Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-24
AMADOR COUNTY.
SOMETHING OF ITS FEATURES AND
RESOURCES.

Its Mining Industries-Towns and
Business Houses-Lands and
Water Supply-Etc.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: Northern ANA
dor, in my opinion, is destined to be one of
the most prosperous sections of the State.
Its natural advantages are as great as any
other section, being only short distance
from Sacramento, and having as rich, if
not the richest, mining belt of any mining
county in the State. The soil is unsur-
passed, being dark sandy loan in the
valleys, and on the hills reddish cast
but in many places ii is also alluvial, and
is well adapted to the growth of cereals,
fruits and vegetables. The climate is one
of the most salubrious in this favored gar
den spot, possessing all the natural advant-
ages of climate, soil and water to make it
one of the most desirable sections of the
Golden State for immigrants to locate,
and make for themselves prosperous and
happy homes in the beautiful wales on the
rolling foothills in this elysian climate.
Northern Amador may be said to in
clude that part of the county lying be-
tween Rancheria creek on the south, Ell
Dorado county on the north, Sacramento
county on the west and Alpine county on
the east. This tract of land thus en-
l-oool -. ,Io,,4 IL 4
miles long, and contains more rich agri-
cultural land than any part of the county,
except lone and Jackson valleys, being in.
terspersed with rolling hills and fertile
valleys from its western boundary to the
base of the Sierra Nevada, distance of
about thirty miles. The principal water
courses are the main and south fork of the
Costumes, Slate creek, Indian creek, Blood
gulch, Pigeon creek, Little Indian Dry
creek, Willow Spring creek, Rancheria,
Arkansaw and Willow creeks.
MINING INTEREST.
What is known as the mother lode
passes from north to south through this
section of the county, and on which are
situated the best paying quartz mines in the
State. The Gorer and Potosi, in Dry
Town Mining District, are valuable mining
properties, while many other locations, still
undeveloped on the mother lode, are be-
lieved also to be good mining property. In
Plymouth Mining District the reputation
of the Amador Consolidated mines, the
Empire and Pacific, are worldwide, while
the Alpine and New London mines, when
! fully developed, may prove to be more
valuable property than the Empire and
Pacific mines. The Chicago, at Plymouth
is an undeveloped mine, and no estimate Of
its value can be placed on the mine in its
present condition. There is also in the
Plymouth Mining District, from Ply
mouth north, distance of more than four
miles, the mother lode, which is now
known to extend to the Costumes river,
and which passes down Indian creek on its
west side, to where it crosses the river into
| Ell Dorado county. But it is also a we'll
known fact that in this district, east or
west of the mother lode, no quartz mineral
has been found that would pay the ex-
pense of working. Hayward and Pound
stone have a mining claim at Enterprise,
on the northern lode, partly developed,
which is thought to be valuable mining
property. This location is about one-half
mile south of the Costumes river, on the
west bank of Indian creek
In the Oleta Mining District there are
many quartz lodes, but they are undevel-
oped, and their value is not known. In
Northern Amador placer mining is work
of the past. Our streams and gulches have
been depleted of their precious golden de-
posts, and the agriculturist now takes the
place of the pioneer miner, and is making
our rolling hills and beautiful wales to
bloom as a hesperian landscape of beauty,
with its orange and olive groves, its fruit
orchards, gardens and vineyards, crowned
by the neat, white cottages of a prosperous
and happy rural population.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC.
The town of Plymouth is beautifully
situated on table-land, about 1000 feet
above sea level, with population of 1000,
and contains in public buildings three
churches, two being ?. E. Methodist and
one Catholic; two public school-house with
nearly 400 school children, who draw pub
lie money from our State Treasury; eau
casian Hall, Norris Hall, Odd Fellows
and Masonic Halls; three hotels-Forest
House, Commercial and Harvey's Hotels
Our hotels are well kept and well patron
lied. There are also several large board
| ing-houses, where most of the men work
ing in the mines board.
BUSINESS HOUSES.
There are three general merchandise
stores-R.H. Duncan, one of California's old
pioneers and our pioneer merchant and
present Postmaster. The Empire, which
carries the largest stock of goods-business
manager, Richardson Rosenwald & Kahn
business manager, II. f. Thoms. There
are also several grocery stores two livery
stables-John Miller and Joseph Wool
ford, proprietors three blacksmith and
wagon-makers' shops; five carpenters
shops; two large lumber yards, H. c.
Farnham-S. NJ. Gregg, managing agent
and A. Baughman's yard three drug
stores-Dr. r. H. Duncan, A. J. Coster,
and Dr. Norman, who has recently opened
drug store in this place. There are four
| physicians and surgeons-Dr. A. G. Smith,
who located here several years ago. DIR. r.
! II. Duncan, DR.. Norman and Dr. Huckins.
We also have two shoe shops, several va
riety stores, two BARRIERS shops Wells,
| Fargo & Co.'S ofice-E j. Berans, agent
and Geographic operator. The Amador
Geographic office, Penny and Wildman line,
is at the Empire store-Clerk Norris, OPP
orator.
1t is believed that Plymouth has the
best water-works of any town in the min
| ing counties The water comes from the
Blue lakes by the Amador canal, and is
taken from the canal, which affords mo-
tive power to the Pacific quartz mill. The
water is also used for domestic purposes
and to extinguish fires, which might 9TH
erwise lay our beautiful village in ashes.
Hayward e Hobart have two of the best
quartz mills in the State, furnished with
| all the recent improvements. each mill