Amador ledger., 1908-05-29
AmadOr 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. The climate of the popu-
lous portions of The county is as genial
and healthful as can be found anywhere
lin California. AS climate is one of the
phost valuable assets Of this favored
state in attracting population, Amador
Stands second TO no county in this re-
gard. It should, and no doubt will in
time, when its climatic advantages are
more thoroughly understood and APP
breciated, 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-
mer. Snow seldom falls in the settled
districts, and never remains on the
pround for more than few hours. or
course, in the high mountain regions
bf eastern Amador the snowfall is very
heavy-which is characteristic OF the
Entire Sierra Nevada range. The sum-
mer season is Away accompanied with
Iool nights; permitting of sound, re-
freshing slumber. Fogs are rare, cy-
Ilones are unknown thunderstorms are
|nfrequent.
Gold Mining.-The county, although
itch in other sources Of wealth, COM
baratively untouched, is noted prin-
Lipally for her quartz mines. The
leepest gold mines in America are To-
lated here The Kennedy mine is now
taking gold in liberal quantities from
buartz extracted from a depth of over
R0OO feet below the surface, with every
Indication that the pay-ore extends to
i much greater depth. Since the dis
lovery of gold. the county has contrib
lted fully 800, 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
hight or ten mines operating on what
Is called the mother lode, " stretching
tlear across the county in north least
erly direction a distance of twenty
miles. The mines aggregate between
Zoo and 500 stamps, and furnish en-
bloyment for over 1000 miners. This
Industry is still in its infancy. The
hnexplored territory, even along the
hain gold belt, is far in excess of the
Ground that has actually been worked
Dr. 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
The mother lode, but also in the almost
Untouched mlnerallzed country OF the
hast belt, some ten or twelve miles from
he main lode.
Besides gold, we have "copper" de-
bosits of pottery, coal, marbe, slate,
limestone, granite, and soapstone or
'alc-all undeveloped
| Agricultural Capabilities The agri
cultural possibilities equal, if not excel,
Inc mineral riches. The valley lands
hin produce anything that can be
brown in the most favored sections.
n the foothill lands all kinds of decid-
ous fruits thrive: also all kinds Of
Vegetable are raised where irrigation
l. practicable along the numerous water
COURSES Further up in the mountains,
1t 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
farious mining towns.
/ Grape culture and winemaking are
Becoming important industries, both
HE grapes and wine commanding a
better price than THE product of the
7owland.
Land is cheap compared with other
ldlllOIHld luuuos IhPIOECu ldllho may
be secured for one-fourth the price
current in some places. Unimproved
lands can be had from So to $40 per
ere. 1t does not require fortune to
buy 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
Il hundreds of prosperous farmers.
Amador has populasion of less than
1000. Three fourths of this is concen-
rated in a strip of three miles above
nd below the mineral belt.
InnLsnn the cnnntu snat hns nhnnt