The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

,uOrlng the yer OF 1850 present a most
cheering prospect for the future The out
put OF gold has been greater than for years
before, and will probably reach as high as
s14,OO0,0 900. The outlook for California,
from mining standpoint, is most excel
lent. Indeed, l do not think it is unsafe
TO predict that the coming year will be one
Of the most profitable and productive ones
TO miners that this State has seen since the
discovery of gold in 1919.
The county that has made the best show
ing IN its gold output this year is Gala
veras: This county, which had never be-
fore reached the top notch of gold produc-
ton, has suddenly sprung into first place
as the greatest gold producing county of
the State: It's total output in 1894 was
81, LA, 54S, which is an increase of $464, 1856
over $685. and an increase of s., 375, OH over
the year OF 1892. Caiaveras County's total
production of gold from 1880 to 1894, inclu-
sive, was Sill ,647, 1876. About four ifths of
the figure of 1894 came from the great
Z tea mine at Angels. 1t is quite impossi-
bic to estimate the total production in
Calaveras County since 1913, as it is learned
that Nevada County claims a record of
having produced over $205, 000 600 in gold
alone; Sierra County about $1S5, 000,0 900,
and Amador County, according to good
authority, over $50 100000. Nevertheless
no single mine in these counties ever had
a record of yielding as much gold for either
a single year or a single month as the
Utica mine, as the best authority says that
the Utica mine has been turning out the
average amount of about $500 900 monthly.
1t may be remem bered that the famous
Idaho mine, in Nevada County, made the
largest output in its history-over 81 $780,
600 for single year; that the Plymouth
Consolidated mine in Amador County
gave 81, 093, 548 in 1884 as the greatest prod
uct IN lis history, and the Standard Con-
solidated mine in Mono County little
over 50, 13S, 900 in 1881. The aver ge month
ly yield of the Utica mine is equal to the
output OF all gold mines in Cripple Greek,
Colo, which claims to have been produc-
ing about $50O,O00 monthly. Last May the
Utica mine is said 10 have made cleal-
up OF something like 100000, which is con-
sidered the largest product in its history.
In fact it Las already broken the record of
the Bodie Consolidated mine, which made
the largest clean-up-$600, 900 in the single
month of July, 1878. For such facts Gala
veras County is justly proud, when it is
considered that quartz mining is only in
its infancy there.
One of the great drawbacks that Califor-
MIA miners have had to contend with is
the arbitrary manner in which the United
States Government has dealt with the
mining interests of this State. The per-
emptory way in which the hydraulic
mines were closed down thirteen or four
teen years ago would have done credit to
the arbitrary ruling of the Gar of all the
Russias. Over $50, 900, 900 worth of prop
erty was laid aside and rendered almost
useless aud valueless for the time being by
the decisions of the Federal courts and by
the laws now in force regarding hydraulic
mining. And because of these arbitrary
laws and rulings we shall never again, per-
haps, see these gold mines in as full blast
or as prosperous as in years gone by. The
Caminetti law has given some relief, and
the Miners Association is now endeavor-
ing to have laws enacted which will make
the Caminetti measure still more effective
and give the hydraulic miners a still
greater scope.
We shall ask Congress TO appropriate
s.. O0o. 600 Tor the construction of impound-
ing dams. The sum of $250,000 has already
been appropriated by the State govern
ment, but this amount is conditional upon
the action of the General Government and
can only be employed for this purpose in
conjunction with Federal appropriation.
The new law proposed by the Miners
Association, and which will be urged for
passage by Congress, reads as follows:
AN ACT
To appropriate money for the construction of
works to impound mining debris and
thereby to protect the navigable streams
of California.
BE il enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States OF Amer
lea in Congress assembled:
Section l. That there is hereby appropriated
ont of anv money in the treasury not otherwise
concentrated the sum of 81 100000, which
sum shall be Immediately available and shall
be extended under the direction Of the Secre-
tarv Of War in accordance with the plans, speci-
fcations and recommendations of the Califor-
mia Debris Commission appointed under the
actsof Congress entitled can act to create the
California Debris Commission and regulate
hydraulic mining in the State OF California"
anproved March l, 1898, for the purpose of
constructing works for the restraining and I'M
nonndinr of mining debris upon the tribu-
.taries of the Sacramento and San Joaquin riy
ers in California and the branches OF sucn
tributaries.
Sec. 2. Whenever any such works for the
restraining and impoundlng of mining debris
shall have been constructed out OF such appro-
nriatiop. or shall have reached such stage as,
in the opinion of such commission, it shall be
safe to use the same, it shall be lawful for such
commission to make the order provided for in
section I3 of said act, upon proceedings being
first had and taken in accordance with the
provisions of sections 9, IL and II of said act,
hut in such cases the owners OF the mines
affected by said orders shall not be bound by
the proviso to said section Ii of said act, nor
nv the provisions contained in section 16
thereof.
Sec. 3. The said commission shall also have
the power to make the order provided for In
section ID of said act as to any mine or mines,
whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction OF
said commission that no impounding works
are necessary other than the means already
provided by nature to protect from material
iniury the navigable streams mentioned In
said act and the land adjacent thereto, upon
nroceedings had in accordance with sections
9. % and II of said act.
If this law can be passed and the i'm
,,orndino dams speedilv constructed the