Amador ledger., 1908-10-02
Ama1Or County
Descriptive Article

Amador county comprises an area Of
b4S square miles. 1t lies on the wes-
fern slope Of Sierra Nevada mountains,
Rnd embraces within its territory all
Ehe diversity of valley, foothill, and
high mountainous lands.
Climate. The climate of the popu-
|ous portions of The county is as genial
hnd healthful as can be found anywhere
In California. AS climate is one of the
most valuable assets Of this favored
Etate in attracting population, Amador
stands second TO no county in this re-
gard. IL should, and no doubt will in
Lime, when it's climatic advantages are
more thoroughly understood and ap-
brecated. become health resort not
bnly 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
hegrees above zero in winter, and as
rarely rises to 100 degrees in the sum-
her. Snow seldom falls in the settled
districts, and never remains on the
bround for more than q few hours. OF
bourse in the high mountain regions
bf eastern Amador the snowfall is very
heavy-which is characteristic of the
bntire Sierra Nevada range. The sum-
|ner season is alway accompanied with
Ioo nights; permitting of sound, re-
freshing slum Der. Fogs are rare, cy-
blones are unknown, thunderstorms are
Infrequent.
Gold Mining.-The county, although
tich in other sources of wealth, com
baratively untouched, is noted prin-
tipally for her quartz mines. The
beepest gold mines in America are To-
eated here. The Kennedy mine is now
baking gold in liberal quantities from
Iuartz extracted from a depth of over
B000 feet below the surface, with every
Indication that tho pay-ore extends to
much greater depth. Since the dis
lovery of gold, the county has contrib
lted fully 500, 100000 to the worlds
Supply of the precious metal The
mines are still yielding at the rate of
hbout two million dollars annually.
Nearly all of this wealth is produced by
blight or ten mines operating on what
Is called the mother lode," stretching
ilear across the county in northeast
erlv direction distance of twenty
miles The mines aggregate between
boo and 500 stamps, and furnish en-
bloyment for over 1000 miners. This
Industry is still in it's infancy The
hnexplored territory, even along the
'hain gold belt, is far in excess of the
Sround that has actually been worked
r prospected. The county offers to-
3ay 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
lhe mother lode, but also in the almost
Untouched mlnerallzed country OF the
hast belt, some ten or twelve miles from
Inc main lode.
Besides gold, we have copper, de-
bosits OF pottery, coal, imarbe, slate,
limestone, granite, and soapstone or
lalc-all undeveloped.
Agricultural Capabilities, The agri-
cultural possibilities equal, if not excel,
he mineral riches. The valley lands
Eill produce anything that can be
brown in the most favored sections
n the foothill lands all kinds OF decid
lous fruits thrive: also all kinds of
Vegetable are raised where irrigation
Is practicable along the numerous water
Fourses. Further up in the mountains,
j an altitude of 1000 to $500 feet, the
oil is admirably adapted for apples
nd potatoes. A ready market for
nany times the quantity now raised of
.hese commodities can be found lin the
arious mining towns.
Grape culture and winemaklng are
Becoming important industries, both
he grapes and wine commanding a
etter price than the product of the
.owland.
Land is cheap compared with other
california lands. Improved farms may
70 secured for one-iourth the price
urrent in some places. Unimproved
ands can be had from S5 to SO per
ere. 1t does not require fortune to
Suy a 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