Amador ledger., 1908-11-20
AmadOr County
Descriptive Article


and embraces within its territory all
the diversity of valley, foothill, and
high mountainous lands.
Climate. The climate OF the popu-
lous portions of ,he county is as genial
and healthful ascan 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. Il should, and no doubt will in
time, when its climatic advantages are
more thoroughly understood and ap-
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 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
cool nights; permitting of. sound, re-
"freshing slumber. 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-
cipally for her quartz mines. The
deepest gold mines in America are To-
Gated here. The Kennedy mine is now
baking gold in liberal quantities from
1uartz extracted from q depth of over
B000 feet below the surface, with every
Indication that the pay-ore extends to
much greater depth. Since the dis
covery of gold, the county has contrib
+ lted fully $1,000 100000 to the worlds
Eupply of the precious metal. The
mines are still yielding at the rate of
lbout two million dollars annually.
Nearly all of this wealth is produced by
blight or ten mines operating on what
called the mother lode" " stretching
lear across the county in northeast
Rrly direction distance of twenty
+ niles. The mines aggregate between
loo and 500 stamps, and furnish en-
blOyment 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
= round that has actually been worked
r prospected. The county offers to-
ay one of the most inviting fields to
e 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 mlneralized country OF the
asst belt, some ten or twelve miles from
he main lode.
Besides gold, we have copper, de-
posits of pottery, coal, imarbe, slate,
mestone, granite, and soapstone or
alc-all undeveloped.
Agricultural Capabilities The agri-
ultural possibilities equal, if not excel,
he mineral riches. The valley lands
< Fill produce anything that can be
rown in the most favored sections.
the foothill lands all kinds of decid-
Gus fruits thrive: also all kinds OF
egetable are raised where irrigation
practicable along the numerous water
curses. Further up in the mountains,
an altitude of 1000 to $500 feet, the
oil is admirably adapted for apples
nd potatoes. A ready market for
any times the quantity now raised of
hese commodities can be found lin the
arious mining towns.
Grape culture and winemaklng are
ecoming important industries, both
be grapes aud wine commanding a
etter price than .the product of the
Dwland.
Land is cheap compared with other
alifornia lands. Improved farms may
secured for one-fourth the price
urrent In some places. Unimproved
.nds can be had from So to $40 per
ere. 1t does not require a fortune to
ny a small ranch. There is room for
large addition to our agricultural pop
lation. Vast tracts now devoted to
attle ranges might be made the homes
hundreds of prosperous farmers.
Amador has pOpulasiOn of less than
LOOO. Three fourths of this is concen-
ated in strip of three miles above
nd below the mineral belt.
Jackson, the county seat, has about