Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-04
MINERAL WEALTH.
The Water Supply from Rivers, Greeks
and by Storage Process.

The Water Supply from Rivers, Creeks,
and by Storage Process.
The mineral wealth of the county is
very great, in fact, nearly the entire county
may justly be regarded as bed of mineral
deposits, gold predominating, the baser
metals being abundant, and only awaiting
the time of the advent of population and
capital to develop these now dormant re-
sources. Copper is being extensively
worked, and iron of high percentage is
found in inexhaustible quantities con-
tiguous to limestone, timber and water
power. Cinuabar and coal beds are known
to exist, while marble, limestone and
granite of the finest quality, in ledges
of bold and magnificent proportions,
course the country, interspersed
with innumberable lodes of quartz,
much of which carries gold and
some Of which now worked, are proving
the best gold mines on the coast. The
mining industry has taken new life and
has never been more active than at pres
ent. Old claims are being re-opened and
new ones developed. There has been by
actual count over half million dollars
expended in permanent mining improve
ments during the past year.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Although not utilized except as to a
small percentage of the total amount. the
water supply of this county is over and
above sufficient for all demands that could
be made upon it for both mining and irri-
eating purposes. Extending the whole
northern length is the Mokelumne river.
In the county, and tributary to this stream,
is the south fork of the Mokelumne with
It's numerous branches Extending along
the whole southern boundary is the Stanis-
laus river, tributary TO which in the
county are Mill, Coyote, Six-Mile, Angels,
Black and Rock creeks. Extending
through the county midway between
the boundary streams is the Calayeras
river with its tributaries, the Jesus Maria
river, San Antonio creek, Cherokee creek,
Middle Fork and South Fork As irriga-
tion is deemed by many indispensable to
the success of the tiller of the soil, it will
not be out of place TO notice that these
streams and their branches are tapped at
various points, and their waters distributed
by five hundred and twenty-five miles of
UTILITIES, ~ NslIlDhS kdl - Vi bilG NbulLN, Dub
chiefly for mining purposes.
THE PRINCIPAL CANALS
Are the Union, which takes its water from
the North Fork of the Stanislaus, about
eight miles from the extreme eastern
boundary, and distributes its waters to the
mines along the southern portion of the
| county, distance of about thirty miles
the Clarke's, which taps the South Fork of
the Mokelumne, distributing water west
| erly for both irrigation and mining, dis
tance of about fifteen miles; and the
Mokelumne Hill ditch, which taps the
Middle Fork of the Mokelumne, and car
ries the water southwesterly along the
northern boundary of the county, prin-
cipally for mining purposes, distance OF
| about twenty-five miles. While these
| bitches are now at times taxed to their
utmost to supply the demand for mining
purposes, the fact nevertheless remains
| that a good and sufficient supply for all
uses can readily be obtained by
SYSTEM OF STORAGE RESERVOIRS,
| The hundreds of gulches and canyons af-
fording opportunity for easy construction,
| The time is near ut hand when ditch own
ers can look to the agriculturist, horticult-
urist and manufacturer for a profitable
market for their commodity. The Lodi
and Mokelumne Canal Company taps the
Mokelumne river about eight miles east OF
the western county line, and distributes
water west for irrigation purposes only,
along the Mokelumne river valley, rs far
west as Lodi, in San Joaquin county. The
| Salt Spring Valley Reservoir, formerly the
water supply for the North Hill mine, To-
Gated in the southwestern portion OF the
county, is another not inconsiderable source
from which TO derive water for irrigation
Gathered by artificial bitches from natural
sheds, the gathering and storage capacity
is amply sufficient for many thousands OF
acres.