the Stanislaus
river. The timber in the vicinity of the
Big Trees, and miles beyond, is of dense
growth, and Of the best quality On the
south and east of the Stanislaus il IS even
better, and untouched by the vandal hand
of the shake maker, whe annually DESTROY
millions of feet of the best sugar-pine
timber in their industry. The facilities
for cheap motive power for mills and man
ufactorieS are of the best in this whole
region. The North Fork of the Stanislaus
courses through one tract, and Indian creek
through the other
GRAND WATER SUPPLY.
The Union Water Company's ditch and
dume extends from Murphys sixteen miles
to the point in the river where the water
Is taken from it. The extreme point of
the companys works, however, are where
the big reservoir is located-ffty miles in
the mountains near Blood's Station.
There the company have reservoir whose
capacity Is sufficient to run 500 inches of
water ninety days, and which is the stor-
age OF this water until such time AS its
precious drops are. needed to quench the
thirst of the parched ground of the farmer
and fruit--grower and keep the wheels of
l,r-F-, -.
Greater storage capacity can easily be pro-
cured in the valleys of the Sierras, and an
abundance Of watershed to furnish all the
water needed for every purpose The
ditch Is owned by Grayson d Borland, OF
San Francisco The fume and ditch have
recently been reconstructed, and have a
carrying capacity of 5000 inches of water.
Aside from its uses in mining, which are
manitold-supplying Murphys, Douglass
Flat, Fallecito, Angels, Altavillle Dog
town and other places further west with