Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-11-22
AmddOr County
Descriptive Article

tern slope or Sierra Nevada mountains,
and embraces within it's territory all
the diversity of valley, foothill, and
high mountainous lands.
Climate.-The climate of the popu-
lous portions of the county is as genial
and healthful as can be found anywhere
in California. AS climate is one of the
most valuable assets of this favored
state in attracting population, Amador
Stands second to no county in this re-
gard. It should and no doubt will in
time, when its climatic advantages are
more thoroughly understood and APP
Ipreciated, become health resort not
|only for those in less favored states,
but for the residents of other parts of
california. The temperature alone the
central portion rarely falls below 80
degrees above zero in winter. and as
rarely rises to 100 degrees in the sum
'mer. Snow seldom falls in the settled
districts, and never remains on the
eround for more than few hours. OF
eourse, in the high mountain regions
|Of eastern Amador the snowfall is very
heavy-which is characteristic of the
entire Sierra Nevada range. The sum-
mer season is Away accompanied with
POOL nights; permitting of sound. re-
reshing slumber Fogs are rare, cy-
clones are unknown, thunderstorms are
.nfrequent.
Gold Mining.-The county, although
itch in other sources of wealth, com
)aratively untouched, is noted prin-
ipalIy for her quartz mines. The
deepest gold mines in America are To-
ated here. The Kennedy mine is now
aking gold in liberal quantities from
uartz extracted from a depth of over
loco feet below the surface, with every
ndication that the pay-ore extends to
much greater depth. Since the dis
overy of gold. the county has contrib
ted fully 500, 100000 to the worlds
|upply of the precious metal The.
hines are still yielding at the rate of
bout two million dollars annually.
Vearly all of this wealth is produced by
light or ten mines operating on what
called the mother lode, " stretching
lear across the county in a northeast
rly direction a distance of twenty
hiles. The mines aggregate between
O0 and 500 stamps, and furnish en-
lbyment for over 1000 miners. This
hdustry is still in its infancy. The
nexplored territory, even along the
balm gold belt is far in excess of the
round that has actually been worked
prospected The county offers to-
lay one of the most inviting fields to
e found anywhere in the world for the
Investment of capital in the fascinating
usiness of gold mining, not alone along
be mother lode, but also in the almost
Untouched mineralized country of the
bst belt, some ten or twelve miles from
be main lode.
Besides gold, we have copper, de-
psits of pottery, coal, 'marbe, slate,
mestone, granite. and soapstone or
Heal undeveloped
Agricultural Capabilities The agri-
plural possibilities equal, if not excel,
he mineral riches. The valley lands
ill produce anything that can be
rown in the most favored sections
the foothill lands all kinds of decid-
bus fruits thrive: also all kinds of
Vegetable are raised where irrigation
practicable along the numerous water
turses Further up in the mountains,
an altitude of 1000 to $500 feet, the
il is admirably adapted for apples
I'D potatoes. A ready market for
ANY times the quantity now raised of
sese commodities can be found lin the
rious mining towns.
Grape culture and winemaking are
coming important industries, both
e grapes and wine commanding a
tier price than the product of the
WAND.
Land is cheap compared with other
lifornia lands. Improved farms may
secured for one-fourth the price
trent in some places Urimproved
Ids can be had from So to SO per
re. It does not require fortune to
y small rancn. There is room for
arge addition to our agricultural pop
htion. Vast tracts now devoted to
tile ranges might be made the homes
hundreds of prosperous farmers.
Amador has a population of less than
DO. Three fourths of this is concen-
ted in strip of three miles above
a below the mineral belt.
jackson. the county seat, has about