davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

work has been vigorously pressed up to
the present time.
On the whole, Sonora may well be proud
OF Its new hotel. which is not only thing
OF beauty and use but monument to the
enterprise OF W. 4. Nevills. who thus sets
an example which other California capt.
talists would do well to initiate by doing
something practical toward building up
the State which has so abundantly en-
rlched them from her natural bounties.
The rising young architect and builder.
Hugh Braunton of Stockton, may also be
Justly proud of his work on the Victoria.
1t was happy idea on the part of
Captain w. A. NeviIls when he deter
mined TO erect IN Sonora hotel of which
many cities ten times the size of Sonora
might well be proud.
Sonora has been rather deficient In hotel
accommodations. The two hotels in town
have nearly every night been crowded TO
the roof and frequently guests were COM
PEELED to seek sleeping accommodations
elsewhere. This condition of affairs could
naturally have but one effect Many pri-
yate families saw an opportunity to make
an honest dollar by renting their spare
rooms. and number of lodging. houses
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13
HISTORY OF THE HOUSE.
The Victoria Passed Through Different
HANDS n Happy

THE building in which the hotel is To-
Gated has a somewhat unique history.
Its construction was begun last sum-
mer by two Italians who designed the
structure with view OF utilizing the ground
floor for two storerooms and the two upper
stories for a lod dging- house. II was put up
as solid as a fortress the walls appearing
Of sufficient strength to successfully resist
a ten-pound shot. Through the exact Gen.
ter OF the building, running lengthwise OF
the structure, solid stone wall was put
up, extending from the basement to the
roof In this wall was but one door, con-
Meeting the two rooms on the ground floor.
The object which the owners had in view
in constructing the building in this man
ner was explained by one of them by the
statement that the wall provided for pos
sible emergency in which the two partners
might disagree. In such an event all that
il would be necessary 10 do would be to
close up the connecting doorway on the
ground floor and each man could take
half of the building, thus making practi.
cally two structures out of one.
Financial troubles came upon the orig
inal constructors, and it was at this juno
ture that Captain Nevills made a bid for
the property and secured its control.
Plans were rapidly drawn for converting it
into irst-class hotel building, and the
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13
lReproduced from a Photograph ]

south, and presents body of ore at least
feet IN diameter. Average samples as
sayed So 81 ton. The eighth level pre-
sents vein of mixed quartz, slate, clay
and calcspar, yielding from So 81 to S. 81 a
ton. Samples from the slopes, however.
give as high as $50 OF ton Here, as in
the sections of the mine, is an immense
reserve, estimated to have 5000 tons of ore.
worth SAG, 900. Another block of 22SO tons
neaT by has been valued at 11,4I5.
Down 500 feet the vein was encountered
opposite the shaft. 1t had a width of 10
ffeet-a solid body of ore pressed in be-
tween mighty walls. affording an ap-
parently illimitable source of supply.
every ton OF which is estimated to Weld
$ll 40 to the mine owners. At least
lo,oOO tons OF quartz are expected from
TINS region. In all the ninth level NAV
give Sls0, 600.
The estimated profit in the calculated
reserves from all parts of the mine. are:
second level, S92, 307; third level. sl3,-
oao, fourth Level, -; fifth level, $3.50, ,a54 /;
sixth level. $l79, ,469; seventh level, sl44.-
oo6 eighth level. s5l, ,287; ninth level, $780,
coo; total of 1892 429.
Inere Is not the slightest indication of
any weakening of the vein as depth has
oeen attained. In fact, as far as the work
mas progressed the fissure seems stronger
IN the bottom than in any other part of the
mine. The chances are, therefore, favor.
aoie ior continuance of pay ore to great
depth. Reference to the maps Will Show
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

eye in our cities and causes the lover of the
artistic and beautiful 10 say harsh, even
profane, things about the spirit of COM
merciaism.
Inside the building the influence OF art
Is still more IN evidence, as the painting,
frescoing, tinting, ETC., have been in the
hands of Blanchard g. Shell of Stockton
and under the direct supervision OF Mrs
Neylils, wife of the proprietor, Captain W.
n. Nevllls. The woodwork has been given
an attractive oil finish. The wood work,
by the way, is all OF redwood, with the ex-
cepton OF the staircases, which are OF
mountain mahogany. Throughout the
entire house fixtures have been put in for
lighting by both gas and electricity, it
being the intention TO utilize the latter for
the present, special plant for which has
been erected.
In the appointments there are but very
few hotels in California that can approach
the Victoria. On every hand is discernible
the studied effort for elegance combined
with comfort, and at the same time the
fact is strongly impressed on the visitor
that this splendid hostelry is built of Cali
fornian materials almost exclusively.
1t is said by those who are supposed to
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

know that the total cost of the Victoria,
furnishings included, will foot up TO the
handsome sum of $1o0, 900, and THE CALL
correspondent, after visit to and inspec-
ton of the establishment, is inclined 10
think that no better possible investment
could be found for that number of the
golden dollars of the public-spirited owner
of the famous Rawhide mine. The furni-
ture is of curly birch and oak, of handsome
designs. while the carpets are mainly of
velvet and heavy Brussels, OF attractive
pattern and varied colors.
For weeks heavily leaden teams have
been arriving from 0akdale, transferring
from that point the furniture, carpets, fix
lures and appointments for the hotel. and
everything Is in readiness for the opening
Tomorrow. The frescoing and delicate
tintIng of the parlors, dining g-room, bar
room and halls, taken together with the
more than handsome furnishings and fix
lures, present under the flooding radiance
OF the electric light an effect so beautiful
and so suggestive of luxury and art that it
is difficult 10 realize that one is still in the
little town far up in the hills of Tuolumne
County. Then the noise Of the mountain
brook that runs through the town only a
few steps from the hotel awakens one to
the reality OF his surroundings.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

melancholy to the Tuolumne Landscape.
Seemingly the very life had gone out of thi.
beautiful region. Sonora, the one settle
ment retaining virility, appeared TO be
resting upon her laurels. achieved in the
days OF old and the days of gold.
Advancement in the fields of mechanism
and the science of treating ores opened a
gieam OF hope fer those castaway mines
ana yes ii required courage to pin ones
falth 10 the new order OF things and
a nne insight of the conditions COM
plned with more than ordinary energy
ana business acumen TO make the trial,
Singularly favored with these REQUIRE
ments Captain Nevills foresaw an oppor-
tunity and graspcd it like a man.
What has come of his decision. his
enterprise and industry Is already mon
ument which all may see and admire
The development and wonderful success ~
haWhlde mine are not the least gsf 4fe
evidences OF his presence in Tuolsr0na
Tor they have been new source Of yasFsh
TO the State and a beacon for aths+
wealthy men.
The beautiful Hotel Victoria .,ssA. =.
The traveller a hoStelrv never },.l,/.;.s
dreamed OF IN the Sierras 9.itb Ill fl,s
comforts and lnxurles Of eiv4ISzafff,s m.
new competing Stage l4he has Y,j3vsS :
boon to Tpolugane. AFa All t;,4.s. 81. .r..,--
p1ises gave employment to 1sFs.e 4ffobsas
OF men and distribute saontftgy tls.ya4s nj.
OF collars taToas heaf The County,
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13
THE MOUNTAIN STAGE.
One of the Most Picturesque Features of
Old Tuofumne's New Devei-
opment.

ITO reach Sonora or jamestown, or any
place in that region, the traveller has to
abandon the railroad at Milton and
take to the stage. And stage ride in the
Sierra foothills is something quite out of
the ordinary routine of life.
The old overland stage is the vehicle
still used in Tuolumne. Six horses on the
run leading the way down mountain
road would afford exhilaration in any
drive, but with the vehicle-a fine, large,
modern-built stage-that rocks and sways
above precipice at every turn in the
road, there are some of the thrilling ele-
ments of a breakneck runaway and a BAL
loon accident
MIR. Nevills has enlivened and improved
the Tuolumne stage service By establish
ing competition, and his jamestown route
is popular with all the Californians who
ind delight in the pioneers sturdy mode
OF travelling. The jamestown route, from
Milton to Sonora. is managed by Dennis
Guerin, brother of the respected Rev. P.
Guerln. The manager is known to all the
travellers in the country, and no man is
more at home on the romantic stage roads
than he is.
The Nevills stage line is splendidly
equipped with new and commodious
stages of the latest and best make, and
young, strong and fast horses. The ride
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13
kklitET ONtclANl IS DOinG Tor TU0L UrlNE
- COUNTY
CApTMl lE~,us HIS ENTERPRISES
CApIMl NEvlu.s { HIS ENTERPRISE C. S

were erected for the same purpose When
II became known that new hotel was TO
pe opened All lhese lnterests-or many of
them-made vigorous protest.
:, That the travelling public will appreciate
the pronered relief from conditions which
at times have proved exceedingly embar-
RAISING, goes without saying, and the
people OF Sonora will awaken to realiza-
ton OF the fact that the new enterprise is a
substantial factor in the upbuilding of the
business interests of the town. The Hotel
Victoria viii not only give more adequate
accommodations TO the public, but will
stimulate spirit OF rivalry which is the
torerunner OF higher degree of excellence.
The Victoria fills want in this COM
munity and demons trates the practi
cability of enjoying all the modern ad-
luncts and Injuries Of civilization even in
the 1astness OF the mountains far from
railroads, steamships and the madding
crowd of great cities. The Victoria is
equipped with facilities both for gas and
electric lighting, baths, etc., while the
cuisine will be under the management
OF an able and experienced chef.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

was at low ebb in that region. Every mine
thereabouts was closed, although many of
the rich mines of the early oavs were "
ing idle, mines that have yielded from
800, 600 TO 81, COO 900 from twenty to thirty
years ago.
The mines were closed because the own.
ers could not proceed further with the
means and appliances of those days, but
recent developments have shown in FIVE
different cases near Sonora that many OF
those once famous mines are still rich and
are again turning out their millions. Tuol-
umne County is very favorably situated
for quartz mining, and. SO far as external
indications and facilities may serve as
guides, together with the official records
of the output of the mines in that county,
the presumptions are that it viii be second
to no other county in California in the pro-
duction of quartz gold. Wood and water
are abundant, the roads generally are good
and the quartz veins are large, numerous
and easily traced.
Still with such natural advantages the
industry was dead, until one day 1t was
rumored that the famous Rawhide mine
had been purchased and would soon be
operated with improved machinery on an
extensive scale. Shortly aiterward Cap
tain ". A. Neyills, one of the new pur-
chasers, and who is creditably known in
mining and business circles the State over,
appeare upon the ground. and from that
day to the present the vicinity OF the Raw
b ide has been marked by every evidence
OF enterprising development.
From what had been regarded as a.
worthless property the Rawhide mine was
transformed ed into one of the most valuable
in the mountains. Since then to the pres
ent time the material business conditions
of this district have steadily improved
Other capitalists developed mines and val
ues took decided upward tendency. The
man who owned a mining claim could
once more figure that he was the possessor
OF tangible asset, and public attention
was directed toward the district which had
for years received but little recognition
from the outside world. And all this was
made possible by the enterprising captain.
In the course of time Captain NeviIls
came to the conclusion that a foundry
and maehine-shop were needed at the
mine and he erected these works some
miles from the town of Sonora
With every branch of the mine working
IN perfect order, the great crushing mill.
the ore-reducers or refiners, the machine
shops and foundry, he looked about him
for another enterprise. The captain found
that competing stage line would be a
boon for Sonora and forthwith he ordered
the necessary coaches and appurtenances
OF first-class, thoroughly equipped stage
line.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13
IN THE LOWER LEVELS.
Great Stores of Golden Ore That Lie in
the Bowels of the

II \ the deeper levels of the Rawhide mine
there is an abundance of golden ore in
sight, and still beyond, miners say,
for there are millions in reserve lying IN
wait the hand of man to tear them from
the bowels of the earth.
Continuing hi. investigations on the 800
level, the expert found a vein feet in
width. giving an average assay of $50 Is,
81 % and s6 03 ton. Samples from the
face of this stope assayed-gold $32 so,
silver 81 05; total, $34 55 a ton. The vein
at this depth lies south of the shaft, but
there are clear indications that it also ex-
tends nortbward. The seventh level, 700
feet from the surface, has been extended
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

tain ". A. Nevills and his associates,
Messrs. Martin and Ballard.
And now, with improved appliances and
better knowledge OF the treatment OF
ores, Captain Nevills ana his partners.
Messrs. Ballard and Martin, are enabled
to extract fortune from the mine. The
new era OF progress has dawned upon these
mines in the Sierras, and upon none more
brightly than the Rawhide of Sonora.
This mine gives the appearance OF busy
manufacturing settlement TO the little
valley where it sinks far down into the
mountain. In all there are forty struc-
lures upon the property OF the Rawhide.
all designed for use in its actual operation
or for the accommodation of the persons
connected Herewith. Among these is a
very pretty cottage in which Captain and
Mrs. Neyills reside, and at the most con-
venient points are located all the other
buildings usually found about a great
mining plant.
Eleetrlc-ight wires are strung over the
entire property, both in and out of the
mine and the buildings. Power and light
are both secured from a company located
at Columbia, about eight miles distant
from the mine. and the forty stamps
which crush the ore are kept pounding
away, day and night, from the beginning
to the close OF the year.
Quite frequently Captain Nevills leaves
the mine TO transact business IN the City,
and on these occasions MIS-. Neviils keeps
the admira bic system under which the work
Is conducted moving smoothly along. and
gives the visitor the impression that she is
not only charming hostess, put Is also
possessed Of business qualifications of no
mean degree. In addition to the Rawhlde
Captain Neviils has the Valparaiso and
App mines under his manage ment, with
the general supervision of the stage line
and works a abOT1t the n1ines.
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

from Milton to Sonora, by way of James
town, is a genuine pleasure. This route
avoids the heavy grades which make the
ride to Sonora over other lines so tiresome.
The route is through q most interesting
stretch OF country, famous in early Cali
fornia history.
Table Mountain is ever a glory to Bret
Harte's readers, and on the stage line re-
sides the man who has been described as
the original Truthful James. The ferry
over the Stanislaus is feature of the stage
ride. and that entire region is full of Illus
tratiops of the stories and poems of the
early days of California mining.
Not the least attractive OF the many
quaint camps reached by aid of Mr.. Ne
wills stages is the old town of Colum bia,
the center of the hydraulic mining excite.
ment when Harte and Twain were loafing
casually about the diggings. In those
days Columbia had many thousands Of
people. The substantial brick and stone
buildings erected at that time, as well as
in jamestown, before alluded to, attest the
confidence of the gold diggers in these
places. Sawyer's Bar is another historic
place. where immense amounts Of gold
were taken out.
All the country about there is white
with the protruding rocks, from whose
surfaces, for several feet. the red soil has
been washed away. Away to the north and
east are beautiful, undulating hills. rising
to heights higher and higher until they
become mountains of the Sierra Nevada
range. They are fringed with green pine
and fir, and the fragrance from them is as
pleasant as it is health-giving.
Tuolumne is most interesting county
to visit. 1t is in Tuolumne that pocket
mining, as well as quartz and placer min
ing, is carried on. The former industry is
very alluring to nomadic miners who de-
sire to make stake by merely following
up stringers OF gold rock till they lead to
common center, where the pocket il
found. In one of these gold is found in
quantities reaching all the way from few
dollars to several thousand dollars. In
"Roughing 1t" the author describes it as
lazy mans most interesting occupation,
1t is conceded that the development of a
section largely depends upon its roads and
means of transportation of freight and
passengers. Good roads and good stages
in the mountainous counties are prime
factors in increasing population and build
ing up industries.
The Nevills line CT stages Will do much
to attract tourists and investors to
Tuolumne; and when it is remembered
that at Sonora the traveller can rest at the
beautiful Hotel Victoria the journey will
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13
THE GREAT RAWHiDE.
Interesting Sketch of One of the Most Famous
Mines in tie Golden
Runce


THE development OF the great Rawhide
mine and its success under Captain
Nevills management is subject for
constant comment among mining men.
No room remains ior doubt regarding the
richness of the mine and its possibilities
of creating wealth as now operated.
The mine has become one of the most
famous in all California, and ii is declared
that as gold-producer it stands unrivaled.
Report on this mine have been made BY
eminent authorities. and the entire mining
world is we'll acquainted with the wealth
stored there.
More than twenty-five years ago shaft
30 feet deep was sunk at the southerly
end of the claim. One OF the experts who
during the period of the earliest workings
made metaIlurgical Investigations on the
treatment of the ores reported that the
samples assayed averaged as high as
twenty-five ounces OF gold per ton. Thomas
Price at that time paid 5000 for seventeen
tons of ore that he purchased for shipment
to Europe.
What is now known as the main shaft
at the Rawhide mine has been sunk in the
lode at an average angle OF 63 degrees to
the depth of $40 feet.
4 crosscut was driven easteriy from the
shaft 200 feet from the surface. From the
end OF this crosscut the second level was
extended southerly 155 feet. Here width
OF fully thirty feet of ore was developed.
An average sample of this whole mass of
quartz, which Is more or less mixed with
country rock, was taken, and found TO as
say S. 35 per ton.
The crosscut from the shaft is ell in
quartz and the hanging wall has not yet
been reached. The available quartz for
the whole length was thoroughly sampled
and assayed 81 q per ton. Following
ha favn ha han n-ir ,c
followed and the level shows quartz
mixed with slate. a crosscut has been
driven into the vein and an upraise
twenty-five feet in length made, following
the quartz. A sample from this point
assayed 81 08 per ton.
No stoplng of quartz has been made on
this level, but the vein is wide, averaging
plored
The ore taken from this portion of the
mine has assayed at 81 II per ton.
Reserves OF this value that are available
are 800 feet in length and 200 feet high,
and It has been es timated that the amount
OF ore here is 90. .397 tons. This estimate is
conservative.
As all the necessary dead work has
already been performed such ore
should be worked so as TO leave profit of
quite 81 Der ton, with the possibility of
encountering much richer material while
extracting the low-grade ore. The posi-
bic pront of the available ore above the
200 level is. therefore. $92.507
In this figuring the average width is
assumed to be only twenty feet, though
that Is much less than the actual average
With the length 500 feet and the height
200 feet the result is made / DOC, 600 cubic
feet OF ore. A ton is estimated at thirteen
cubic feet.
Three hundred feet from the surface
The San Francisco call., 1896-04-13

upon which its owner took passage
the. next stage which brought the
article up also collected 81 for its
transportation. The fare is now 50,
and your trunk goes free, whether it ae
companies or follows you The stages
were put under the management OF Dennis
Guerln, an old resident of Sonora, and
under his supervision travel becomes a
luxury, the passengers riding in the finest
coaches that money can buy behind some
OF the best and fastest stock in all Tu-
olumne.
The history of the Rawhide mine reads
Ike romance. 1t was opened, worked
and virtually abandoned only to be once
more passed through a process of develop
ment In which gold poured from the bowels
OF the earth in a copious stream. The
quartz ledoe was first located in 1856 by
Inomas Willis and his partner, Robert
turner. who owned the Rawhide ranch
erIa and worked the placer deposits thereon.
They subsequently sold the mine to four
prospectors, who worked the ledge with
good results until it attracted the atten-
ton OF Colonel Edward Green, wealthy
capitalist, VINO bonded the property for the
New 1ork market In the early part OF 1855.
Then trouble arose for the owners, who,
after incorporating ana making deed TO
the Eastern people, as an incorporation,
Tor $4,000, on a better offer from the late
OAA odSuWc1leI, SOU the uuiUe again 10
him, giving their individual deeds. The
New York company asserted its legal
rights, ana Gashweiler caused the four
owners to be arrested on charge of OBJ
tanning money by false pretenses. The
owners were acquitted, and in turn they
sued their enemy and secured substantial
damages against him.
After this was settled the Eastern COM
pany took lease OF the mine for three
years at S35. COO year. The company ex.
tracted ore 10 the value OF $500. and only
then discovered it could not work the ore
protitab bly,.
Pressure was brought to bear upon the
owners and the lease was annulled, Green
and his associates paving the debts ac-
crued, amounting to 5000. About this
time Professor Silliman was sent out to
pass upon the ores, and together with
Thomas Price elaborate tests were made in
an endeavor to extract the gold, and a
large shipment was made to Swansea.
The sllllman report, a voluminous treatise
on gold IN conjunction with tellurium. is
now in the archives OF the company. Alter
this the mine was closed down for nearly
twenty years, and until the location oi
heirs OF the original owners in Liverpool,
who were able to pass clear title TO Cap