The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-28
Hydraulic Mining Progress.

1t is worthy of note that the California
Debris Commission at its last meeting
gave permits to mine by the hydraulic
process to eleven mining companies and
permits were granted to seven others to
construct impounding dams. All these
permits were given at one meeting, which
shows that, notwithstanding the many
objections to the Caminetti act, it is work
ing we'll. For many years before that act
was passed, through the efforts of
the California Miners Association, no
hydraulic mines in the drainage basin
of the San joaquin ana Sacramento rivers
could legally be worked. Since the passage
of the act over 100 of these mines have
commenced WORK and are continuing it.
Moreover, as the above statement shows,
many others are preparing to resume
operations. 1t is true that the miners
cannot work as they please, without re-
striction as to the amount of gravel to be
washed or the disposal OF their debris, but
it Is equally true that no anti-debris asso-
cation can interfere with them when they
are mining under a Government permit.
The Debris Commission, composed as it
is of United States engineer officers, is a
| conservative but just body. 1t will let no
mine operate unless all the requirements
as to impounding tailings are complied
| with, but it will let no prejudiced persons
influence it against granting" permits to
mine by hydraulic process when it thinks
such permits should Justly be given. Ac
cordingly the mines are again gradually
beginning to work, and our annual gold
product from this sourceis gradually be-
| ginning to increase.
1t is gratifying to note that the hydraulic
owners have generally accepted the situa-
ton, though this can scarcely be said of
those who had an interest in opposing
! them. Meantime the mines are being
worked and are producing gold without
material injury to the navigable streams
all of which the public have to thank the
California Miners Association, through
whose efforts Congress came to the relief
of this State and enacted this law.
Deep Gold Mining.
| The fact that as rich ore as has ever been
| found in the Kennedy mine, in Amador
County, has been struck at the bottom of
the mine-nearly 1000 feet-should be very
encouraging, not only to all the mother
| lode miners. but those IN other sections of
! the State, as proving that our gold mines
Ego down." Our very best mines in the
! State seem to be those in which depth is
attained. Those who open new CLAIMS, or
| reopen old ones, now consider it best to
| sink a deep shaft at once and see what
they have. This is one of the reasons
| gold mining on quartz cannot well be car
ried on without an investment of capital.
There is an immense amount of pros
pecting and mining now going on in the
counties where the mother lode is found
and while all the claims may not turn out
as rich as the Kennedy has, they all have
chance of getting something rich when
they get deep enough. The strike will
encourage dozens of other companies now
at work. The mine itself, though worked
in early days, was abandoned for many
of and thoroughly developed it. They
| have made big mine and handsome
/ profit. The presence of such ore in the
bottom of the mine shows that many more
millions will doubtless be taken out.
CHARLES G. YALE.