The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18
BY Superior Judge R. C. Rust.

IN California more favored
by nature or more varied in
~ its resources. than Amador
County.
The situation among the foothills of
The Sierra. where the elevation is
neither too high nor too low, makes
ITS climate most equable. Its grassy
plains and rich valleys. for spring and
winter grazing. and its verdant noun
laln meadow lands for summer make
stock raising an important and profit
able industry
No richer or more productive soil
can be found in our State than the
bottom lands along the Mokelumne
and Costumes rivers, where the choic-
est fruits, melons, berries and Vege-
tables Of every variety grow in rich
profusion, ready market for which is
FOUND IN the cities of Stockton, Sacra-
mento and san Francisco, and in the
towns along the great mother lode;
while carload shipments are made TO
the Eastern markets from the ranches
In lone Valley.
Shenandoah Valley, in the northern
part Of the county, Yields the finest
grapes and peaches in the market. and
It's production in grains and other
cereals is large.
In the higher attitudes the finest
QuauueS OF winter apples and noun
tain potatoes grow in abundance.
About five miles from Jackson and
IN the higher foothills the Govern
ment through the medium of the Uni
Nersity Of California at Berkeley, main
ra1neo a Government experiment sta
ton for twelve or fourteen years. dem
onstraung the fitness of climate and
soil for horticulture and viuculture, as
well as agriculture in all its branches.
Etrated the adaptability of the climate
and soil Of this section to the growth
Of the olive. A number of the ranch
ers mbarked in that industry and are
producing olive oil in quite large guam
titles and OF fine quality. This indus
Try bids fair 10 assume great proper
uOns in the near future Less than a
month ago / saw al the residence of
?. +. Allen at Forest Home in the
northwestern end Of the county. navel
oranges and lemons growing and
thriving in the open air, the fruit be-
ing Of fine size and appearance. The
date palms were still too young to
pass judgment upon.
The orchards and vineyards at the
experiment station were grown with
out irrigation and prOspered, but, of
course, berries and smaller fruits need
II, and this need can be supplied from
the system Of canals and bitches of
the Blue Lakes Water Company, which
take water from Blue Lakes and
Mokelumne River and convey il across
the eastern portion of the upper foot
hills from Clinton on the south TO
Plymouth on the north While this
water supply is now chiefly used for
power and battery purposes at the
mines and mills along the mother lode
and for generating electricity at the
immense electric plant of the Stand
rrr.r& L
The MOkelumne RiVer IL can be taken
up again below the plant and used for
irrigation la. the lower Or-western side
Of the county TO great advantage, and
the present fiOw. Of water from the
lakes can be largely increased and
used for irrigation in the upper Of
eastern portion Of the county.
But as varied and important as
these interests are and as promising
as the future seems TO be from this
standpoint AmadOr County, at the
present time. is classified as a mining
county and one of the most promi-
nent in the State.
The great mother lode, or more cor
rectly speaking. mineral belt, travers-
ing its entire breadth from south to
north. contains the deepest mines and
Oldest gold producers in the State.
From south and north through the
county, along this lode the Zeile. Ar
Eouauls helneQN ana OnelQa mines
in and near the town Of Jackson:
South Eureka and Central Eureka
near the town. of Sutter Greek. the
Keystone. in the town of Amador
City; the Bunker Hill. near the same
town. and the Fremont Consolidated,
near DrytOwn. All these mines are
now in active operation and producing
In addition. there is a large number
Of mines not in operation at the pres
ent time whose future is promising and
which need only capital to develop and
add them 10 the list Of producers.
The Kennedy mine is. ] believe. the
deepest gold quartz mine in the United
States being $500 feet in depth It is
operated through three shafts. al
though the principal operations are
conducted through the new perpen-
dicular shaft. called the East shaft
and upon which there is the largest
steam hoist in the state. Adjoining
this shaft the company has erected a
new 1oO-stamp mill. driven by cleo
trio power, and supplied with modern
improvements.
The Argonaut which adjoins the
Kennedy on tan south, is also a rich