The San Francisco call., 1897-06-13

during the week :. K. Thornton, vice. pres1-
dent of the California Miners Association.
returned from a two mouths tour of the min
ing counties OF the mother-lode region, where
he was sent by the executive com mittee TO
organize or stimulate local asSocia tons, which
would add needed members and strength TO
the State association.
During his extended trip Mr.. Thornton OBJ
served the new life that pervades every min
ing community, and his work will result in
very large additions TO many county associa-
tions. There is every promise tn at by fall the
California Miners Association will represent
mem bership of at least 5000, and with the
solidifed mining interest behind it, 1t viii be
in strong position to take up the important
new work which is planned for the future.
Next year the association will be ready to en-
gage in 3 big campaign at Washington to
secure from Congress additional a?propria-
tions for restraining dams in the rivers, and
there is every prospect that the valley people
who want the nsvigable portions of the sacra-
mento and San Joaquin improved will join the
miners In this matter, each supporting the
other for the common good.
al visited the counties OF Tuolumme, Placer,
Calayeras Amador, Nevada, El Dorado, Sierra,
Butte, Yubs and Plumas," said Mr.. Thornton
yesterday in recounting his work. Il found
everywhere a very hearty interest in the State
association and q readiness TO support county
ones. l dis tributed blank membership lists
everywhere among mine superintendents,
merchants and bankers, and during all this
summer these blanks Will receive signatures
of those who agree TO become members OF their
county association and pay 81 dues. Mer-
chants and citizens generally who nre only in
directly interested in mining are joining
everywhere. The membership in each county
is to be reported September l.
"In Tuolumme a new association that will
number 500 or 600 by fall is being started.
Senator Shine OF Sonora is one of the active
leaders. found a fairly prosperous organiza-
tiOn in Calaveras, and it is growing. Amador
had dropped out, and it is now being reor-
ganized In E. Dorado there was fair asso-
citation of about 100 members, but a very
active sentiment followed my visit, news
papers and leading miners taking hold. Over
100 lists are out, and the membership will
reach 500 or more. Placer County, which
left 10 President Neff's care, has an active as
sociation OF 1900 members.
"In Nevada County, which has the strongest
county association, the membership of 1900
will reach 1000 b. September. Sierra County
will double its membership. Butte hsd
dropped out, but 1 got the promise of $50 to
800 members among merchants and mining
men. In Yuba there are two organizations,
one at Camptonville and the other at Browns
Valley, ard both are waking up. The organi-
zation in Plumas County had been dropped,
but We held a public meeting in the town
hall at Quincy and it was reorganized with a
fine mem bership and much enthusiasm. 1
did not go to Trinity, Siskiyou or Shasta
counties. The first two of these counties are
organized.
"The business men of the region visited
realize that congressional aid is needed If
mining is to reach its best prosperity there.
II the detritus in the upper parts o: the stream
can be kept back and the lower parts kept
clear the entire problem between the people
of the noun ntains and the valleys will be
solved, and the California Miners Association
is the strongest influence that can bring this
about. There is no doubt If hydraulic, drift
and sluice mining can be permitted as freely
as quartz mining the gold production will
soon reach $4,000, 600 or $40, 1000, 900 in
stead of $17 100000.
ii found everywhere more developm ent in
the lines of quartz and DRIFT mining and more
money belng speat in prospecting than for
twenty-five years. The gravel deposits hSve
scarcely been touched at all, out there is now
great activity in opening DRIFT mines
judged that at least half the money being
spent is California capital. Old mines are
everywhere being reopened al great expense
and prospects and slightly developed mines
are increasing in mum bers, being bonded by
people with money VINO agree to do a certain
amount of DEVELOPMENT work and to buy
within one, two or three years, If at all. Tney
put in their money on the chance OF finding
good mine.
'The benefit of this great new activity in
the mountains to the valley in terests was very
noticea BILE. 1t gives markets to the farmers
and markets to the business men of Saera-
mento, Stockton and other towns as well as
San Francisco. While on my trip through
Yuba and Butte counties and portions of
Sierra l met at least fifteen four-horse wagon
loads of farm and ga Tden produce that far mers
were peddling through the mining region,
finding a ready market for their stuff and get
ting the coin for it. Stockton does a big busi-
ness with Msriposa, Tuolumne and Calaveras
counties, and Sacramento has big aud grow
ing trade with the rest of the mining coun-
ties. One firm in Stockton recently sold
200, 600 feet of lumber to one mine. 1 under
stand that one Sacramento firm does a bigger
business in wa,er-pipe than any one San Fran
cisco house. The bulk of the food supplies
and general merchandise is supplied by
Sacramento, and to close the mines would
close half the business houses of that city
This illustrates how the prosperity OF the
mining regions is OF great Importance in many
ways 10 the entire State"
The decision OF Circuit Judge Ross the other
NEw TO-DAY.