Amador ledger., 1907-11-08
IadOr County
| Descriptive Article


nbraces within its territory all
iversity of valley, foothill, and
. mountainous lands.
bate.-The climate of the popu-
ortions of the county is as genial
faithful as can be found anywhere
California AS climate is one of the
lost valuable assets OF this favored
ate in attracting population, Amador
lands second to no county in this re-
fard. It should, and no doubt will in
me, when its climatic advantages are
lore thoroughly understood and APP
reciated, become a health resort not
Snly for those in less favored states,
Tut for the residents of other parts of
california. The temperature alone the
entral portion rarely falls below 80
1egrees above zero in winter. and as
hrely rises to 100 degrees in the sum-
her. Snow seldom falls in the settled
districts, and never remains. on the
round for more than few hours. OF
ourse, in the high mountain regions
4 eastern Amador the snowfall is very
feavy-which is characteristic of the
ntire Sierra Nevada range. The sum-
per season is Away accompanied with
fool nights; permitting of sound, re-
reshing slum Der. Fogs are rare, cy
Homes are unknown, thunderstorms are
pfrequent.
Gold Mining. -The county, although
|ich in other sources of wealth, COM
baratively untouched, is noted prin-
ipally for her quartz mines. The
deepest gold mines in America are To-
lated here. The Kennedy mine is now
Taking gold in liberal quantities from
uartz extracted from depth OF over
1000 feet below the surface, with every
bdication that the pay-ore extends to
much greater depth. Since the dis
|overy of gold. the county has contrib
tied 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
Nearly all of this wealth is produced by
light or ten mines operating on what
S called the mother lode. stretching
flear across the county in northeast
krly direction distance of twenty
miles. The mines aggregate between
200 and 500 stamps. and furnish en-
ployment for over 1000 miners. This
Industry is still in its infancy The
lnexplored territory, even along the
main gold belt, is far in excess of the
ground that has actually been worked
pr prospected. The county offers to-
bay one of the most inviting fields to
be found anywhere in the world for the
Investment of capital in the fascinating
business of gold mining, not alone along
he mother lode. but also in the almost
Untouched mineralized country of the
kast belt, some ten or twelve miles from
5he main lode.
Besides gold, we have copper, de-
posits of pottery, coal, marble, slate,
Limestone, granite, and soapstone or
talc-all undeveloped
Agricultural Capabilities The agri-
cultural possibilities equal, if not excel,
Lhe mineral riches. The valley lands
viii produce anything that can be
grown in the most favored sections.
the foothill lands all kinds OF decid-
hous fruits thrive: also all kinds of
vegetable are raised where irrigation
l. practicable along the numerous water
courses. Further up in the mountains,
BIT an altitude of 2OO0 to $500 feet, the
soil is admirably adapted for apples
hnd potatoes. A ready market for
many times the quantity now raised of
these commodities can be found lin the
various mining towns.
Grape culture and winemaking are
becoming important industries, both
jhe grapes and wine commanding a
better price than the product of the
Rowland.
Land is cheap compared with other
California lands. Improved farms may
be secured for one-fourth the price
current in some places. Unimproved
ands can be had from s. to so per
acre. 1t does not require a fortune TO
buy small rancn. There is room for
D large addition to our agricultural pop
sllation. Vast tracts now devoted to
cattle ranges might be made the homes
bf hundreds of prosperous farmers
4 Amador has population of less than
l200. Three fourths of this is concen-
rated in strip of three miles above
and below the mineral belt.