Year: 1866




counties must have their quartz lodes develop
ed or else become in measure depopulated.
Placer mining will no longer support the in
habitants of the gold bearing districts, and
only those counties are increasing in wealth
and population, where the quartz interests
are prosperous. 1t is folly for us to shut our
eyes to the inevitable DEGREES of fate. We
may as well look the future squarely in the
face and either make up our minds to emf
crate, or go to work at once and bring to
light the unlimited resources of our quartz
mines. 1t is equally foolish to fold our hands
and look for capital to come in AID do the
work for us. The capitalists of California
State is concentrated in few hands, and
controls no. only our financial matters, but
our political assemblies. From the office of
Governor down, only such as are known to
pander to the grasping avarice of our bank
ers, can receive nominations. United States
Senators are backed by the nabobs, and even
the judiciary are influenced by those who
control conventions. If the Specific Contract
Act were repealed. ana the paper of the Gov


eminent should be allowed to circulate among
the people, money would be plenty and rates
of interest low. Any business man knows
that the cost of building mills must be in
proportion to the value of money. For in
stance, in California, at two per cent. per
month, which is twenty-four per cent. per
year, it will cost four times as much as in
New England, where it is only SIX per cent.
per annum, or six times as much as in Great
Britain where it is only four per cent. How
than can we expect to proper il business
when we have to compete with such fearful
odds. And yet there are men in the mining
counties who don't see it. 1t would be very
easy for US to allure capital into our mines,
if we could give double eagles for security.
and pay two per cent. month on one half
the amount we put up as collateral. But
we lack the security. If our miners go to
work and by the sweat of their brows devel-
op quartz lode that is rich beyond perad-
venture, then capitalists will come along and
agree to put up mill that viii. cost four or
five thousand dollars for one half the claim.
thus making half million or more ont of
the toll and perseverance of the industrious
laborers, and then claim that they have help
ed to build up the quartz interests.


Calaveras is undoubtedly rich in mineral it
has always been considered one of the best
placer mining counties in California. Its
copper mines are now celebrated throughout
the world. and, although its quartz lodes
have not yet taken rank with those of Neva-
da. Amador and Tuolumne, still no intelli-
gent miner doubts but that as rich lodes run
through our soil as through any of the coun-
ties mentioned above. We do not lack ener-
gy. for more persevering people do not in
habit tie globe; but we are short OF funds
Men of small means have invested their time
and money. freely, and a hundred shafts
sunk from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet
on different quartz lodes, attest their earnest
ness. But what is a hundred feet on a lead !.
A mere scratch on the surface. HAYWARD S
shaft, in Sutter, is down thirteen hundred
feet, and the rock pays better the further they
descend. Those who think that valuable
mine can be opened by expending few hun
dred dollars, are sadly mistaken. We are
willing to frankly admit that there has been
too much prospecting and too little work OF
the right kind done. Instead of diffusing our
labor and money, we should concentrate
both. 1t is better to develop one lead. than
to prospect twenty; for one paying claim
gives character to district and invites capi.
tai to a whole county. For the past few
years we have been working at random and
have made whole communities poor. In the
future let US at least have some d" method in
our Madness" and concentrate, as much as
possible, all of our available means upon a
few of the most promising mines in the coun-
ty. Instead of making up four or five CON-
panies in town, for the purpose of prospect
ing as many veins, let US join all together
and develop one of the best. There must be
a community of interest in order to benefit
the locality. After one mine like Hayward
is in running order, there will be no trouble
about the balance in the district.


We would advise the citizens of Mokeum.
ne Hill, and the same advice will apply te
other mountain towns, to give each week, a.
they can afford. so much money. for the pur.
pose of developing some one mine in the
neighborhood. There are one hundred mer
here who could easily average one dollar eacf
week, which would be sufficient to kepr
two shifts constantly at work until mine
was either proved valuable or worthless
This amount should be donated to the own.
ers of the mine. to be used economically in
the prosecution of the work, in case it prov
ed of no value +; but if it turned out good


then after the necessary machinery was erect.
ed and the claim paid dividend. it could be
restored to to those who subscribed the fund


We have begged for capital for years; we
have prospected as long, and yet we have
neither capital or developed mines in the
county. We must now go to work in earn.
est and show the world what riches we have
in the bowels of the earth, and we know o.
no better way than the manner we have sug.
gested above. One valuable quartz mine
would make the fortune of the county; with.
out one we shall soon be hopelessly in debt
We should take time by the forelock and re-
trieve ourselves before it is too late. Let the
citizens of Mokelumne Hill set the example
and before another Fall we shall hear music
OF hundred stamps. and see our beautiful