Amador ledger., 1908-11-13
Amd1Or County
Descriptive Article

and embraces within its territory Nll
the diversity Of valley, foothill, and
nigh mountainous lands
Climate Tho 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-
card. II should, and no doubt will in
time. when its climatic advantages are
more thoroughly understood and APP
preciated. 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 30
degrees above zero in winter, and as
rarely rises to 100 degrees in the sum-
mer. Snow seldom falls in the settled
districts. aud never remains on the
ground for more than few hours. or
course. in the high mountain regious
of eastern Amador the snowfall is very
beavy-which is characteristic of the
entire Sierra Nevada range. The sum-
mer season is alway accompanied with
cool nights; permitting of sound, re-
|freshing slumber Fogs are rare, cy-
clones are unknown, thunderstorms are
|lnfrequent.
Gold Mining.-The county, although
rich in other sources of wealth, com
|paratively untouched, is noted prin-
|cipally for her quartz mines. The
deepest gold mines in America are To-
|cated here. The Kennedy mine is now
taking gold in liberal quantities from
quartz extracted from Il depth of over
5000 feet below the surface, with every
indication that the pay-ore extends to
h much greater depth. Since the dis
|covery OF gold, the county has contrib
'uted fully 800, 100000 to the worlds
Supply of the precious metal The
mines are still yielding at the rate OF
about two" million dollars annually.
Nearly all7 ANhis wealth is produced by
eiobt or I'll tetA mines operating on what
/ is called the mother lode, " stretching
clear across the county in north-e
! 1erly direction a distance OF twenty
miles. The mines aggregate between
Moo and 800 stamps, and furnish en-
l loloyment 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
p prospected. The county offers to-
ay one of the most inviting fields to
i De found anywhere in the world for the
Investment of capital in the fascinating
business of gold mining, not alone along
= Untouched mlneralized country OF the
last belt, some ten or twelve miles from
+ ne main lode.
4 Besides gold we have copper, de-
bosits of pottery, coal, imarbe, slate,
limestone, granite, and soapstone or
|alc-all undeveloped.
Agricultural Capabilities The agri-
ultural possibilities equal, if not excel,
s ne mineral riches. The valley lands
,ill produce anything that can be
rown in the most favored sections.
q the foothill lands all kinds of decid-
Gus fruits thrive: also all kinds Of
spetable are raised where irrigation
practicable along the numerous water
!. purses. Further up in the mountains,
an altitude of 1000 to 2500 feet, the
oil is admirably adapted for apples
nd potatoes. A ready market for
lany times the quantity now raised of
nese commodities can be found lin the
arious mining towns.
Grape culture and winemaklng are
F. ecoming important industries, both
be grapes and wine commanding a
etter price than the product of the
wland.
Land is cheap compared with other
alifornia lands. Improved farms may
secured for one-fourth the price
aren't IN some places Unimproved
nds can be had from S. to 80 per
,re. 1t does not require fortune to
" a small ranch. There is room for
large addition to our agricultural pop
alton. Vast tracts now devoted to
tile ranges might be made the homes
hundreds of prosperous farmers.
Amador has a populasion of less than
900. Three fourths of this is concen-
ated in a strip of three miles above
ID below the mineral belt
Jackson, the county seat, has about