The record-union., 1897-07-07

1
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which eventually
developed the hydraulic system Of min
ing.
This character of mining was prose
cuted vigorously for number of years,
and was very profitable, but owing to
the litigation that followed, known as
the Debris Suits" which brought the
farmer who owned land below the out
let of the mines in conflict with the
miner, the hydraulic miner was re-
strained from dumping his tailings into
! the rivers, and laws We're enacted pro-
viding for properly impounding the de-
bris-an expense entailed upon the
miner, and which made hydraulic min
ing thus encumbered Improbable, ex-
cept in localities favorable for safely
| impounding the tailings.
The partial cessation of hydraulic
mining led to more active development
in drift mining This class of mining
is confined to the gravel deposits of the
old river channels, which traverse a
greater part of Northern and Eastern
California. Recent developments have
shown that these deposits are very ex-
tensive, and practically inexhaustible.
Among the number of successful mines
of this character might be mentioned,
the Morning Star, Mayfiower Bruce
and Wheeler and Waterhouse and Les
ter mines of Placer County, The Maga-
liza Of Butte County and the Harmony
mines of Nevada County, which have
all been great bullion producers. The
auriferous gravel channels extend from
Humboldt County to Fresno, and are
being Systematically developed through
out
The discovery of gold in quartz was
made at the Gold Hill mine, Grass Vel
! ley, Nevada County, in October, 1S4S.
This was the beginning of a new era
in mining, and led to the manufactur-
ing of milling and mining machinery.
The honor of the first gold mill con-
structed is divided between the Gold
Hill mine, Grass Valley, Nevada Coun-
ty, and the Old Benton MIL on the
Merced River, in Mariposa County,
constructed by General John c. FIRE.
mont
Quartz mining is to-day the leading
mining industry of California, and its
development has been successfully car
ried on in all of the counties. Grass
Valley Mining District has more than
!
ffty-one miles of levels and drifts,
while Nevada City, four miles distant
has more than two miles of hosting
shafts and twenty miles of levels or
drifts.
Along the Mother Lode, in Amador,
CalaVeras, Tuolumne, and Mariposa
Counties, are numerous shafts, varying
in depth from 2,100 to 1000 feet, with
several miles of lateral drifts. These
figures tend to show the vast amount
of capital expended in mining and the
tendency to permanency of our quartz
mines.
Does mining, from the practical dem
onstration thus far made, prove a pay
/ ing, and therefore a business, prop
| osition? From the general informa-
tion to be had, and the record of bull
lion produced from the several coun-
ties named it is safe to say that min
ing in California, when properly and
economically managed. pays better, as
rule, than any other business.
During the period Of placer mining,
especially when applied to creek or
river mining, all of the available grav-
eI was worked out. Hydraulic mining
is now limited to places favorable to
the construction of impounding dams,
to comply with the present restrictions
on that class of mining. Drift mining
is yet in its infancy
The restriction of hydraulic mining
stimulated quartz mining, which is
now the most prominent industry. The
limit of pay in this class of mines has
not yet been demonstrated as far as
depth and lateral extent is concerned.
The best evidence of permanency is
the great depth attained by the follow
ing mines, with rich ore still contin-
uing in depth: Idaho mine, 2,1S3 feet
vertical and over 5000 feet on the dip
of the vein; Empire mine, 2,1OO feet;
North Star. $500: Champion and Prov
idence mines, 2100 feet each, all in
Nevada County; Kennedy, Jackson.
Amador County, 2,100 feet; and sew
eral other mines of lesser depth
The geological formations in which
the best mines are found, are numer-
Gus. Those of Nevada County are in
diabase, divrite, slate, serpentine. and
granite; those of Ell Dorado, Amador,
Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mariposa
Counties, along the Mother Lode, are
in slate and diabase and in other por-
tons OF the State in p0rphyry and lime
stone. Usually a contact vein, one w.
ing between two distinct formations is
the most permanent and well-defined.
Usually the veins are free milling
ores. An exception is noted, however,
IN some of the veins found in Shasta
and the northern counties These con-
tain little silver, and are permeated
with auriferous suphurets of galena.
iron, and copper pyrites.
The Idaho mine has produced S1o
0U0,O00; the Empire mine S60OOO00
the North Star mine SS,G00.o9o. all in
Nevada County; the Eureka mine $40
eJ0,0JO, the keystone $13, ,0o0. 600. the
Kennedy $4,000 600, all in Amador
County. Others have produced in pro-
portion to depth and the number of
years worked
The Idaho mine paid at one time
S3o609o annually. and the Utica mine
Caiaveras County, S3, 600, coo annually.
The average production from these
mines at the present time will prob
ably be about fifty per cent. less.
What is the average pay usually for
miners and other skilled labor at the
mines; also for ordinary or unskilIed
labor?
The pay Of miners varies according
to locality. In Nevada Comfy tho
wages are three dollars a day for min
ers and skilled laborers; unsllilled la
borers are paid from two dollars to two
dollars and fifty cents. This scale an
plIes also 10 Sierra, Plumas, Shasta and