Amador ledger., 1908-03-27
lma1Or County
Descriptive Article


nd embraces within its territory all
be diversity OF valley, foothill, and
. Ugh mountainous lands.
. Climate. The climate OF the popu-
bus portions of the county is as genial
nd healthful 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-
ard. It should, and no doubt will in
me, when its climatic advantages are
lore thoroughly understood and APP
reciated, become q health resort not
nly for those in less favored states,
. ut for the residents of other parts of
alifornia. The temperature alone the
entral portion rarely falls below 30
egrees above zero in winter, and as
arely rises to 100 degrees in the sum-
her. Snow seldom falls in the settled
Istricts, and never remains on the
round for more than few hours. or
purse, in the high mountain regions
4 eastern Amador the snowfall Is very
eavy-which is characteristic OF the
4 ntire Sierra Nevada range. The sum-
Ter season is Away accompanied with
+ pol nights; permitting of sound, re-
eshing slum Der. Fogs are rare, cy-
4 Zones are unknown, thunderstorms are
Frequent.
Gold Mining. The county, although
|ch in other sources OF wealth, COM
aratively untouched, is noted prin-
pally for her quartz mines. The
eepest gold mines in America are To-
|Rted here. The Kennedy mine is now
liking gold in liberal quantities from
uartz extracted from depth of over
poo feet below the surface, with every
bdication that tho pay-ore extends to
much greater depth. Since the dis
|Dvery of gold, the county has contrib
ted fully 800, 100000 to the worlds
apply of the precious metal. The
hines are still yielding at the rate of
bout two million dollars annually.
early all of this wealth is produced by
ght or ten mines operating on what
called the mother lode," stretching
ear across the county in northeast
.rly direction distance of twenty
kiles. The mines aggregate between
DO and 500 stamps, and furnish en-
5loyment 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
4 prospected. The county offers to-
ay one of the most inviting fields to
se 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
|hst belt, some ten or twelve miles from
be main lode.
Besides gold, we have copper, de-
osits OF pottery, coal, marbe, slate,
mestone, granite, and soapstone or
'klc-all undeveloped.
Agricultural Capabilities The agri-
|lltural possibilities equal, if not excel,
be mineral riches. The valley lands
/ i'll produce anything that can be
20 cnntinno
d the foothill lands all kinds of decid-
'ous fruits thrive: also all kinds of
Vegetable are raised where irrigation
practicable along the numerous water
purses. Further up in the mountains,
b an altitude of 1000 to $500 feet, the
pill is admirably adapted for apples
nd potatoes. A ready market for
Ibany times the quantity now raised of
'hese commodities can be found lin the
'arious mining towns.
Grape culture and winemaking are
booming important industries, both
be grapes and wine commanding a
'etter price than the product OF the
bwland.
Land is cheap compared with other
california lands. Improved farms may
Q secured for one-fourth the price
'urrent in some places, Unimproved
.lnds can be had from s. to $40 per
ere. 1t does not require fortune to
NY small ranch. There is room for
large addition to our agricultural pop
'lation. Vast tracts now devoted to
'httle ranges might be made the homes
Il hundreds of prosperous farmers,
Amador has population of less than
.2O00. Three fourths of this is concen-
brated in strip of three miles above
md below the mineral belt,
Jackson, the county seat, has about
ZOO inha Infants, and isan incOrDOrated