The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-22
One Pioneer Claim That Has
Paid Millions to Its
Developers.
CHANGES AT PLACERvILLE.
Eastern Capital Seeking Investment
In Ell Dorado County
Property.

dor County wealth IN mining ana mill
ing enterprise has been so quietly and
conservatively moving along that the out
side world would scarcely form any ade-
uuate idea of its immense magnitude. The
old spirit of seeming adventure, more
fittingly termed enterprise, is to-day reap
ing it's well-merited reward in this locality
for the money invested. Capital is seeking
investment in mining properties, yet in
the very.vicinity where mills are success
fully grinding out the precious metal it
asks development of properties and wants
to foresee remuneration before an outlay
is made.
1t is we'll known that in most instances
OF early day records deep mining was I'M
known. The gold deposits were believed
to be more or less in pockets and in
superficial area. But the wisdom of delv-
ing deep into the bowels of the earth and
sinking shafts to greater depth was re-
warded by finding a second series Of rich
ore bodies, whose discontinuance has not
been found.
Mining and geological experts recognize
that there are two zones of gold to the
mother lode in Amador County, one ex-
tending to depth of 600 or 700 feet and
the other commencing at the 1100-foot
level, extending to depth at present I'M
limited. 1t may be well to note that the
mother lode so often spoken and written
about is an east dipping belt of states and
eruptive rock, containing chiefly graphite
slate, scanned with quartz and bordered by
walls of greensboro. This continues in
line parallel to the main chain of the
Sierra Nevadas, through the entire counties
of Ell Dorado, Amador and the three
lower counties for stretch of 100 miles
Upon this mother lode the methods and
notions OF the early gold-seekers have
been so completely superseded that be-
wilderment follows admiration, and the
once abandoned properties have become
the greatest producers of the State. Ex-
ploration only serves to show that the
depth of this richness seems unlimitable,
an in consequence the mother lode dis
trict is deservedly famous as the richest
gold-bearing formation OF equal magni-
tude in the history of gold mining.
The investment of capital in mining in
dustries needs not only encouragement, but
II seemingly requires some convincing Illus
tration or example to incite it to action.
For this purpose any one of the pioneer
mines and milling properties that has
steadily perseVered in the daily routine of
mining and milling its products, which
year in and year out for three and a half
decades has never waited to have some
body else develop q piece of property, but
has found 1t necessary to add machinery
upon its plant from time to time to supply
the demand made upon its abundance of
milling resources might serve as an Illus
tration.
Taking up the first great property as one
enters m EOnr-
teen miles of travel by stage from the rail-
way at lone, branch line from Gait on
the Sacramento and Stockton line, carries
the traveller through fertile valleys and
over charming slopes of beautiful pan
oramic view, through portion of the ro-
mantle county of Amador to the village of
the same name. AS the stage halts at the
hotel one beholds in full view at the end
OF the short street within three minutes
walk the imposing old Keystone mill, with
its wheels of industry lifting two-score of
stamps that drop in regular graduation and
greet the ear with a welcome sound that
tells the observing mind there can be no
hard times here
The Keystone's history dates back to the
early SOS. 1t stands on the shore of
little stream and the hoisting-works loom
proudly into the air high up on the ad Join
ing slope to the east of the mill.
During its long and successful career the
enginery OF this little world in itself never
ceased until January l of the current year,
on which day it was enveloped in flames
and completely destroyed The energetic
young superintendent at once set at work
cleaning out the debris, saving timberS
for the new framework, fitted up the entire
machinery, and in forty-nine days every
wheel and stamp was again in motion.
More than this, not an assessment was
levied to cover the loss, and to-day in ad-
10 nj, Nrrt ha
plant is persevering in its daily routine of
grinding out the precious metal, again
upon a sound financial basis, with no rem
nant of fire loss against its credit-and all
this was accomplished from the current
product of the mine.
The property is practically known as
the Keystone Consolidated mine, and be-
longs to an incorporated company. The
claim comprises tiftysix acres. The ore is
ouartZ-slate. The foot wall is diabase and
the hanging wall. is greensboro. There
are three shafts; the center one is down
400 feet. Sixty men constitute the work
ing force in the mine, eight in the sawmill,
yard and blacksmith shops, and sixteen IN
the mill and sulphuret plant. There are
eight batteries of five stamps each, and
one Huntington mill. The concentrators
are ten in number The sawmill and
hosting works are moved by steam, and
the mill by water power. The whole
property, even underground, is lighted by
electricity.
The sulpLuret plant is the superintend-
ent's own invention, in which the shines.
after leaving the concentrators are passed
over long narrow sluice-like boxes and
caught in vat below, from which they
are again passed through a concentration.
By this modus operandi enough money is
made to pay the expense OF running the
whole mill. An assay Office is connected
with the plant, and all the company's
work In this branch isdone rig hit at home.
The underground work of tim boring is all
OF superior class, made to endure for two
generations. The wood is spruce and pine.
The discipline is excellent and the move
ment OF each branch of this great industry
shows everything to be methodical, syste-
matte and eminently practical. AS a sim
gle illustration, the superintendent has
daily record OF every ounce of quicksilver
used, and he can tell within a very close
margin what his product will be from the
rock that has passed through the battery.
In 1893 the net profit of the keystone
Consolidated mine was $54, 600. In 1894 the
ratio was the same. During its career this
mine has paid dividend of $4,000, 900.
The property is by no means exhausted.
There is 800 feet at the north end and 100
feet at the south end that is still virgin
property. There is ore enough in sight to
permit the erection of ten additional