The San Francisco call., 1895-11-17
DEMAND FOR BETTER ROADS.
The Yosemite Free Wagon Way Still
Hoped For by Ranchers and
Miners.
Especial Correspondence OF THE CALL

veins, though few are placer mines.
Taken in connection with the unprece-
dented investment of capital. the SYSTEM
attic prospecting and the solid improve
ments in the principal towns 1t is in
evidence that the prosperity of Mariposa
Countyis of permanent character. The peo-
pie here do not approve the term "boom, ,"
considering it suggestive of inflated values,
a speedy shrinkage and inevitable col
lapse, followed by an epidemic of financial
embarrassment and bankruptcy; they pre-
fer the common-sense word progress"
The old town of Coulterville is in the line
of march. Buildings of substantial char
acter are being erected. Bruschi, an old
time merchant, has just completed a new
brick tre-proof building for store. The
new town, about a mile below, known as
Cornishtown at present, consists of half
dozen or more cottages, occupied by en-
ployes of the Merced Gold Mining Com
pany. Other dwellings will be erected,
and eventually boarding-house for en-
ployes.
The company is grading for the new
mill, which will have a capacity Of 24O
stamps. The entire structure will be Of
iron, and when completed will be one of
the most complete and expensive buildings
of the kind on the continent.
Work is progressing i'll the group of
mines embraced in the Seth Cock prop
erty under the systematic management of
the new company. On the Louisa they
are sinking a shaft which will strike the
vein at depth of 900 feet.
At the depth of 800 feet they ran
crosscut through the vein, which proved
to be 131 feet in thickness, said to be of
good milling ore. This was stated on the
authority of an expert. But men who de-
pend upon practical experience think this
thickness should more properly be termed
vein matter. Notwithstanding this dis
tinction, it is fact that on both of these
parallel veins, and on each and every one
of the claims, the lin ear extent of which is
within a fraction of five miles, gold has
been found in paying quantities. Hence
the possibilities in the line of development
are incalcuable.
Speaking of the coming electric plant, a
gentleman who has some experience in
this business, and whose opportunities for
observation are excellent, says 6O00horse-
power could be advantageously used ap-
Next in interest to the group of mines
owned and operated by the Merced Gold
Mining Company is the Pinon Blanco.
Commencing at the northwest boundary
line of the Seth Cook property it runs
northwesterly to the Tuolumne County
line. The parallel veins, heretofore men,
toned, converge before striking the Pinon
Blanco and form one solid lode. The
mine takes its name from the white crested
peak which is a landmark well known to
the pioneer miners, prospectors and stock.
men long before quartz mining was
dreamed of. The rough and rugged
mountain is one of a series of immense
groupings which mark the general dlrec-
ton of the mother lode through the foot
hill counties.
The property is now owned by Captain
A. II. Ward, who has other valuable inter-
ests in the county. The original claim ex-
tended $3.50 feet. To this has been added
by purchase 2050 feet, making altogether
1900 linear feet. Several tunnels have been
run for the purpose of testing the thick
ness of the vein. At the depth of 80 feet
the vein showed width OF 26 feet At 200
feet below the surface it was 80 feet in
width and at 300 feet it had increased to
over 100 feet.
A few months ago the owner started
work at lower point, and is now running
tunnel south along the footwall. 1t is
already in distance of 460 feet, and will
be continued 300 feet further to a point
abreast of the north slope of the Pinon
Blanco summit. Here crosscutting will
commence, and this will tell the story.
Couterville will soon have direct wagon
road connecting with Mariposa, distance
something less than that old horseback
trail, which is about twenty-five miles.
Work on the bridge near the old Benton
millsite has been commenced and it will
soon be completed.
Away up on the main fork of the Merced
River, above its junction with the south
fork, are the Cranberry and Rutherford
mines. The former is patented mine
5000 feet in extent. The Rutherford ex-
tends 1900 feet on the line of the vein.
These veins average four feet in thickness
and will pay from "a so to S. per ton. The
original owners of the Rutherford worked
with the old-fashioned Mexican arastras
when the selected ore paid as high as $34
per ton. Both these properties are owned
by Captain A. H. Ware, who has expended
large amount of money in the develop
ment of the Cranberry with no return in
coin. There are about 700 tons OF ore on
the dumps at this mine, which it is safe to
say will pay SS per ton.
This property is located close to the sur
veyeI route of the Yosemite free wagon
road, which was not built. Had this road
been constructed there would now be a
40 stamp mill in operation and thriving
little mining camp at this point.
The latest phase IN Yosemite road-build-
ing was on exhibition few days ago on
the line of survey of the projected rail-
road. The surveyors were camping on a
ranch owned and held under United
States patent by citizen of this county.
This property is within the limits of the
Yosemite National Park. Captain Rogers,
who is in command of the troop of cavalry
whose performance of duty in a general
Way is said by the owners of cattle and