Amador ledger., 1908-10-23
Amd1Or County
Descriptive Article

tern slope of Sierra Nevada mountains,
and embraces within its territory all
the diversity Of valley, foothill, and
high mountainous lands.
Climate. 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 II should, and no doubt will in
time, when its climatic advantages are
more thoroughly understood and APP
preciated, become a 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 a few hours. or
course, in the high mountain regions
Of eastern Amador the snowfall is very
heavy-which is characteristic of the
sntire Sierra Nevada range. The sum-
mer season is alway accompanied with
cool nights; permitting of sound, re-
freshing sumber. Fogs are rare, cy-
clones are unknown, thunderstorms are
infreQuent.
Gold Mining. The county, although
rich in other sources Of wealth, com
paratively untouched, is noted prin-
| cipaly for her quartz mines. The
| deepest gold mines in America ARE To-
Gated here The Kennedy mine is now
taking gold in liberal quantities from
quartz extracted from depth of over
5000 feet below the surface, with every
Indication that the pay-ore extends to
Il 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 st'% fielding at the rate of
| about two million dollars annually.
Nearly all of this wealth is produced by
eight or ten mines operating on what
i IS called the mother lode, " stretching
/ clear across the county in a northeast
/ efly direction distance of twenty
miles. The mines aggregate between
400 and 800 stamps. and furnish en-
ployment for over 1000 miners. This
Industry is still in its infancy. The
lunexplored territory, even along the
main cold belt, is far in excess of the
Dground that has actually been worked
Hor prospected. The county offers to-
HGay 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
1.-The mother lode, but also in the almost
Euntouched mlneralized country OF the
least belt, some ten or twelve miles from
Uthe main lode.
Besides gold, we have copper, de-
Eposits of pottery, coal, imarbe, slate,
limestone, granite, and soapstone or
NJ&lc-all undeveloped.
Agricultural Capabilities The agri-
Eclltural possibilities equal, if not excel,
the mineral riches. The valley lands
Hril produce anything that can be
grown in the most favored sections.
d the foothill lands all kinds OF decid-
nous fruits thrive: also all kinds Of
vegetable are raised where irrigation
practicable along the numerous water
courses. Further upin the mountains,
: an altitude of 2000 to 2500 feet, the
soil is admirably adapted for apples
md potatoes A ready market for
many times the quantity now raised of
hese commodities can be found lin the
rarious mining towns.
Grape culture and winemaklng are
Becoming important industries, both
ne grapes aud wine commanding a
bstter price than .the product of the
Owland.
Land is cheap compared with other
california lands. Improved farms may
e secured for one-fourth the price
urrent IN some places. Unimproved
nds can be had from 50 to SO per
ere. 1t does not require a fortune to
~ q small ranch. There is room for
large addition to our agricultural pop
lation. Vast tracts now devoted to
attic ranges might be made the homes
hundreds of prosperous farmers,
AmadOr has a pOpulasiOn of less than
E 200. Three fourths of this is concen-
ated in a strip of three miles above
nd below the mineral belt
Jackson, the county seat, has about