1 [Si 
 
 UC-NRLF 
 
FACTS AND STATISTICS 
 
 RELATING TO THE 
 
 EDMONTON, GOLD MINE, 
 
 GRASS VALLEY, 1 
 
 NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 WRIGHT & POTTER, PRINTERS, No. 4 SPRING LANE. 
 1866. 
 
FACTS AND STATISTICS 
 
 RELATING} TO THB 
 
 EDMONTON GOLD MINE, 
 
 GRASS VALLEY, 
 
 NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 WEIGHT & POTTER, PRINTERS, No. 4 SPRING LANE. 
 1866. 
 
<< 
 
^ 
 
DESCRIPTION OF MAPS, PLANS AND SECTIONS. 
 
 No. 1. Outline Map of California. 
 
 Showing the relation of Nevada County to the rest of the State, and route of travel 
 from San Francisco to Colfax Station on the Pacific Railroad. 
 
 No. 2. Outline Map of Nevada County. 
 
 Exhibiting the location of the " Edmonton " and North Star Mines, with some of the 
 principal gold quartz claims near Grass Valley, and route from Colfax, by turnpike, to 
 Grass Valley. 
 
 No. 3. Section of Edmonton and North Star Mines. 
 
 Incline and working levels, with worked out ground below, and mill above, of North 
 Star Company. Incline down on the vein, 700 feet. Proposed incline and levels for 
 Edmonton property. [See Edwin Caldwell's letter.] 
 
 No. 4. Section of Edmonton and North Star Mines. 
 
 Showing vein lengthwise, as a board cut from a log shows the inside of the log from 
 which it was cut the entire length; also, plan proposed by Edwin Caldwell, Esq., for 
 working the mine, shown by dotted lines in the " Edmonton," and connecting with North 
 Star levels and incline. 
 
 JVo. 8. Cross Section of Zedge. 
 
 Illustrating cross section of mine, the " North Star " incline, and the manner by which 
 the ore is raised to surface in car. 
 
 v 
 
STATEMENTS 
 
 RELATING TO 
 
 THE EDMONTON GOLD MINE 
 
 
 
 MR. SHIYERICK'S STATEMENT. 
 
 BOSTON, MASS., July 1st, i866. 
 
 Having recently examined the principal gold mining districts 
 of California with great care, and among many other claims the 
 Edmonton Gold Mine, I will say that this mine is in Grass Yalley 
 township, Nevada County, State of California, and in the district 
 called the Grass Yalley mining district, which is about one hun- 
 dred and fifty miles from San Francisco, (see map 1,) being the 
 great centre of the quartz mining region of California, and now 
 universally acknowledged to be by far the richest and most 
 productive gold district on the Pacific coast. 
 
 The Edmonton mine is situated about one mile from 
 the thickly settle^ part of the thriving town of Grass Yalley, 
 (see map 2,) and is a continuation or extension of one thou- 
 sand feet (1,000) on the celebrated North Star ledge. The 
 company have sunk a shaft to the water-level on the vein, which 
 has proved to be rich in gold. Crushing has been done by the 
 company at the Gold Hill Company's mill, and the ore yielded 
 from |25 to $50 dollars per ton. The great value, however, of 
 the Edmonton ground is proven by the developments made in 
 the North Star. That company have sunk an inclined shaft near 
 the Edmonton boundary line, following the course of the vein 
 to a depth of 700 feet, and have taken out nearly three millions 
 of dollars, and established the reputation of this property as a 
 first class mine. Letters recently received by me from Grass 
 Yalley, say that this mine is now richer than ever, and is paying 
 
regular monthly dividends of 8400 net per share, with a 9- 
 stamp mill running on half time, (that is, twelve hours a day,) 
 while the company have sufficient ore in sight to keep a 20-stamp 
 mill employed, and could readily double the product of their 
 mine. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Findlay, formerly treasurer of the State of 
 California, and now a banker at Grass Valley, has stated to me 
 in writing over his own signature, as you will observe, that the 
 net yield of this mine was from seventy thousand to one 
 hundred and twenty thousand dollars (coin) annually. 
 
 The veins in Grass Valley district are not large, but exceed- 
 ingly rich ; that of the celebrated Allison Ranch Mine in this 
 district, and situated about one and a half m^es from the 
 Edmonton, does not average over two feet in thickness, and yet 
 this mine has divided to its fortunate owners, two of whom 
 reside in the State of Maine, (James O'Donohue and Timothy 
 Field,) over three millions of dollars, and is now richer than 
 ever. The Rocky Bar, Massachusetts Hill and Scadden Flat 
 Mines, situated near the Edmonton, have brought immense 
 wealth to their owners. The Eureka Mine, situated about two 
 miles from the " Edmonton," is paying enormously, having 
 actually yielded, in November last, -$43,000 ; and since that 
 period the product has been over a thousand dollars per day. 
 During the month of April, the gross product was 880,000, or 
 82,000 per day. 
 
 The Hueston, Merrimack, Ophir Hill, Forest Spring, Lucky 
 Company, and many others, are paying dividends which are 
 making their owners rich ; and one undeniable fact in regard to 
 these wonderful mines is, that the deeper they are worked the 
 richer they prove. 
 
 The advantages of carrying on quartz mining in Grass Valley, 
 are superior to any portion of California. Communication with 
 San Francisco is very easy, being by steamer to Sacramento, 
 and by the Pacific Railroad to Colfax, and then over a fine 
 turnpike road eleven and a half miles to Grass Valley, by the 
 California Stage Company's stages, so that we are within twenty 
 hours of San Francisco ; wood is abundant and cheap, plenty of 
 good pure water, so indispensable in crushing. The very best 
 of Cornish miners can be had at 8-3.50 per day ; the climate is 
 very superior, and mining is carried on without any interruption 
 
for the entire year ; freight from San Francisco is not over one 
 and a quarter cents per pound ; machinery of the best quality 
 with all the latest improvements can be obtained in San Fran- 
 cisco nearly as cheap as in New York City, as iron is imported 
 direct. 
 
 The shipment of gold from Grass Valley amounts to nearly 
 half a million dollars per month, and it is the opinion of those 
 familiar with the developments being made, that it will reach 
 the sum of one million a month within five years. Mr. Dide- 
 shemier, a mining engineer of great experience in the mines of 
 Frieburgh, in Germany, and for many years superintendent of 
 the Ophir Silver Mine at Washoe, told me a few days since that 
 he had examined these mines and believed they would yet be 
 worked to a depth of two thousand feet with great profit. 
 
 It is my opinion that the Edmonton property is very valuable, 
 and will prove a first class mine ; and the developments which 
 can be made in eighteen months, with a vigorous prosecution of 
 the work, will demonstrate its value. This opinion is indorsed 
 by Professor Silliman, who examined it last summer, and by 
 Captain Day, former superintendent of the Savage Mine in 
 Washoe, Mr. Caldwell, superintendent of the Yellow Jacket 
 Mine, and Mr. Northey, a Cornish miner, of great experience in 
 the mines of Grass Valley, for twelve years. 
 
 The " Edmonton " being the identical vein upon which the 
 very productive " North Star " mine is situated, should not be 
 looked upon as an undeveloped and unexplored property. Its 
 identity with the " North Star " is clearly established, and no 
 reason exists either in the character of the outcrop or the config- 
 uration of the country, why the Edmonton should not yield its 
 millions of gold to its owners, as the North Star has done, and is 
 doing. I am in possession of evidence that the " North Star " 
 mine is under contract of sale for the sum of 8450,000 in gold, 
 (since sold,) the purchasers having deposited the sum of 10,000 
 to be forfeited in case the purchase money is not paid within six 
 months. 
 
 It may be well for me to call attention to the fact that Mr. 
 George W. Beaver, of Exchange Place, New York, one of the 
 owners of the " Eureka " mine, has examined the " North Star " 
 mine, and expressed the opinion that the great gold producing 
 state of California can boast of but two mines which are superior 
 
to it the " Allison Ranch " and the " Eureka." References 
 can be given of New York gentlemen who own largely in these 
 profitable mines, if the following evidence is not entirely 
 satisfactory. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Findlay, the banker, of whom I have already 
 spoken, and whose opinion on mines is worthy of entire confi- 
 dence, stated to me at his bank, in August, 1865, that he once 
 owned in the " Edmonton ; " that he believed it to be a good 
 mine ; and expressed to me a regret that he had been induced to 
 sell. 
 
 Mr. George Roberts, a miner of great experience in Washoe 
 and California, .and an old resident of Grass Valley, expressed 
 the opinion that the " Edmonton " was a splendid mine and 
 that he never knew an instance, in a " Grass Valley " mine, of 
 failure, where the ore paid $8 to $10 per ton on the surface. 
 
 Mr. Morse, owner of the water-works at Grass Valley, stated 
 to a friend that the location of the " Edmonton " mine was 
 second to none in Grass Valley, and that it might prove a better 
 mine than the " North Star." 
 
 The gross yield of the " North Star " mine, since the erection 
 of its present small mill, was estimated by the " Alta- California " 
 newspaper, in December, 1865, at three million dollars. With 
 the completion of the company's new 16-stamp mill, now in 
 progress, the monthly product will not probably fall short of 
 fifty thousand dollars. 
 
 It may be well perhaps to state, that the purchasers of the 
 " Edmonton " will find in Edwin Caldwell or William D. Johns, 
 Esqrs., both of whom are old miners of large experience, and gen- 
 tlemen of integrity and energy, (either of whom can be obtained 
 to superintend the prosecution and development of the work,) 
 just such organizing and business capacity as will be needed. 
 These gentlemen can furnish the best of references. 
 
 The owners of the " North Star " mine have assured me that 
 for a reasonable rent the " Edmonton " owners can have the 
 privilege of running their levels into the " Edmonton " vein, 
 and taking out the ore through their incline, and hoisting to the 
 surface by their power. (Plan No. 4 illustrates this method of 
 working.) 
 
 (Signed,) N. SHIVERICK. 
 
LETTER FROM PROFESSOR SILLIMAN, 
 
 OF YALE COLLEGE. 
 
 NEW HAVEN, CONN., November 25th, 1865. 
 
 DEAR SIR: In answer to your inquiry of the 21st inst., it 
 gives me pleasure to say, that in my opinion, the Edmonton 
 mining claim, in Grass Valley, must be regarded as a very 
 valuable piece of mining ground. The reason for this opinion 
 is, that I know the adjoining claim called the North Star Mine, 
 having examined it in my last visit to Grass Valley, at which 
 time I collected specimens and made note of the condition of this 
 gold mine. I also had access to the books of the bankers where 
 the bullion obtained at this mine is deposited, and can state 
 from this source of knowledge, that the returns were about 
 $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) monthly ; the expenses being 
 stated under $2,500. The vein on which the North Star Mine 
 is sunk is no doubt the same as that opened on the Edmonton. 
 I recognize the identity from the specimens collected by myself 
 from the North Star, with those in your possession from the 
 Edmonton. I cannot doubt, no miner can doubt, that the 
 exploration of the North Star Mine to a depth of 700 feet on 
 the incline, is also an exploration of the Edmonton, nor that 
 the same character of ores will be extracted from the latter as 
 from the former. 
 
 I could go much more into detail respecting the Grass Valley 
 gold mines if you desire it. Suffice it to say at present, that in 
 the opinion of all persons conversant with the facts, Grass Valley 
 is the best gold mining district in California, which is saying a 
 great deal ; the returns of bullion, about half a million monthly, 
 however, sustain this statement, as well as the fact that there 
 have been few failures to note in mining enterprises there while 
 the most remarkable cases of success are also found there. 
 
 In my opinion it requires only the application of capital and 
 ordinary good management to develop a first class gold mine on 
 the Edmonton claim. If you desire a statement more in detail, 
 I can give it at a time when my other engagements permit. 
 
 Yours, respectfully, 
 
 B. SILLIMAN. 
 N. SHIVERICK, Esq., New York. 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 REPORT FROM PROFESSOR SILLIMAN 
 
 ON THE EDMONTON MINE. 
 
 NEW HAVEN, Coxx., Sept. 18, 1866. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR: It gives me pleasure to respond to your inquiry 
 " if I could say anything favorable of the gold-mining claim 
 known as the ' Edmonton Ground,' in Grass Valley, Nevada 
 County, California." I reply : 
 
 First. This claim, (1,000 feet,) is situated in the most pros- 
 perous and celebrated gold quartz mining district in California, 
 and probably in the world. 
 
 Second. It is the extension of, and immediately adjoining to, 
 the North Star Mine, which Mr. John Arthur Phillips, of Lon- 
 don, the well-known mining engineer, assures me, in a private 
 communication, is the best developed and one of the best paying 
 gold mines in Grass Valley, a mine which was lately purchased 
 for an investment by several prominent capitalists of San Fran- 
 cisco, well known to me, for the sum of fo.ur hundred and fifty 
 thousand dollars (8450,000) gold. 
 
 The Edmonton ground was secured by it's present holders at 
 at the suggestion of Mr. Phillips, subsequent to his examination 
 of the North Star Mine a few months since. 
 
 Third. I am personally acquainted with this run of mining 
 ground, having .examined it in December, 1864. I had access 
 to the books of the bankers where the deposits of the North Star 
 Mine were made. It appeared from the record that the monthly 
 earnings of the mine up to that time had been about 810,000. 
 Jt was one of the very small number of mines that had not been 
 worked solely for immediate profit, a large part of the earnings 
 having gone into the development and exploration of the ground. 
 Later, the owners erected a new mill of sixteen stamps, and I 
 learn from the best authority that their present net earnings are 
 from 818,000 to 820,000 per month. The ores have increased 
 in value from 825 to 840 per ton. The vein averages about two 
 .and one-half feet in thickness. 
 
 The following notice of this mine is taken from the " Semi- 
 Annual Mining Review," published in the " Mercantile Gazette " 
 of San Francisco, July 9th, 1866, which is valuable as showing 
 the estimate which is set on this property in commercial circles 
 in California : 
 
11 
 
 " The North Star, universally conceded to be a mine of extraordinary 
 merit, and undoubtedly one of the most valuable about Grass Valley, 
 has the further advantage of having been developed in a thoroughly 
 scientific and substantial manner. It is opened by a main incline 665 
 feet long, and having a vertical depth of 250 feet. The vein, which lies 
 quite flat, and varies in thickness from one to six feet, averaging about 
 two and one-half, has been exposed in the lowest level some 425 feet 
 easterly from the main shaft, and 640 feet in the same direction in the 
 next level above, securing for it a very thorough exploration. From 
 these lower levels very little ore has been raised, and between the 
 bottom level and the two levels above the length and average width of 
 the vein being carefully ascertained by actual measurement it is 
 thought that 10,000 tons of ore can yet be extracted, worth $35 per 
 ton ; and in the virgin ground, which extends to the surface above these 
 three lower levels, and varying in length from 400 to 600 feet, it is 
 estimated that 20,000 tons may be taken, worth, say, $28 per ton. In 
 other words, with the developments now made from the bottom of the 
 shaft to the surface, 30,000 tons of ore still remain untouched, valued at 
 over $900,000. The great wealth of this mine will, however, probably 
 be found in sinking still deeper, inasmuch as .the lode has shown a steady 
 improvement as descended upon. For the past five years this claim 
 seems to have been worked with reference to the future, rather than 
 for consideration of immediate benefit. Although dividends have been 
 declared at irregular intervals since 1852, the real prosperity of the mine 
 dates from 1861, and during the past four years a net profit of $500,000 
 has been realized, of which sum fully $125,000 was expended in various 
 improvements, such as the construction of a drain tunnel half a mile in 
 length, new hoisting and pumping apparatus, and in the erection of a 
 new and very substantial mill, capable of crushing at least 35 tons of 
 ore per day, leaving $375,000 for actual dividends. All this was 
 accomplished with a 6-stamp mill running in 1862 and 1863, and since 
 then by one of 9 stamps. The returns for the first five months of the 
 present year reached nearly $90,000, extracted from some 2,500 tons of 
 ore. The average yield of the rock has been about $35 per ton for 
 several years past that more recently crushed running up to nearly 
 $40. This valuable property, including the new 1 6-stamp mill, was not 
 long since purchased by several capitalists of this city for $450,000 ; 
 but it probably could now be resold for a much larger sum. The working 
 management will remain in former hands, the whole being in charge of 
 Mr. William H. Rodda, for a long time general superintendent." 
 
 Fourth. I have the pleasure of submitting herewith the 
 opinion of John Arthur Phillips, Esq., of London, upon this 
 
property. Fortunately, Mr. Phillips was here when I received 
 your request for an opinion on the Edmonton, and cheerfully 
 consented, at my request, to express his opinion in a letter 
 addressed to myself. 
 
 Mr. Phillips stands deservedly high with capitalists in London 
 and elsewhere, many of whom seldom make any important 
 mining adventure without his advice. You are therefore as well 
 fortified as if you had sent Mr. Phillips on a special mission to 
 examine the ground. 
 
 Fifth. The Edmonton belongs in the category of developed 
 mines in virtue of the extensive exploration of the immediately 
 adjoining ground on the same vein in the North Star, which has 
 made this vein known to a depth on the slope of over 650 feet, 
 and to a distance within a few feet of the Edmonton line. The 
 vein lies very flat about 23 giving a vertical depth of only 
 250 feet. The water-charges are very light. An incline shaft 
 can be sunk rapidly on the dip of the vein on the Edmonton 
 ground. If it should be deemed wiser, at a later time, to sink a 
 vertical shaft to cut the vein at 300 feet, (giving nearly 800 feet 
 of backs on the vein,) it can be done at a cost of about $25 to 
 $30 per foot, this being what other downright shafts in the 
 greenstone have cost in this district. There can be no possible 
 objection to the immediate construction of a mill of ten stamps, 
 capable of crushing 20 to 25 tons of ore daily, since by the time 
 the mill is ready for use, the incline will be down sufficiently to 
 supply ore. This course could not be advised if the vein had 
 not already been proved to so great a depth and extent on the 
 North Star ground. 
 
 The ores above 200 feet in depth will not be likely to yield 
 over $25 per ton of 2,000 pounds in mill, (this having been about 
 the average on the .North Star up to that depth.) These poorer 
 ores may advantageously be held in reserve, and the incline driven 
 for the richer ores in depth. But even at $25 yield the return 
 of the mine will be sufficiently satisfactory. Say the crushing is 
 monthly six hundred (600) tons, the gross yield of which, at 
 
 $25, is $15,000 00 
 
 Monthly charges, say, 5,000 00 
 
 Profit, . .... $10,000 00 
 
 or over 3 per cent, a month on a nominal value of $300,000, 
 
13 
 
 (gold.) This profit will of course increase with each increment 
 in the value of the ore, without any increase of charges, and at 
 $40 per ton for ores would be doubled. The cost of the plant 
 will be about as follows : 
 
 For a 10-stamp mill complete, say, .... $12,000 
 
 hoisting and pumping works, . . . . 8,000 
 
 sinking and timbering 200 feet of incline, $25, . 5,000 
 
 driving 500 feet of levels, $10, .... 5,000 
 
 superintendence, <fec., ...... 2,500 
 
 Assumed working capital required, (gold,) . . $32,500 
 
 This estimate covers buildings and tram-tracks. The mill 
 should be situated on Wolf Creek, a short distance from the 
 mine, where there is ample water, and the ores conveyed to it 
 by a tram-way. Later, a second mill may be erected near the 
 mine when the work under ground has developed sufficient 
 reserves of ores to justify it, at which time the mine may also 
 produce the requisite amount of water to supply milling uses. 
 Otherwise it will be requisite to enlarge the mill on the creek 
 this as circumstances may determine. A good mill may be put 
 up in Grass Valley at a cost not exceeding $800 per head of 
 stamps ; but I have added fifty per cent, to that cost to cover 
 numerous contingencies incident to a new enterprise. 
 
 The system of amalgamation in use in Grass Valley is the 
 most successful yet adopted in California, and there is no occa- 
 sion for fear of costly experiments or loss of gold in this direc- 
 tion. The system of concentration for saving sulphurets is 
 capable of important improvements, no doubt. The sulphurets 
 of the North Star are very rich, and are equal to 2J per cent, 
 of the whole mass of ores. Wood costs in brass Valley about 
 $3 per cord ; labor from $2.50 (ordinary,) to $4 for skilled labor ; 
 ordinary miners $3 to $3.50. 
 
 This property is approached by steam-boat to Sacramento, and 
 railroad to Colfax, within ten or twelve miles of the mines. 
 Time from San Francisco, sixteen to eighteen hours. 
 
 Being a highly prosperous district, there is no lack of labor, 
 while provisions and supplies of all kinds are abundant and 
 cheap. 
 
u 
 
 The cost of reduction and mining of gold ores in Grass Valley 
 ranges from $5 to $15 per ton, the cost increasing as. the veins 
 are smaller. 
 
 The accompanying map (No. 2,) will give you an idea of the 
 relative position of the Edmonton to the other well known 
 mines in Grass Valley. 
 
 Sixth. The gold product of this district for the six months 
 ending July 1st, is stated, in the mining review for last six months, 
 at (83,000,000,) three millions of dollars, the cost of production 
 not exceeding 25 per cent, of the gross product, and in the best 
 cases falling as low as 15 per cent., showing the enormous 
 advantage of gold over silver mining, alike in the cost of the 
 plant and in the expenses of beneficiating the ores. The net 
 saving of the best Nevada silver mines has not exceeded 20 per 
 cent, to 80 per cent, of the gross product, while the greater 
 number have made no profits at all. 
 
 Seventh. Some of the most productive mines in Grass Valley 
 at this time, with their monthly gross product, are as follows : 
 
 The Allison Ranch, producing from . . 840,000 to $60,000 
 
 North Star, 24,000 80,000 
 
 Eureka, 50,000 70,000 
 
 Massachusetts Hill, .... 20,000 30,000 
 
 Ophir, 80,000 50,000 
 
 Norambagua, 18,000 25,000 
 
 Union Hill, 25,000 30,000 
 
 In all, the gross product falls hardly short of half a million 
 dollars monthly from various sources, there being in all about 
 25 active mills in this district, which will be increased soon to 
 30, or in the aggregate 300 head stamps crushing about 15,000 
 tons of gold quartz monthly, the average yield of which is about 
 $30, probably somewhat more. Nothing comparable with this 
 can be said of any other gold-producing district in California. 
 
 There are numerous single mines in California the annual 
 product of which exceeds the gross product of the whole of 
 Nova Scotia, while a few in Grass Valley produce annually 
 three or four times as much, respectively, as the total product 
 of all the Nova Scotia mines. Such are the Allison Ranch and 
 Eureka Mines. 
 
15 
 
 I might dwell much more at length on the statistics of Grass 
 Yalley, a district with which I am particularly familiar ; but it 
 is needless to add more at present. 
 
 You have in the Edmonton a first-class property, requiring 
 only time, moderate capital and faithful administration, with 
 economy, to render it productive to a highly satisfactory degree. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 (Signed,) B. SILLIMAN. 
 
 CHAS. M. WHEATLEY, Esq., 42 Pine St., N. Y. 
 
 LETTER FROM JOHN ARTHUR PHILLIPS, ESQ., 
 
 MINING ENGINEER, BOND COURT, LONDON. 
 
 NEW YORK, September 17, 1866. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : In reply to your question relative to the 
 Edmonton claim in Grass Valley, California, I am sorry to say 
 that not having brought with me my note-book containing 
 memoranda relating to this property, I can only speak generally 
 on the subject. 
 
 The Edmonton is, as you are aware, situated on the continua- 
 tion of the vein worked in the North Star Mine, and little or 
 nothing has been done with a view to its development. I con- 
 sider, however, the North Star to be one of the best mining 
 properties in Grass Yalley, and some of the levels have, I believe, 
 been extended to within a hundred feet of the Edmonton boun- 
 dary.* 
 
 The North Star proprietors are well known to be making 
 regular returns and to be realizing large profits, and will prob- 
 ably continue to do so for many years. I see no reason why 
 the Edmonton ground, if properly worked, should not afford 
 equally satisfactory results. 
 
 I entertain a very high opinion of the capability of this loca- 
 tion, and' believe it to be one of the most desirable mining claims 
 in the whole district. 
 
 I am, my dear sir, yours faithfully, 
 
 J. ARTHUR PHILLIPS. 
 Professor B. SILLIMAN, &c., &c. 
 
 * Stated by Mr. EDWIN CALDWELL, p. 21, to be thirty feet. See section 3, annexed. 
 
Ifi 
 
 FROM DR. CHARLES T. JACKSON, 
 
 GEOLOGIST, MINERALOGIST AND ASSAYER FOR THE STATE OF MASSA- 
 CHUSETTS. 
 
 BOSTON, October 2, 1866. 
 
 MR. N. SHIYERTCK : Dear /Sir, In reply to your application 
 for such information as I can give in relation to Grass Valley 
 (California,) gold mines applicable to the Edmonton property, I 
 would state that during the month of May of last year I visited 
 Grass Valley and examined with care the chief gold mines then 
 opened, and explored the geological and mineralogical character 
 of the country around the gold mines of that region, and am able 
 to give a general opinion with regard to future prospects in gold 
 mining in that vicinity. 
 
 Grass Valley is well known in California as the richest and 
 most reliable quartz gold mining district of that State, and the 
 mines now working there have paid larger profits than any of 
 the gold mines of California ; the Rocky Bar and Eureka 
 mines being among the most celebrated of those which were in 
 full operation while I was there. The veins yield on an average 
 840 per ton of quartz. The Rocky Bar mine yielded at that 
 time 2,000 ounces of gold bullion every steamer day, namely 
 on the third and twenty-third day of each month. 
 
 The vein of auriferous quartz is from fourteen inches to three 
 feet wide and runs north-east and south-west, dipping to the 
 south-eastward sixty or seventy degrees. The depth attained 
 when I was at the mine was about 300 feet. One hundred men 
 are employed at the mine and mills. 
 
 The Eureka mine owned at that time by Messieurs Fricot & 
 Co., and which has since been sold for half a million dollars, 
 produced from 816,000 to 825,000 net profit per month, only 84 
 miners being employed. The depth attained in the shaft of this 
 mine is 200 feet. Three sets of levels have been driven and three 
 right stopes were working to great profit in the upper level and 
 inverted stopes or .grades in the lower level. 
 
 The vein is three and a half feet wide and runs S. 80 E. N. 
 80 W. and dips to the southward 70 or 80, the rocks of the 
 country being argillaceous slate and diorite. 
 
17 
 
 The average yield of this vein is $ 35 per ton, but it varies 
 from this as shown by the returns; thus $13, $45, $50 and $70. 
 
 The concentrated " tailings," consisting of auriferous pyrites, 
 contain per assay $300 per ton and yield per chlorine process 
 $280, the separation of this gold being contracted for by shares. 
 
 There are a number of other gold mines worked in Grass 
 Valley, some of which I visited but did not so fully examine as 
 those above named. 
 
 I found that this district had originally been worked by placer 
 operations, and hydraulic works, all of which have given way to 
 regular quartz mining, which gives more certain returns. 
 
 Grass Valley undoubtedly has many valuable quartz leads, 
 rich in gold, which have not yet been developed and from the 
 survey plot drawn by J. E. Mather, Esq., surveyor and civil 
 engineer for Nevada County which you showed me, I am con- 
 vinced that the same vein which is worked by the North Star 
 Company passes under the surface of the Edmonton property, the 
 course and dip of the vein showing that it must thus extend, 
 while it has really been traced beyond your boundary line. 
 I can see no reason why the vein may not prove as rich on your 
 property as on that where the vein has been developed and 
 proved by mining. 
 
 The above opinions may be of use to you in forming an 
 estimate of the value of the Edmonton property, especially if 
 compared with the other evidence your have shown me. 
 
 Wishing you all success in your enterprise, 
 I am, respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 CHARLES T. JACKSON, M. D. 
 
 Geologist, Mineralogist and State Assay er. 
 3 
 
LETTER OF EDWARD NORTHEY, ESQ., 
 
 OF GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 NEW YORK, June 2d, 1866. 
 
 N. SHIVERICK, Esq. : Dear Sir, In reply to your inquiries I 
 would say, that having been a resident of Grass Valley, Cali- 
 fornia, since the year 1852, 1 am well acquainted with all the 
 leading gold-bearing quartz mines of that section of the country, 
 and that I have been familiar with the " French Lead," formerly 
 so called, upon which are situated the " Helvetia," now known 
 as the North Star mine, as well as the " Edmonton" mine, located 
 upon the same vein, and I consider the " North Star " one of 
 the most valuable mining properties in Grass Yalley ; immense 
 wealth in gold having to my knowledge, been taken from it. 
 The present product of the " North Star," with a 9-stamp mill, 
 is from 815,000 to $17,000 in gold per month. The owners of 
 said mine had recently made a verbal agreement to dispose of it 
 for the sum of $400,000 in gold, which agreement they subse- 
 quently refused to ratify, paying $15,000 in .coin to cancel the 
 contract. [Since sold for $450,000.] 
 
 I know that the " Edmonton " mine is a continuation or 
 extension of the " North Star " vein. It is recorded as such in 
 the records of the Grass Yalley mining district, and is proved to 
 be identical with the North Star by actual development. Work 
 has been upon the " North Star " mine within thirty-five feet of 
 the " Edmonton " company's line, and upon the " Edmonton," 
 within twenty feet of the " North Star " line. From investiga- 
 tion, I have ascertained that the title to the " Edmonton " 
 property is perfect the rules and laws governing mining- 
 titles in the district having been fully complied with. The 
 "Edmonton" mine consists of 1,000 feet along the course of 
 the vein commencing at the western boundary of the " North 
 Star." The vein has been found beyond the westerly boundary 
 of the " Edmonton " claim, and from a mining experience of 
 thirty years in Cornwall, England, North Carolina, and Califor- 
 nia, I believe the " Edmonton " mine will prove of great value 
 when thoroughly developed. 
 
 I beg to refer you as to my credibility, to Henry Morgan, 
 Esq., of New York, President of the United States Telegraph 
 Company. Yours, <fec., 
 
 (Signed,) EDWARD NORTHEY. 
 
19 
 LETTER FROM HENRY MORGAN, ESQ., 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TELEGRAPH COMPANY. 
 
 JUNE 26th, 1866. 
 
 I have been acquainted with Edward Northey, Esq., of Grass 
 Valley, California, for a period of two years, and know him to be 
 a gentleman of sound judgment, and of great experience in all 
 matters connected with mining. I have followed his advice and 
 suggestions in making some investments in mining properties, 
 and the result has increased my confidence in his good judgment 
 and sagacity. By his advice, I purchased for the sum of twenty- 
 six thousand dollars, an interest in the " Hueston Hill Mine," 
 which has proved a very profitable investment. I know of no 
 gentlemen whose opinion concerning mining properties I would 
 accept with greater confidence than his, and none whose 
 statements are worthy of more implicit belief. 
 
 (Signed,) HENRY MORGAN, 
 
 N. SHIVERICK, Esq. 117 Broadivay, New York. 
 
 LETTER OF MINING ENGINEER MELVILLE ATTWOOD. 
 722 BUSH STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18, 1866. 
 
 Mr. N. SHIVERICK: Dear Sir, I am in receipt of your 
 letter of the 16th instant, and in reply to your questions 
 respecting the North Star and Edmonton claims, near Grass 
 Valley, beg to say that I have known the North Star Mine since 
 August, 1852. The Edmonton Mine is a continuation of the 
 .same vein westward. I have crushed vein-stone from both 
 claims at the Gold Hill mill, and the yield varied from twenty- 
 five to fifty dollars per ton. 
 
 During the time that my foreman, Mr. John White, was a 
 partner in the Edmonton claim, (I believe in 1858,) I made a 
 survey of the mine for the purpose of sinking a boundary shaft 
 between the two claims. The character of the vein-stone going 
 westward was the same, and yielded about the same result in 
 crushing. 
 
 I can with confidence recommend the ground to any parties 
 desirous of engaging in quartz mining. 
 
 I remain, dear sir, yours truly, 
 (Signed,) MELVILLE ATTWOOD. 
 
20' 
 LETTER FROM MESSRS. A. E. & C. E. TILTON, 
 
 MANUFACTURERS OF TILTOX AND MCFARLAND'S FIRE AND BURGLAR 
 SAFES, 95 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, AND BANKERS AT PORTLAND, 
 OREGON. 
 
 JUNE 11 th, 1866. 
 
 DEAR SIR : We take pleasure in testifying in the strongest 
 manner to the high character of Melville Attwood, Esq., the 
 author of the foregoing, for truth and veracity, as well as to his 
 superior skill and judgment, and great practical experience as a 
 mining engineer. We should rely, implicity, upon his state- 
 ments concerning any mines upon which he might pass opinion, 
 and should not deem it necessary to go beyond his judgment in 
 any matter involving mining experience or geological knowledge. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 (Signed,) A. E. & C. E. TILTON. 
 
 LETTER FROM EDWIN CALDWELL, ESQ. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., March 16th, 1866. 
 
 DEAR SIR, A short time since I visited the gold quartz mines 
 of Grass Valley, and must say that the developments both in 
 the old and new mines are truly wonderful. Among the mines 
 long worked, the renowned " Allison Ranch " continues its 
 liberal yield, and indeed is progressing. The average net pro- 
 duct of this mine per month is nearly $50,000, coin. Next m 
 value, perhaps, is the " Ophir Hill," (though the owners of the 
 " Eureka " will not yield the palm to any,) which has paid as 
 high as $40,000 net per month, with only six stamps ; though 
 that probably is above the average. They have now ready for 
 crushing about 4,000 tons of ore which is estimated to contain, 
 say $40 per ton, $160,000. They are now erecting a new mill 
 with thirty stamps. The " Eureka " gives an average net yield 
 per month, with twenty stamps, of $40,000, and pays a monthly 
 dividend of ten per cent. The two last named mines were 
 purchased a few years since for a mere song. 
 
 You know the Rocky Bar, Norambagua, Lone Jack, Illinois, 
 North Star, Scadden Flat, Merrimack, Lucky, Union Hill, and 
 
21 
 
 many others. They are all doing well. The " Burdette " mine 
 you also know. The Eastern men who bought it fancied they 
 had made a bad bargain, but they are agreeably disappointed ; 
 parties just returned inform me that the rock is yielding on an 
 average 150 per ton. The Bryant, adjoining, shows a good yield. 
 
 Among the most important developments lately is the lone 
 Mine. Messrs. Curtis, Hunt, and George Hearst (whom you 
 know,) bought it, fully developed it, and have now a first class 
 mine. You also know L. Schloss & Co. ; last week they paid 
 $50,000, coin, for a quarter of the mine. 
 
 In regard to all the gold mines of Grass Yalley, I am satisfied 
 that wherever the working has been effectively performed, a 
 ledge yielding $8 to $10 per ton on the surface, has proved 
 richer in proportion to the depth attained, and has yielded 
 largely. I have investigated the subject thoroughly, and have 
 yet to learn of a single failure of late years, in that locality, 
 where the surface yield was as above stated. As you have been 
 through this mining district inspecting, you well know that I 
 am correct. 
 
 The statistics given you by Messrs. Findlay & Delano, bank- 
 ers of Grass Valley, you may rely upon, as well as those 
 furnished by the owners of the " North Star" mine. 
 
 You inquire as to the expense of working the " Edmonton " 
 mine. There are two ways. The first is to erect machinery 
 and sink a shaft and drain for a depth 150 feet through the 
 " North Star " tunnel. To do this, about 112,000 in coin would 
 suffice or to have a safe margin, say $15,000. This would 
 erect machinery, purchase a pump and tubing for 300 feet, and 
 sink the shaft 200 feet, open out ore drifts, and in the meantime 
 be taking out ore for the mill without further outlay. [See 
 Plan 3.] 
 
 The second plan would be to arrange with the " North Star " 
 Company to run drifts from their works, [see Plan 4,] which 
 are probably thirty feet off at the nearest point to the " Edmon- 
 ton " ground, and take out the ore through their incline. This 
 could no doubt be effected at a comparatively small cost. I 
 think five thousand dollars would then, with the proceeds of the 
 ore extracted, be ample for the erection of a mill and machinery. 
 As to the nature of the ore, neither I myself, nor any one who 
 is experienced in the matter, doubt that it is very valuable, the 
 
22 l 
 
 ledge being a well defined one. The " North Star " Company's 
 mine is yielding so uniformly well, close up to the " Edmonton " 
 line, that the success of the ledge may be considered certain ; 
 especially as the surface shaft has developed great richness. 
 Mr. Rodda, superintendent of the " North Star " mine, assured 
 me that their best ore was taken out in close proximity to the 
 " Edmonton " line, and he would have worked quite up to it, 
 had he not been afraid of drawing the water from it. 
 
 You deserve success in the East. The property is well worthy 
 the attention of capitalists, and is, in my opinion, a first-class 
 investment. 
 
 I have given you fully and frankly, my views respecting this 
 coast, and Grass Valley in particular. My former opinion is 
 more and more confirmed, that no safer, more permanent, or 
 remunerative investment can be obtained in mining interests, 
 than those in Grass Valley. 
 
 I will remark in conclusion, that had I not visited this locality 
 and seen for myself, I could not have believed that the mines 
 were so rich and promising as they really are. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 (Signed,) E. CALDWELL. 
 
 N. SHIVERICK, Esq. 
 
 LETTER FROM E. CALDWELL. 
 
 FOREST HILLS, CAL., June 22d, 1866. 
 
 Last week I went to San Francisco by way of Grass Valley, 
 and returned that way. You would be agreeably surprised at 
 the changed appearance of the place since you saw it last. 
 There have been hundreds of new buildings put up ; and the 
 place has more the appearance of thrift than any town outside 
 of San Francisco that I am acquainted with. Of the mines, I 
 have written so much heretofore, that I will say but little gen- 
 erally now. The " Ophir Hill " has started up its new 30-stamp 
 mill, and the result of the first week of crushing was $20,000, 
 and that of average rock ; the " Eureka " takes out with twenty 
 stamps $80,000 a month. The " North Star," with nine stamps, 
 over $20,000 net per month. The " Allison Ranch " is as good 
 as ever. The " lone " is taking out $800 per day with ten 
 
23 
 
 stamps. The " Union Hill " is now putting up a new mill of 
 twenty stamps. , The " Cambridge," close by, have new mill 
 and hoisting works. The " Burdette " have new machinery on 
 the ground and soon will commence to put it up. Professor 
 Fisher, who superintends, told me the result of their crush- 
 ing was very satisfactory, and their first bar went forward two 
 weeks since to New York. The " North Star Company " start 
 their new mill next week, and they expect to crush enough in 
 thirty days to pay for it. The whole property is under contract 
 for $450,000 in gold coin. Mr. Rodda told me he would rather 
 they would not take it, arid so the Messrs. Coleman say. 
 
 Yours, respectfully, 
 
 E. CALDWELL. 
 
 N. SHIVERICK, Esq. 
 
 LETTER OF W. H. RODDA, ESQ. 
 
 SECRETARY AND TREASURER OF NORTH STAR QUARTZ MINING COMPANY 
 
 GRASS VALLEY, August 20, 1865. 
 
 Mr. N. SHIVERICK: Dear Sir, In reply to jour inquiry 
 about the yield of the North Star Mine, situated in this town, I 
 give you the following statistics : 
 
 Average yield of rock per ton, from 1862 to pres- 
 ent time, about $30 00 
 
 Yield ore per month, 500 tons. 
 
 Gross yield of mine per year, .... 150,000 00 
 
 Giving a net profit of 70,000 00 
 
 Income tax for 1863 was assessed at $3,630 to each 
 twentieth interest. 
 
 Width of vein, average one foot six inches. 
 
 Depth of incline, 700 feet, 
 
 Number of stamps running, 9. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 (Signed,) W H. RODDA. 
 
24 
 
 Statistics furnished respecting' mines in California, by THOMAS 
 FINDLAY, Esq., banker, and formerly Treasurer of the State 
 of California. 
 
 ALLISON RANCH COMPANY have declared three million 
 dollars dividends, and the yield is now larger than ever. 
 
 NORTH STAR MINING COMPANY. The dividends of this 
 company are from seventy to one hundred and twenty thousand 
 dollars in gold, per annum. 
 
 EUREKA MINE. This mine clears about one thousand dollars 
 per day. 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS HILL COMPANY. This mine clears over one 
 thousand dollars per day. 
 
 MERRIMACK COMPANY clears with small mill about sixty 
 thousand dollars yearly. 
 
 LUCKY MINE yields a profit of from ten to fifteen thousand 
 dollars per month. 
 
 There are also the Scadden Flat Mine, producing $50 to 8200 
 per ton, and the Hueston Hill from 8100 to $300 per ton. 
 
 Other mines give large dividends, but they are too numerous 
 to mention here. 
 
 (Signed,) THOMAS FINDLAY. 
 
 GRASS VALLEY, August 20th, 1885. 
 
 LETTER FROM A. DELANO, ESQ., 
 
 BANKER AT GRASS VALLEY. 
 
 GRASS VALLEY, September 1, 1865. 
 
 N, SHIVERICK, Esq. : Dear Sir, In reply to your inquiries 
 respecting the mines about Grass Valley, I can only give you 
 general information concerning the most prominent. 
 
 The ALLISON RANCH LEAD is considered one of the best ; has 
 been paying large dividends for years, and continues to do so. 
 The company have grown wealthy through this mine. 
 
 The NORTH STAR MINE has been paying dividends for years, 
 and is now worked successfully. 
 
 The continuation of the North Star, known as the " Edmon- 
 ton " mine, is not yet fully developed, but is in a good locality, 
 
25 
 
 and I know no reason why the rock is not the same as that of 
 the North Star. 
 
 The FOREST SPRING MINE has been working for years. It has 
 yielded forty to fifty dollars per ton, and is now paying better 
 than ever. 
 
 The HUESTON is making large dividends on a ledge twelve 
 inches in thickness. The rock yields from sixty to one hundred 
 and ten dollars per ton. 
 
 The OPHIR MINE is upon a five or six foot ledge. It produces 
 from thirty to fifty dollars per ton. It has been in operation for 
 many years. 
 
 The ROCKY BAR MINE, on Massachusetts Hill, is an old and 
 very valuable mine. It has made its proprietors wealthy, and is 
 now as productive as ever. It is one of the best. 
 
 It is impossible to enumerate all the ledges, there being sev- 
 eral hundred in the township ; but they are generally good, and 
 all the mills at work are doing well. 
 
 The Grass Valley mines are considered to be among the first 
 in the mining districts of California. An actual inspection of 
 the mining locations of the State will prove this satisfactorily. 
 I believe, however, that the fact is generally recognized. 
 
 I am, respectfully yours, 
 (Signed,) A. DELANO, Banker. 
 
 LAFAYETTE HILL. 
 
 [From the Grass Valley Directory, for 18G5.] 
 
 On the Auburn road, a short distance south of Grass Valley, 
 an immense pile of flinty-looking waste dirt, together with the 
 rattle of machinery, and the appearance of numerous hard-fisted 
 miners, tell the traveller that here are the works of the " North 
 Star Company," on Lafayette Hill. This ledge pronounced by 
 State Geologist Trask, in 1855, one of the best in California, was 
 discovered by a party of men, principally Frenchman, who named 
 their company, the " Helvetia and Lafayette Company." In 
 February, 1860, this mine was purchased by J. C. and Edward 
 Colman, J. C. Pascoe and others, representing twenty shares, 
 
 4 
 
26 
 
 for 815,000 (just sold for 8450,000.) At the same time the 
 name was changed to the " North Star." A vast amount of 
 work has been performed under the new management. An 
 inclined shaft, seven hundred feet in depth has beeen sunk, 
 through which the greater portion of the work has been done. 
 During the past five years the " North Star Company" has 
 crushed at the rate of 100 tons of rock per week, or a total of 
 over 26,000 tons. The lowest perpendicular depth attained has 
 been about 300 feet. The mine and mill now give employment 
 to over seventy men, the entire works, which are complete in 
 every department, being superintended by our urbane and com- 
 petent friend, Wm. H. Rodda. The " North Star " Mine has 
 been paying liberal dividends for years past, and its auriferous 
 wealth seems to be exhaustless. Its management is character- 
 ized by promptness and true liberality, and its worthy owners, 
 who are all practical miners, deserve the good fortune which has 
 come to them. Following is a list of thS owners of these exten- 
 sive mining and reduction works : J. C. and Edward Colman, 
 "Wm. II. Rodda, Josiah Rodda, John Rodda, Wm. Kitto, Wm. 
 .Hoskin, Win. H. Thomas, James Dods and John Harper. 
 
 CALIFORNIA MINES. 
 
 [From the " San Francisco Evening Bulletin," Sept. 19th, 18GG.] 
 
 We think the interest taken in the development of California 
 mines is on the increase. Parties are engaging in this branch of 
 industry who have the welfare of the State in view, as well as 
 their own individual advantage. That we have an undeveloped 
 mineral wealth of great magnitude is generally conceded. 
 The following items touching the mining interest have been 
 collated from various sources : The North Star Company's mine 
 near Grass Valley is doing well. This company have 16 stamps 
 running, and have crushed 7,000 tons of rock, averaging 830 
 per ton, during the past year. The number of men employed is 
 140, and the receipts for the year were 8210,000. Besides this, 
 the company have erected the mill they are now running, and 
 greatly improved their property. The Rocky Bar Company are 
 also running 16 stamps, employ 60 men, and have crushed 3,600 
 
27 
 
 tons ot rock, yielding $28 per ton, during the past seven or eight 
 months. The rock in the Heuston Hill Mine has averaged $100 
 per ton for the past year. The Eureka and Allison Ranch Mines 
 have also done full as well. These mines are all in Nevada 
 County. The Pine Tree and Josephine Mines, of the Mariposa 
 estate, are reported as turning out rock averaging $13 and $16 
 per ton, with better prospects ahead. Savage declared a divi- 
 dend of $50 on the 8th inst. Last Saturday Hale & Norcross 
 paid a dividend of $75, Yellow Jacket $50 and Imperial $8. 
 For the week ending September 8th, Crown Point turned out 
 661 and Chollar-Potosi 521 tons of ore. Gould & Curry have 
 $40,000 in the treasury, and there is a prospect of an early 
 dividend. The Walla Walla " Statesman " says that Messrs. 
 Moore & Fogus have disposed of their entire interest in the 
 Morning Star and Oro Fino ledges, together with their quartz- 
 mill, to an English company, through Charles Tilton, a New 
 York banker, for $1,000,000 in round figures. This is the 
 heaviest quartz operation that has ever been made in the 
 northern country. Notwithstanding the large quantities of 
 bullion furnished by the Pacific coast, it is believed that our 
 mining interest is still in its infancy, and that with proper 
 encouragement given to immigration, the future will show results 
 which at present would hardly find credence. 
 
FACTS AND FIGURES 
 
 RELATING TO THE 
 
 GOLD MINES OF GRASS VALLEY. 
 
THE GOLD MINES OF GRASS VALLEY. 
 
 [From the Grass Valley Directory for 18G5.J 
 Historical Sketch of Grass Valley. 
 
 Grass Valley, the wealthiest, most prosperous, and most extensively 
 known of interior towns of California, is situated near the centre of 
 Nevada County, four miles west of the county seat, is thirty-five miles 
 from Marysville, sixty-five miles from our State capital ; and upon the 
 completion of the great trans-continental thoroughfare to a point near 
 Illinoistown, in Placer County, which will occur during the present 
 season, our citizens will have easy communication with the Pacific Cen- 
 tral Railroad in eleven miles' travel over one of the best turnpike roads 
 in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The town, including Boston Ravine, 
 which, despite corporation limits, is a part and parcel of Grass Valley, 
 contains a population of at least six thousand. The population of Grass 
 Valley Township, including mixed races, will approximate ten thou- 
 sand. The town is situated, as the name would indicate, in a valley, 
 through which Wolf Creek runs, the principal part of the town being 
 on the west side of the stream. 
 
 While quartz has been the chief mining interest of Grass Valley, it 
 is well to remember that our placer, cement, gravel and creek diggings 
 have paid as well, taking the labor into consideration, as similar mines 
 in other portions of California. The Slide, Alta Hill, Woodpecker 
 Ravine, Kate Hayes Hill, Pike Flat, and other mining localities in and 
 about this place, have turned out fabulous amounts of free gold. Sev- 
 eral of these old mines, as, for instance, the Alta, No. 1, owned by John 
 Jeffree, John Roberts and Herman Kruse, are now yielding well. This 
 claim has been worked over the old ground with splendid success, and 
 operations are soon to be renewed on it. 
 
 Grass Valley Township, the most populous and prosperous of interior 
 districts, contains, aside from its saw-mills, twenty-one quartz mills, or 
 rather nineteen quartz and two cement mills, running two hundred 
 and eight stamps. Of these mills, eight do custom work, the remaining 
 thirteen being engaged in operating for their owners. The number of 
 stamps will in all probability be increased to three hundred during the 
 present year. We already have thirty-eight dividend-paying quartz 
 
31 
 
 mines, (many paying liberally which have no mills, the crushing of their 
 quartz being done by other companies,) to which at least twice the 
 number may be added before 1866, judging from the first -class ledges 
 now being opened. A thorough canvass of the township convinces us 
 that no fewer than twenty-five hundred men are engaged here and in 
 the vicinity in quartz mining, of which number about fifteen hundred 
 are employed by large companies, the remainder being engaged in 
 prospecting for themselves or working ledges without hoisting or 
 pumping machinery. The discoveries of the present season may be 
 safely enumerated by hundreds, many of which now promise to be 
 productive mines for many years to come. More thorough prospecting 
 has been done in Grass Valley Township during this season, and 
 generally with better results, than during any five years from 1851 to 
 1864. 
 
 The town of Grass Valley never presented a more healthful aspect 
 than at the present time. Excitements abroad, which formerly worked 
 most disastrous results to the town's interest, are now powerless against 
 us. Hosts who wandered off to Nevada, Reese River, Humboldt and 
 Boise, in search of wealth too tardy in its advent to them here, have 
 returned to Grass Valley, satisfied with their first love, and content to 
 live here and accumulate fortunes. Eastern and local capital greedily 
 seek investment in our mines, and, while there is no reckless speculation 
 among us, many thousands of dollars have been invested in quartz mines 
 here during the present year. 
 
 Grass Valley contains seven churches, nine schools, "eight orders, 
 exclusive of religious societies, two daily papers, eight hotels, a Masonic 
 and Odd Fellows' Hall, one of the finest buildings in the State, a good 
 fire department, and innumerable professional men and business houses. 
 The town is in easy communication with all parts of the State ; and 
 tjiis suggests to us that a description of " Grass Valley and Illinoistown 
 Turnpike," with which we will conclude this sketch, will now be in 
 place. This road is nearly completed. It intersects the line of the 
 Pacific Railroad at a point not exceeding eleven miles from Grass Val- 
 ley. The road will be the trunk turnpike of Nevada County and the 
 adjoining country, and will be a first-class highway in every particular. 
 It occupies the natural passes in the mountains, and gradients nowhere 
 exceed ten inches to the rod. It will be macadamized and gravelled 
 throughout, so that it will be smooth as well as solid during the rainy 
 season. The road is abundantly furnished with water stations for the 
 convenience and comfort of the travelling public ; and it will be kept 
 sprinkled during the dry season to avoid dust. Its cos I when completed 
 will be about sixty thousand dollars. Its proprietors are the Coleman 
 Brothers, Ben. Taylor, Gerry Morgan and J. li. Neff. 
 
32 
 
 [From the Sun Francisco Bulletin, December, 18G5.] 
 Quartz Mining in California, 
 
 Quartz mining in this State, whether viewed as opening a new and 
 extended field for the profitable investment of capital or the useful 
 employment of labor, is rapidly expanding into a most interesting and 
 important pursuit. Already it ranks second among our great industrial 
 interests as a labor-absorbing and wealth-producing agent ; the magnifi- 
 cent agricultural capacities of California alone yielding a large tribute 
 in this respect. Unfortunate, like many other great interests, in the 
 earlier stages of its prosecution, it is at last, after years of failure and 
 loss, fast establishing itself as one of the most safe and lucrative branches 
 of business open to legitimate enterprise. With our past experience and 
 the many improvements effected in this province of mining, it may now. 
 be engaged in, if not always with a certainty of large profits, at least 
 with as little hazard and, perhaps, as good a prospect of its proving 
 steadily and permanently remunerative, as merchandising, forming or 
 most of the ordinary callings of life. The community generally is not 
 aware how large a proportion of the annual bullion product of this 
 coast has of late years been drawn from this source. Of the fifty mil- 
 lions or more yearly sent from the country fully one-half is derived from 
 the crushirigs of auriferous quartz a business that has mostly grown 
 up within the past six or eight years, and so silently that many well- 
 informed persons, remembering only the disasters that attended its 
 inception, still look upon it as the same that some ten or twelve years 
 ago, after a liberal aid from capital, resulted in general failure. And 
 much as quartz mining proper has lately contributed towards making 
 up the sum total of our treasure exports, its quota will hereafter be 
 rapidly increased, until it shall ultimately swell into grand proportions 
 and greatly preponderate over that derived from every other source. 
 
 Having myself been one of those identified to some extent with the 
 pioneer efforts towards introducing this branch of business in California, 
 I have ever since felt a lively interest in its progress, noting the same 
 carefully, and visiting, as opportunity offered, the several localities 
 where active operations have been most extensively carried on. Having 
 not long since, among other places of the kind, paid a visit to Grass 
 Valley and Nevada, the great centre of quartz mining in this State, I 
 propose incorporating in a few articles for the " Bulletin," some of the 
 leading facts connected with the wwking of the mines and mills in that 
 neighborhood, extending the same, perhaps, to one or two other districts 
 located in another quarter of the State. 
 
 More than fourteen years have elapsed since our first essays at quartz 
 mining, conducted near the spot where the large and prosperous town of 
 
33 
 
 Grass Valley now stands, we need not say things have greatly changed 
 thereabouts since that date. Then there were not more than a few hun- 
 dred people within the limits of what constitutes the township of Grass 
 Valley, containing a present population of more than 10,000, yet even 
 at that day quite an excitement was prevailing in regard to quartz min- 
 ing, several rich ledges of auriferous rock having been discovered the 
 year before on Gold Hill, Massachusetts Hill, and at other points in the 
 vicinity. U. S. Commissioner King in a report made to the Govern- 
 ment the preceding year on the mineral resources of California, had 
 expressed the opinion that quartz mining on a vast scale could be carried 
 on in this State with immense profit, supporting this opinion with esti- 
 mates which, although somewhat extravagant, do not, in the light of 
 recent experience, seem so wholly the result of a disordered fancy as 
 they were supposed to be a few years ago. Taking the facts and calcu- 
 lations of this report as a data, the most sanguine expectations were 
 entertained in regard to the profits of this business, leading many for 
 the time being to forsake the placer diggings, wherein good wages could 
 still be made, and engage in prospecting for, locating and opening quartz 
 veins. And thus it was that early in the spring of '51, the whole neigh- 
 borhood of Grass Valley swarmed with this class of miners, and the 
 hills about were already full of shafts, sunk, some, of them, to the depth 
 of 100 feet or more, and all leading, as was believed, to sure and illimi- 
 table wealth. Around the mouths of these shafts were piled up cords 
 of auriferous rock, in much of which free gold was perceptible to the 
 eye, and which, yielding largely on assay as well as under the rude tests 
 of the miner, induced the general belief that it could be milled with 
 great profit. And so, no doubt, it could have been, had the mills first 
 erected for working it possessed the capacity or been supplied with the 
 necessary mechanical appliances, and had those in charge of them been 
 in the slightest degree qualified for the business. As it was, everything 
 was lamentably unfit and insufficient, and the consequences were such 
 as might naturally have been expected from such a state of things. 
 Nearly all the early efforts, as has been stated, were failures ; or if a 
 different result was sometimes obtained, it was attributed, like success 
 in a lottery, to chance or good luck, and not to any inherent merit in the 
 mines themselves. A description of the mills erected at that day, would 
 alone, had I time to give a detailed account of them, sufficiently explain 
 why so little was accomplished. Without amalgamators or any other 
 than mechanical means, and these of the simplest kind, for saving the 
 gold, and with batteries that would now hardly be sufficient for crushing 
 cement the stamps being about the size and shape of a quicksilver 
 flask it is not strange that but a small amount of rock could be crushed 
 and but a small percentage of the gold saved. At the period spoken of 
 5 
 
34 
 
 there were but two quartz mills erected at Grass Valley the one being 
 a small affair driven by water, and the other a steam mill of considerable 
 capacity, put up by Judge Walsh. A few years later a large addition 
 was made to the number, but during the earlier history of their opera- 
 tions only a small proportion of them met with any marked success. 
 Of late, however, as I will in future attempt to show, this untoward 
 fortune has been reversed ; and there is perhaps no branch of business in 
 California meeting with a surer or better reward than quartz mining, 
 not only in the vicinity of Grass Valley, but generally throughout the 
 State. 
 
 [From the San Francisco Bulletin, January 10, 1866 Mining Review for 1865.] 
 Quartz Mining. 
 
 The great underlying mining interest of the State of California, and 
 that which is destined to yield a larger wealth than almost any other of 
 our material resources, is the business of quartz mining, which, having 
 been lately aroused from the lethargy into which it had been suffered to 
 relapse upon the partial failure of the inexperienced and ill-directed 
 efforts attending its initiation, is now firmly established as not only one 
 of the most permanent, but steadily and certainly compensating pursuits 
 in the country. Without being able in this connection to go into the 
 details tending to establish the above position and illustrate the propor- 
 tions to which this business has attained in California the amount of 
 capital invested in its prosecution, and the profits accruing in individual 
 cases it may be stated, as a general fact, that more than one-half the 
 gold yield of the State is derived from this source ; that $4,000,000 are 
 annually exported from the county of Nevada, where it is most exten- 
 sively carried on, and that this class of mines is at the present time in 
 lively demand and rapidly appreciating, numerous heavy sales being 
 effected at constantly advancing prices ; and finally, that this is not at 
 all a speculative movement, but one based on the well-ascertained 
 earnings of these mines, continued in some cases through a series of 
 years, and that where purchases are made it is uniformly as a permanent 
 investment, and with a view to continuation of work upon the mine, and 
 generally with more energy than before. There are exceptions to the 
 above, but the condition of nearly all the leading mines of this class, 
 and the noteworthy transactions made come within this rule. The most 
 active localities of quartz mining in this State are in the vicinity of 
 Clear Creek, Tulare County, and in Mariposa, Tuolumne, Amador and 
 Nevada Counties, the business also being prosecuted quite extensively 
 in Butte, Calaveras, Placer, Yuba, Sierra and El Dorado Counties. At 
 
35 
 
 Clear Creek a number of mills have been built during the past year, 
 and though not of large capacity, those in operation are without excep- 
 tion doing remarkably well. The ledges in that vicinity, though small 
 are numerous, and are proving almost uniformly rich in free gold. Wood 
 and water are in good supply and the prospects of the district every way 
 encouraging. 
 
 Passing on to Nevada County we come to the seat of the most thor- 
 oughly developed mines in the State ; and, extent, cost of operating and 
 yield considered, the most valuable, perhaps, that have ever been 
 worked in any country. The returns from certain claims about Grass 
 Valley, steadily kept up through a series of years, surpass anything 
 recorded in the history of mining enterprise, as the following figures, 
 exhibiting the total yield of the mines enumerated, during the period 
 they have been worked, will tend to show : The Allison Ranch Mine, 
 $4,000,000 ; the Massachusetts Hill claim, in the aggregate, $3,000,000 ; 
 claims upon Gold Hill, $4,000,000; Norambuagua Mine, $1,000,000; 
 North Star and others at French Camp, $4,000,000 ; Lone Jack, Osborn 
 Hill, Heuston Hill and Eureka Hill, each, $500,000 ; Ophir Hill, Mer- 
 rimac and other claims in the vicinity, a total of $5,000,000 making in 
 all the round sum of $23,000,000. The yield of the Grass Valley 
 district for the past year is estimated at $3,100,000, and of the town of 
 Nevada and other portions of the county, $900,000, and giving as the 
 past yield of Nevada County, $27,000,000. The net product of Grass 
 Valley has of late been rapidly increasing, and it is thought will exceed 
 $350,000 per month the coming year, from quartz alone. As instances 
 of remarkable success, it may be stated that the Pacific Company struck 
 a pocket in their ledge not long since, from which they extracted 
 $17,000 worth of free gold in a few hours. In the claim of Scadden, CliflT 
 & Co., at a depth of 150 feet, a single piece of rock thrown out by a 
 blast was valued at more than $6,000, the spot from which it was 
 broken being surrounded with similar rich rock. The Ophir Hill Com- 
 pany are raising quantities of rock that is found to pay in the mills at 
 the rate of $150 per ton. A large crushing recently made from the 
 Shamrock Mine averaged $50 per ton. The rock from the Allison 
 Ranch Mine averages fully $100 per ton, a great deal of it running up 
 to twice that sum, and small, selected lots to much more. The Eureka 
 Company, at a depth of 300 feet, have a ledge three feet wide, the 
 entire mass of which yields from $40 to $50 per ton, and choice lots 
 two or three times as much ; and so we might go on multiplying the 
 examples indefinitely, these being but a few of the many that might be 
 cited, though ample to illustrate the extreme opulence of the mines at 
 that place. As may be supposed, the attention of capitalists has been 
 drawn strongly towards Grass Valley of late, and heavy investments 
 
3d 
 
 are being made in these mines. Among other large transactions lately 
 reported, is the sale of the Eureka, one of the most valuable mines in 
 the neighborhood, to a company of Eastern capitalists for the sum of 
 $400,000. The large and well sustained product of these mines through 
 such a long series of years, and the improvement accompanying their 
 deeper exploration, inspire confidence in them both as a lasting and 
 lucrative field of investment. The small expense attendant on the rais- 
 ing and reduction of the auriferous rock, not only at this place, but 
 throughout California, is another circumstance determining capital to 
 seek investment in this class of properties. The cost of excavating 
 and working this rock, performing the latter in the most approved man- 
 ner, does not average over $6 to the ton throughout California, the price 
 varying somewhat with the depth from which it has to be raised, loca- 
 tion of works, character of rock, fuel, supply, etc. In the vicinity of 
 Grass Valley, contracts for getting out, hauling and reducing large lots 
 are made at the above figure, the cost being about equally divided 
 between the three branches of labor. 
 
 The foregoing are simply business facts, well known in the commun- 
 ity where they transpired, while the earnings of the various mines as 
 set forth, were not merely occasional results, obtained for a purpose or 
 by spasmodic efforts, but the steady daily and yearly turn-out, and such 
 as it is believed can be kept up for an indefinite period. The exact 
 :number of quartz mills now in the State, their cost and capacities, have 
 ;not yet been ascertained; but the number of mills approximates *400, 
 with an aggregate of about 2,500 stamps, giving a crushing capacity 
 -of an equal number of tons of rock daily. The entire cost of these 
 .mills could not have been less than $4,000,000, and was probably much 
 imore. 
 
 [From Grass Valley National, October and November, 1865.] 
 The Precious Metal. 
 
 Frank Beatty yesterday showed us at the banking house of Thomas 
 Findlay & Co. some very pretty lumps of gold. One of these was the 
 result of some four days' crushing of rock taken from the croppings of 
 the Merrimac ledge. This lumps weighs 109 ounces and are valued at 
 nearly $1,900. Another bowl contained a large lot of retorted amalgum 
 -from the North Star Mine, 'the yield of last week's working. 
 
 Nevada. 
 
 A mass of gold weighing 171 ounces and valued at $3,000, was dug 
 in one week from the Scadden Flat Mine. The Grass Valley " Union," 
 from which the above was clipped, says further : " At the same time we 
 
37 
 
 saw a handsome yellow brick weighing one hundred ounces and valued 
 at $1,800. This was the proceeds of forty loads of rock taken from 
 the Home Mine, located in Wood's Ravine, on Deer Creek, in which 
 claim, we believe, the Scadden Brothers are also part owners. The 
 gold from this claim is much finer and brings a higher price per ounce 
 than that produced by the mines generally at Grass Valley. 
 
 The Ophir. 
 
 This claim is becoming fabulously rich, and if it continues in the 
 same streak will have a tendency to carry one back to the Arabian 
 Nights Entertainments, golden eggs, etc. On Saturday last half a ton 
 of rock was taken out, which, at the lowest estimate will yield ten 
 thousand dollars to the ton. A small piece of this rock was shown us 
 yesterday at the banking house of A. Delano, which contained about 
 one hundred and fifty dollars' worth of the precious metal. The com- 
 pany are now engaged in the erection of a 30-stamp mill and other 
 machinery, which will cost, when completed, some fifty thousand dol- 
 lars, and we are informed that they now have enough rock on the 
 surface to more than pay for all the improvements that are being made. 
 
 Our Mines, 
 
 The following items have been handed us by A. Delano, Esq. They 
 are interesting, and go far to show how our mines are holding up the 
 the world-wide reputation they have attained : The Ophir has sent in 
 six hundred ounces of gold, valued at $ 1 0,000, the result of eight days' 
 run. The Norambagua mine, located at Forest Spring, has just made 
 a cleaning up. A crushing of sixty-five tons of rock yielded seventy 
 dollars to the ton. They have attained a depth of one hundred and fifty 
 feet, perpendicularly, in this mine. The last crushing at the Heuston 
 Hill Mine paid fifty-eight dollars and fifty cents to the ton These 
 figures are reliable, and certainly speak well for the mineral interests of 
 Grass Valley. 
 
 North Star. 
 
 This claim is steadily sending in its weekly returns. Yesterday we 
 saw several large chunks of retorted amalgum at Findlay's Bank, the 
 result of last week's work. The North Star has recently got into a 
 very rich deposit, and the mine is being profitably worked. The exact 
 amount of last week's work we have been unable to learn, as the owners, 
 are not partial to a newspaper reputation for their mine. That's the 
 way. Those who have rich mines won't give us items, and as there are- 
 no poor mines within ten miles of us, we have to run slow on mining- 
 items. 
 
38 
 
 A Fine Brick. 
 
 A very handsome gold brick, the result of eighty tons of rock from 
 the Union Hill ledge, was shipped by Findlay & Co. yesterday. The 
 brick is valued at a little more than eighteen hundred dollars, and is a 
 very pretty specimen. This ledge varies from three to seven feet in 
 thickness ; hence our readers can judge of the value of the mine from 
 the yield mentioned above. 
 
 The Allison Ranch Company shipped to San Francisco, by Wells, 
 Fargo & Co., October 25th, says the Grass Valley "National," 
 $38,000 in gold, the proceeds of four weeks' work. 
 
 [From the San Francisco Mercantile Gazette and Prices Current Semi-Annual 
 Mining Review, July 1, 1866.] 
 
 Quarts Mining. 
 
 While the situation of things in the department of placer mining is 
 thus progressive and promising, we find the quartz mining interest of the 
 State to be in a condition still more flourishing and satisfactory the 
 product of bullion from this source being rapidly on the increase while 
 the practical difficulties that beset the business in its earlier stages are 
 being successfully vanquished. In fact, quartz-mining in California 
 has now about passed the trying and critical stage which every great 
 industry is apt to encounter at the outset. It has had its day of diffi- 
 culty and failure, not to say of loss and disaster ; results to be imputed 
 to an utter ignorance of the business, coupled with over-sanguine expec- 
 tations, and, what at this day would seem an unaccountable misappre- 
 hension of the most obvious facts on the part of those charged with its 
 conduct. The extent to which these pioneer quartz miners were misled 
 is well exemplified by the fact that they practically adhered to the 
 theory that these veins would only pay near the top, and that they became 
 impoverished as descended upon ; whereas subsequent experience proves 
 the reverse to be the rule. But not only in a want of knowledge and 
 experience, and in the troubles inherent to the business itself, were 
 lodged the elements of defeat in the early day ; the prices of labor and 
 material were then so much higher than at present, as to almost neces- 
 sarily prevent the successful working of quartz on a large scale. 
 Machinery, imported from abroad at heavy cost, was often found, after 
 it arrived at its destination in the far interior, to be so little adapted to 
 the uses for which it had been designed as to be wholly worthless ; and in 
 this way alone serious inconvenience and loss were occasioned, there 
 being then no foundries in the country capable of supplying the defective 
 parts. And thus this business struggled on through the period of its 
 
39 
 
 early infancy, for it can hardly yet be said to have reached an adoles- 
 cent state, however it may have succeeded in forcing a recognition as a 
 legitimate pursuit upon the best classes of business men by placing 
 itself in the front rank of the leading industries of the world. Any one 
 desirous of engaging in the business of quartz mining, has now the same 
 means for calculating results as when embarking in the most ordinary 
 kinds of business ; since it can scarcely be said to be attended with 
 greater uncertainty or risk than merchandising, manufacturing, or even 
 stock-raising, fruit-growing and farming. The cost of erecting and out- 
 fitting a quartz mill can be computed beforehand with as much precision 
 as the cost of a woollen factory, a tannery, or a foundry ; nor is there a 
 much greater margin required in estimating the expense of opening and 
 working a mine than in running one of these establishments. Even the 
 average yield of a ledge can generally be arrived at with sufficient 
 closeness for all practical purposes after it has been opened to a point 
 that enables the expert to judge of its peculiar features and the predom- 
 inating character of the ores. From whatever point of view, then, we 
 may choose to look at it, quartz milling and mining seems a business, 
 when properly conducted, as likely to prove remunerative and safe as 
 any other open to human enterprise ; an opinion that even a casual 
 glance at the operations now going on in different parts of California 
 will abundantly substantiate. 
 
 THE NORTHERN MINING DISTRICT, comprising Placer, Yuba, 
 Nevada, Sierra, Butte, and Plumas Counties, covers what may justly be 
 considered the balance of the quartz mining region of California, as 
 well as the site of the earliest and most extensive operations yet under- 
 taken in the prosecution of this business. While each of these counties 
 contains a large number of mills and a multitude of ledges, many of 
 them highly prolific and thoroughly developed, Nevada, considered in 
 this connection, has from the first entitled herself to the distinction of 
 being called the " Empire " County of the State. Here we find not 
 only the most thoroughly explored, steady paying, and productive claims 
 in the State, but at the same time the best examples of general 
 success anywhere to be found in this department of mining. But as 
 Nevada in the business of quartz mining may justly be regarded as out- 
 ranking every other county in the State, so may the district of Grass 
 Valley be accounted the most important locality in Nevada County, 
 since it will produce from this source the present year a sum exceeding 
 $5,000,000, and will before the season closes contain within its limits 
 about thirty well appointed and in every respect first-class quartz mills, 
 carrying in the aggregate over 300 stamps, and have a capacity for 
 reducing nearly double that number of tons of quartz daily. The mag- 
 nitude of this interest as displayed at this point will be made the more 
 
40 * 
 
 manifest if we examine, however briefly, the operations of a few of the 
 leading companies at that place, selecting such as . may fairly be 
 considered representative mines. 
 
 ALLISON RANCH MINE. The yield of this mine for the half-year 
 under notice has been $40,000 per month a total of $240,000 more 
 than halt* of which may be set down as clear profit. This was 
 extracted from some 2,300 tons of ore, the average yield being $104 per 
 ton. This vein is now being worked at the depth of five hundred feet, 
 at which point it is three feet wide, and exhibits a compact and well 
 concentrated body of ore, uniformly of high grade. This company runs 
 a 12-stamp mill, capable of crushing only about 125 tons per week. 
 
 THE NORTH STAR, universally conceded to be a mine of extra- 
 ordinary merit, and undoubtedly one of the most valuable about Grass 
 Valley, has the further advantage of having been developed in a 
 thoroughly scientific and substantial manner. It is opened by a main 
 incline 665 feet long, and having a vertical depth of 250 feet. The 
 vein, which lies quite flat, and varies in thickness from one to six feet, 
 averaging about two and a half, has been exposed in the lowest level 
 some 425 feet easterly from the main shaft, and 640 feet in the same 
 direction in the next level above, securing for it a very thorough explora- 
 tion. From these lower levels very little ore has been raised, and 
 between the bottom level xind the two levels above, the length and aver- 
 age width of the vein being carefully ascertained by actual measure- 
 ment, it is thought that 10,000 tons of ore can yet be extracted, worth 
 $35 per ton, and in the virgin ground, which extends to the surface 
 above these three lower levels, and varying in length from 400 to GOO 
 feet, it is estimated that 20,000 tons may be taken, worth say about M ; S 
 per ton. In other words, with the developments now made from the bot- 
 tom of the shaft to the surface, 30,000 tons of ore still remain untouched, 
 valued at over $900,000. The great wealth of this mine will however 
 probably be found in sinking still deeper, inasmuch as the lode has 
 shown a steady improvement as descended upon. For the past five 
 years this claim seems to have been worked with reference to the 
 future, rather than for consideration of immediate benefit. ' Although 
 dividends have been declared at irregular intervals since 1852, the real 
 prosperity of the mine dates from 1861, and during the past four years a 
 net profit of $500,000 has been realized, of which sum fully $125,000 was 
 expended in various improvements, such as the construction of a drain 
 tunnel half a mile in length, new hoisting and pumping apparatus, and 
 in the erection of a new and very substantial mill, capable of crushing 
 at least 35 tons of ore per day, leaving $375,000 for actual dividends. 
 All this was accomplished with a 6-stamp mill, running in 1862 and 
 1863, and since then by one of 9 stamps. The returns for the first five 
 
41 
 
 months of the present year reached nearly $90,000, extracted from 
 some 2,500 tons of ore. The average yield of the rock has been about 
 $35 per. ton for several years past, that more recently crushed running 
 up to nearly $40. This valuable property, including the new 1 6-stamp 
 mill, was not long since purchased by several capitalists of this city, for 
 $450,000, but it probably could now be resold for a much larger sum. 
 The working management will remain in former hands, the whole being 
 in charge of Mr. William IT. Rodda, for a long time general super- 
 intendent. 
 
 EUREKA MINE. The gross earnings of this mine for the eight 
 months ending May 31st, were $284,000, their expenses having mean- 
 time been $103,000 leaving a balance in their favor of $181,000. Dur- 
 ing the month of June last the product of this mine was $73,000, 
 besides sulphurets valued at $2,500, estimated expenses being mean- 
 time $13,000. The average yield of the ore during that month was at 
 the rate of $65 per ton. The yield during the last three months of 
 1865, was at the rate of $33 87 per ton, while the lot crushed during 
 the first five months of the present year gave an average of $42.67 per 
 ton, showing how uniformly but very materially the ore increased in 
 value as the mine was developed downward. The present lowest level 
 in this mine is 300 feet beneath the surface. 
 
 THF, OPHIR, another of the rich and promising mines of Grass Val- 
 ley, is now enriching its owners. The claim is just opened, and the 
 company have just finished one of the most superb mills ever erected in 
 the State, built at a cost of $125,000. It runs 30 stamps, and has a 
 capacity to reduce over 60 tons of rock daily. The lone Company 
 possess a ledge of good size and unquestionable richness, which they 
 have lately been subjecting to a rigid exploration. The earnings of 
 their mine, though not yet worked to any great depth, has sufficed dur- 
 ing the past few months to pay current expenses and defray the cost of 
 a 10-stamp mill. The Heuston Hill Company, owning a six-inch vein, 
 have been able to divide among themselves $8,000 per month since Jan- 
 uary last. The Norambagua, one of the mines of the Forest Spring 
 Company, has been doing well, and at this time is probably in a more 
 promising condition than for several years past. The aggregate pro- 
 duction of this claim has exceeded $1,000,000, and it is thought that 
 regular dividends can be made hereafter, under judicious management. 
 Active operations continue upon Osborn Hill, New York Hill, Massa; 
 chusetts Hill and Union Hill, and many other claims in this locality are 
 increasing their net earnings. The Kate Hayes Mine, purchased a few 
 months since by parties in this city, is undergoing a vigorous develop- 
 ment, and we are informed that recent explorations are regarded with 
 much favor. 
 
42 
 
 Grouped about the above mines are many others equally entitled to 
 notice, and all of which we would speak of in detail if our space would 
 allow. The main facts, however, would not differ widely from those 
 already set forth, going to show the mineral opulence of this district, 
 and the lucrative character of quartz mining where, the conditions 
 being favorable, it is carried on with energy and prudence ; for it must 
 not be overlooked that the business as conducted at Grass Valley has, 
 for the most part, been in the hands of men distinguished for these 
 qualities. They did not, as a general thing, grow impatient for mills 
 before they knew whether they would need them or not, nor did they 
 abandon their claims in despair if they failed to find pay rock immedi- 
 ately upon the surface ; on the contrary, they applied themselves dili- 
 gently to labor, sticking to it with a perseverance worthy of all praise 
 until they arrived at definite results. Another good rule was that of 
 guarding against debt, developing the mines no faster than it could be 
 done with their own earnings, all of which resulted in benefit to the 
 owners, and in promoting the ultimate prosperity of the miners 
 themselves. 
 
 [From San Francisco Bulletin, November 12, 1865.] 
 About Grass Valley The Allison RancJi Mine. 
 
 As this is the best paying claim, not only in the vicinity of Grass 
 Valley, but also, perhaps, in the State of California, it is entitled to be 
 first noticed in a description of this class of mines. It is situated on 
 Wolf Creek, about 2J- miles south of the town, and derives its name 
 from one Allison, who formerly owned a ranch, within the limits of 
 which this ground, as well as the works of the company owning it and 
 the hamlet that has sprung up near by, are embraced. This portion of 
 Wolf Creek afforded rich diggings at an early day, the working of 
 which led to the discovery of the ledge in 1853. Not until the 
 autumn of the following year, however, was it opened and its value 
 ascertained. Then two of the owners, Colbert and Stanton, examining 
 the rock, laid bare by the action of the rains, found it full of free gold ; 
 whereupon they broke out a ton and a half, which on being crushed 
 yielded several hundred dollars. Still, fearful that the cost of draining 
 the ledge would absorb all the profits, nothing further was done with it 
 till Colbert, taking the advice of a more energetic miner than himself, 
 was induced to sink a shaft, for the drainage of which a water-wheel 
 was erected, and soon took out gold enough to put up the mill owned 
 by this present company. In December, 1855, G2 tons of rock were 
 crushed, producing $23,000, establishing the great value of the mine, 
 
43 
 
 and tending to a more vigorous prosecution of work upon it. From 
 that period to the present it has been constantly wrought with great 
 but somewhat varying success, with the exception of a few months, four 
 years ago, when it was flooded. The force employed at present is 275 
 men, the average number employed for the last nine years being about 
 150. The current expenses during this time have been at the rate of 
 $15,000 per month $500 per day. Over 3,600 cords of wood were 
 consumed last year in running the engines of the company's mill and 
 hoisting works. The product of this mine, always large, is said to be 
 greater at present than ever before ; and though I have no means of 
 stating the exact amount of its earnings, very good authority puts it at a 
 sum that would surprise the public. 
 
 That the mine is paying enormously may be inferred from the fact 
 that the entire mass of the rock is averaging considerably over $100 to 
 the ton much of it yielding from $500 to $1,000 per ton. The owners 
 have divided, of clear profits, nearly $1,000,000 within the past three 
 years, and they had, not long since, that amount of bullion in the San 
 Francisco mint. I am assured by a party who may be supposed to 
 know, that the company's mill, running but ten months the past year, 
 will turn out very little if anything short of $400,000. The earnings 
 for October last were actually $40,000 ; for November, $50,000. This 
 ledge is not a large one, the average width being hardly two feet, but 
 the rock is not only rich but pays with much uniformity ; much of the 
 quartz is decomposed, rendering the crushing easy. The country rock 
 is granite, the ledge having a casing of slate. It pitches at an angle of 
 about 45 degrees, wherefore the middle and main incline, 475 feet long, 
 reaches a perpendicular depth of only about 225 feet, at which point is 
 the fourth and lowest level. The upper level has been worked, running 
 on the vein, 440 feet south and 1,000 feet north ; the second 300 south 
 and 700 north, and the third 200 south and 600 north. South of the 
 main incline 150 feet is another, work being at present conducted 
 through the former. 
 
 The underground works are in charge of John Ford, who has super- 
 intended this department of the mine since 1855, Philip Gadway having 
 had general charge of the mine and mill since the same year. M. S. 
 Reminiton has occupied the place of chief engineer for a long time. 
 ' Several of the original locaters of this valuable property still own in it, 
 though a portion of it is now in the hands of others. John Daniel, one 
 of their number, died at Grass Valley in 1862, bequeathing his interest 
 to his brother William, who was also an original owner, but sold out to 
 James O'Donahue in 1854. 
 
 The present proprietors are Michael Colbert, "William Daniel and 
 John Fahey, living in Grass Valley, James Stanton of San Francisco, 
 
44 
 
 and James O'Donalme and Timothy Field, residing in the State of 
 Maine. It is needless to say there is none of this stock ever offered for 
 sale at the board of brokers, nor, so far as I know, through any other 
 medium-; the owners, probably, not being anxious to sell out, nor even, 
 to all appearance, very solicitous about having their mine attain any 
 special notoriety. 
 
 Quite a village has grown up about this mine, the population consist- 
 ing mostly of workmen employed by the company, and their families. 
 It contains about 300 inhabitants, and supports a private school, having 
 an average attendance of 80 scholars. 
 
 [From Mercantile Gazette and Prices Current, (San Francisco,) January 12, 1866.] 
 
 The cost of raising ores in California is, on an average, about $2 per 
 ton. Under favorable circumstances it can be done for less and vice 
 versa. Hauling to the mills costs, as a general thing, about the same, 
 making the expense of delivering ores at the batteries about $4 per 
 ton. Crushing, where water-power is used, can be effected for from $2 
 to S3 per ton. With steam-power it is a little more expensive. For 
 hoisting purposes steam-engines are used, of a capacity adapted to the 
 necessities of the mine usually those from 10 to 20-horse power meet- 
 ing every requirement. Occasionally much more powerful ones are 
 demanded. At some of the mines about Virginia City engines of 
 nearly a 100-horse power have been provided for the hoisting works- 
 The force of hands employed about the mill and mine in like manner 
 varies, some of the large companies requiring several hundred men, 
 while others get along with fifteen or twenty. The Massachusetts Hill 
 Company at Grass Valley keep 300 hands constantly in their employ- 
 ment. The wages paid vary from $3 to $4 a day, according to the 
 service performed. 
 
 It is impossible to name any average value for the gold-bearing rock 
 of this State. As has been seen, it can be worked with some profit if 
 it yield no more than $6 to the ton, and a great deal of that class is now 
 being reduced. This, however, is below the general average. Many 
 mills run steadily on rock yielding $20 and $30 per ton, while a few 
 crush scarcely any but yields as high as $60. The average yield of. 
 the rich mines at Gold Hill is about $30 to the ton. The owners of the 
 celebrated Allison Ranch claim at Grass Valley, run a 40-stamp mill 
 steadily on $70 and $80 ore they having crushed some that paid as 
 high as $10,000 to the ton. ^The weekly earnings of their mill is 
 between $10,000 and $12,000. At: a depth of 300 feet they are work- 
 ing a strip of rich rock from two to four feet wide. The Soulsby claim, 
 
45 
 
 near Sonora, has at times yielded equally as well as that of the Allison 
 Ranch Company. From the Fellows claim, also near Grass Valley, 
 two men took out $100,000 with a hand-mortar in six weeks. The 
 Empire Company, Nevada County, have crushed 2 6,000. tons of rock, 
 averaging $40.76 per ton, and giving a gross yield of $1,043,720 
 $300,000 of which has been paid out in dividends, and the balance 
 spent on the mine and in the erection of mills, of which they have two, 
 built at a cost of $135,000. The cost of working and making improve- 
 ments has all been defrayed from the proceeds of the mine, no assess- 
 ments ever having been levied. It is estimated that they have still in 
 their mine $4,000,000 worth of ore below their lowest level. The 
 Crescent Company, operating in Plumas County, divided for the quar- 
 ter, ending July 1st, $50,000, being at the rate of $100,000 a year net 
 savings earned on a moderate investment. Ten steam mills in Mari- 
 posa County, running 22 stamps each, crush 250 tons of $15 rock per 
 day, producing $3,800 daily, or about $1,250,000 per annum. The 
 owners of the Indian Valley ledge, Plumas County, have declined an 
 offer of $120,000 for it, believing it would yield them 15 per cent, per 
 month on that sum. The Spring Creek Company, Shasta County, have 
 lately been cleaning up $300 a day with an 8-stamp mill. 
 
 [From San Francisco Prices Current, January 12, 1866.] 
 Grass Valley, California. 
 
 We are permitted to publish the following extracts from a private 
 letter addressed to a gentleman of this city by Professor Silliman, in 
 regard to this interesting district : 
 
 " The general reputation of this locality as a gold-mining region, is 
 widely known and well deserved. The gold-bearing veins are there 
 proved, by exploration, to maintain their strength and continuity in 
 depth and extent ; the region is, geologically, one of greenstone and 
 syenite, with serpentine on the north. The hills are broad and unbroken 
 by cross-valleys, offering large areas of continuous ground favorable to 
 the operations of the miner. So far as my observations go, in no other 
 district of California or elsewhere, are there so many veins of high 
 value grouped together. Some of the best known and longest worked 
 are the veins on Massachusetts Hill, and at the Allison Ranch, 
 ranging from a few inches to two or three feet in width, but in other 
 parts of this district the veins are from two to three feet to ten feet in 
 thickness. Late observations and explorations have shown that they 
 steadily increase in value as they are opened in depth. Especially is 
 this true of a vein known, generally, as the Eureka, on a hill of the 
 
same name ; this vein, which has been traced for over tyCx> miles, is now 
 opened on the Eureka claim to a vertical depth of 200 feet. In the 
 shaft lately sunk by Messrs. Fricott & Co., at this depth, I found the 
 vein perfectly well developed with greenstone on the south, or under 
 wall and syenite on the upper wall ; this vein being nearly vertical 
 and over three feet thick. It is abundantly charged with sulphurets and 
 shows much free gold. Its value is estimated at from $80 to $100 per 
 ton. The value of the sulphurets at their mine are from $150 to $200 
 per ton, and cover, I am informed, the costs of mining and crushing the 
 quartz. Going south of the Eureka, on the course of this lode, are 
 several other claims of great value. Prominent among these is the 
 Burdett, three-fifths of a mile from the end of the Fricott claim. On this 
 part of the vein I obtained many rich specimens filled with plates of 
 gold beautifully crystallized, or forming in some cases a spongy mass in 
 cavities once filled by pyrites now decomposed. In one place the vein 
 on this ground is over ten feet in thickness. The next set of claims 
 (the Union.) carries this system of claims down to Wolf Creek, at a 
 point opposite to which another parallel vein is now being worked 
 successfully by the Luckey Company and the Cambridge Company. 
 
 " It is perfectly evident to any one accustomed to view mines that the 
 productive capacity of the quartz lodes in Grass Valley is manifold 
 greater than their present yield ; only a small portion of the desirable 
 ground having been opened at all, while there is a large area of ground 
 within the same geological formation, all equally promising, which has 
 never been explored. 
 
 " I consider it by far the most inviting field for the profitable use of 
 capital in mining in California, or on this coast. Its immediate future 
 is full of promise for a large and steady increase of gold. Conveniently 
 situated in a beautiful and healthy country, abounding in wood, water 
 and skilled labor, easy of access, it stands unrivalled, in my judgment, 
 as a field for speculation and judicious enterprise. 
 
 " Capital, ever sagacious in selecting its fields of occupation, has 
 already discovered the opening, and is fast flowing in to occupy it. 
 Every geological, agricultural and commercial advantage encourage its 
 advance." 
 
 California Mines. 
 
 The San Francisco " Bulletin " of Sept. 25th, I860, gives the following 
 interesting information : 
 
 " We observe in our interior exchanges frequent reports of the sale of 
 quartz lodes, in whole or in part, at cash prices ranging from $50,000 to 
 $500,000. As these heavy sales are nearly all made to citizens of our 
 State, who are presumed to be more familiar with practical mining than 
 
47 
 
 Eastern parties, they indicate both a strong confidence in the value of 
 our home veins, and a growing tendency to *home investments. Only a 
 few years ago, quartz mining was a feeble interest in California, devel- 
 oped profitably at only a few localities, and eclipsed in general estimation 
 at first by the more easily worked placer mines, next by the famous 
 silver lodes of other regions. The first cash investments made on a 
 large scale were by inexperienced foreigners, to a great extent, who 
 oftener failed than succeeded, discouraging by their failures investment 
 and prospecting by others. There were a few Californians who dared 
 to put a fortune into a quartz lode. Experience and confidence came 
 slowly, mainly through the labors of small associations having but little 
 capital. 
 
 " The extent to which the area of the quartz fields in our State has 
 been enlarged since 1860 is hardly realized by the public. Prior to that 
 time the productive quartz belt was popularly thought to be quite nar- 
 row, and confined to a few of the central counties. Outside of the most 
 intelligent circles, it was not supposed that we had any vein mines worth 
 working except auriferous quartz. Subsequent explorations have 
 revealed the fact that the field of our vein mines is co-extensive in length 
 and breadth with the great mountain chain of the State ; that it embraces, 
 also, to a considerable extent, the lesser mountains that front the ocean, 
 and that it includes a great variety of minerals, but especially gold, silver 
 and copper. The width of the quartz belt in the Sierra Nevada has not 
 been measured nor carefully estimated, but it undoubtedly extends from 
 the outer edge of the foothills to the summit levels, a distance varying 
 from sixty to eighty miles in a direct line ; while its length, from the 
 northern to the southern border of the State, is about six hundred miles. 
 
 " It is to be regretted that there are no statistics accessible by which 
 to exhibit the number and extent of the lodes that have been discovered 
 and occupied, the number of companies and mills in operation, the 
 amount of capital invested, and the aggregate product in gold and other 
 metals. Such statistics would, I am confident, reveal the quartz inter- 
 est of California in a most extensive and prosperous condition ; and it is 
 a great fault in our legislation that no adequate method for obtaining 
 them has been devised. But we learn enough from the rapid multipli- 
 cation of districts, from the frequently published yields in gold and cop- 
 per especially, and from the repeated sales of lodes at high figures to our 
 own citizens, to know that vein mining in our State is rapidly taking 
 precedence of placer mining, and establishing itself as a permanent, 
 legitimate, safe and remunerative industry. Indeed, trade and mining 
 now go almost hand in hand, for we observe that many of the heaviest 
 investments in California quartz are made by citizens of San Francisco, 
 
48 
 
 who, after many losses and deceptions elsewhere, are turning with new 
 faith and energy to the development of mineral resources at home. 
 
 " We expect our home mines will continue to increase in favor, and 
 account it a fortunate circumstance that their management is mainly in 
 the hands of an experienced class of our own citizens, whose past suc- 
 cess has been earned here, and whose continued success will promote 
 most directly the welfare of the communities in which they have cast 
 their lot arid invested their means." 
 
 [From San Francisco American Flag, January, 1866.] 
 
 NEVADA, December 23, 1865. 
 
 EDITOR AMERICAN FLAG : Not seeing anything of late in your paper 
 about matters and things in this section, I place the following at your 
 service : 
 
 Taken altogether, we are enjoying a season of general prosperity, and 
 the prospects of Nevada County were never better than at present. 
 Quartz mining is looking up mightly hereabouts, and the danger is that 
 in the excitement that seems to be coming on the business will run into 
 a speculative type and be overdone ; as yet it is in a healthy condition, 
 and with the experience men have had, nothing but the most culpable 
 mismanagement can prevent it growing into a general and splendid 
 success. If the exact figures could be given of the profits realized by 
 some of the companies here and about Grass Valley, they would startle 
 outsiders. But it is not only in the business of mining that our people 
 are doing well, but also in farming, lumbering and many other callings. 
 Of the one thousand square miles of which this county consists, over 
 one-half is accounted mineral land, a great deal of it being at the same 
 time suitable for farming, gardening and fruit-growing purposes. The 
 agricultural and mineral land extends over nearly the whole county, 
 being so mixed up that it is difficult to separate them. With the excep- 
 tion of the eastern portion, where it strikes into the Sierra Nevada, the 
 great part of this county may be considered suitable for farming, the 
 entire surface, both in the main Sierra and in the foothills, being cov- 
 ered with grand forests of pine, oak, spruce, cedar and other trees. 
 Every style of mining is carried on here, some of them very exten- 
 sively. Thus we have still the original placer diggings worked by 
 Chinaman with the sluice and rocker, river works, hydraulic washings, 
 in some places very extensive, the gravel beds, sought after by tunnels 
 and other modes of deep excavation, and often paying immensely ; the 
 cement deposits, crushed with stamps after the manner of quartz, and 
 pretty generally with good results ; and, finally, the auriferous quartz 
 itself existing in quantities without limit and now being reduced with a 
 
49 
 
 profit that threatens to bring on a healthy excitement. Besides gold 
 and silver mines for it must be remembered the famous Excelsior Dis- 
 trict is in this county we have here great numbers of copper lodes* 
 many of which, though but little opened, work upon them having been 
 choked off by the quartz furor, show fair signs of productiveness, and 
 will no doubt some day help materially to swell the metallic exports of 
 Nevada. When the branch railroad now talked of, connecting this 
 place with Colfax, shall be completed, faciliating the sending away of 
 these ores, the copper mines will offer such inducements as will unques- 
 tionably lead to their thorough development. 
 
 As to the matter of farming, the prospect never was so promising for 
 good crops in this section as at present. A great deal of grain has been 
 sown, and it is everywhere looking fine the color healthy and the blade 
 vigorous. Some years ago it was thought only the alluvial soil, such as 
 is found in the little valleys and along the margin of water-courses was 
 fit for cultivation, and all efforts in this line were restricted to them. 
 More recent experience, however, has shown this to be a mistake, and 
 the red uplands are now being planted as well, and with early sowing 
 and favorable seasons for rain, they are quite as sure of a crop as the 
 heavier black lands ; while for the vine and most kinds of fruits, where 
 sufficient moisture can be secured, they are even better. Instead, then, 
 of the little garden-like patches of former days, we now see great fields, 
 some of them containing hundreds of acres, sown with grain, mostly 
 barley, this being a more certain crop and selling up in the mountains 
 where it is required for horse feed, for nearly as much as wheat. 
 
 Another thing our farmers have learned is the importance of early 
 seeding, and hence no time is lost, once the soil is sufficiently softened 
 by the first rains, in getting the ground broken up and planted ; some 
 of our farmers are doing still better, preparing it for early sowing by 
 summer following. 
 
 The lumber trade of this region is by no means an insignificant busi- 
 ness, and with railroads, like copper, lumber will likely become an article 
 of large export. There are now running in this country between fifty 
 and sixty saw-mills, 'cutting over forty million feet of lumber every 
 year. About half of these are driven by steam and the rest by water. 
 
 But large as are her other resources, Nevada's main dependence is 
 on her quartz mines, which, taken all together, far excel those in any 
 other part of California, if not also any section of the Pacific Coast. 
 Without being exactly posted as to the number of mills in the county, 
 I should put it at not much less than one hundred, with a capacity for 
 crushing, perhaps, a million tons of ore yearly, the product of which 
 can scarcely be less than ten or twelve million dollars. And yet the 
 business is just begun as it were only in its infancy. What it 
 7 
 
will be a few years hence can be guessed when we consider that most 
 of the ledges opened are all the while getting better that is, yielding 
 richer rock and more of it, as they are descended upon while the pro- 
 cesses for saving the gold are constantly being rendered more effective, 
 and the cost of reduction is growing less. While there are in this 
 vicinity a great many valuable quartz lodes, some of which are being 
 worked with large profits, the most marked success has heretofore been 
 attained in the mines about Grass Valley, the yield of the Allison Ranch 
 claim, two and a half miles below that town, going ahead of anything 
 before known in the history of mining. What the gross product of this 
 mine has been I do not know, but it is said the six owners have divided 
 amongst them something like $300,000 annually for several years past 
 from its net earnings. Some make the figures much higher, and this is 
 by no means the only mine in that locality that is affording its owners a 
 princely revenue. According to a report, several other companies are 
 doing nearly as well, though less is said about them because they have 
 to divide their earnings among a greater number of owners. Of the oper- 
 ations of a few of the most lucky I will speak briefly, giving some 
 figures. To enumerate all the companies that are doing moderately well, 
 would be a work analogous to compiling a directory, so great is the 
 number. 
 
 The Ophir Hill claim, one mile east of Grass Valley, located in 1850 
 and worked most of the time since with comparative small outlay, has 
 yielded a gross product of over one million dollars. The mine, which 
 changed hands a little over one year ago, is now being worked vigor- 
 ously, and is said to pay better than ever. The rock yields over forty 
 dollars to the ton, besides a large quantity of sulphurets, which sell to 
 parties engaged in concentrating them, for sixty dollars per ton. This 
 company alone employ about forty hands. One thousand tons of quartz 
 taken from the claim of Rush & Laton on Madison Hill, adjoining Ophir 
 Hill on the south, yielded $80,000 more than half of which was clear 
 profit. From the Heuston Hill Mine, next to the above, many thou- 
 sand tons of quartz have been raised, the average yield of which is said 
 to have surpassed that of the Allison Ranch Mine. The company 
 employ a large force of men, and are conducting their affairs with energy 
 and success. The Osborn Hill ledge, an early location, situate two 
 miles east of the town, has long been worked and given up fabulous 
 amounts of gold. A fine mill has been erected upon it, and a tunnel 
 over 2,000 feet long has been carried into the lode. .For the amount 
 expended upon it this mine is paying largely, and there is little doubt 
 but it is one of the most valuable in the State. Of the operations of 
 the Merrimac Company, a little further east, I could learn nothing 
 definite, but they are understood to be coining money. The Noram- 
 
51 
 
 bagua, another live company, whose claim is situated on Wolf Creek, 
 some three miles south of Grass Valley, employ nearly one hundred men 
 and are pushing their work with industry. The average yield of their 
 work for the past year has been over $60 per ton it running from $50 
 to $100. They have large accumulations of tailings that are considered 
 valuable. As I intend to continue these notices of the mines in this 
 section, I will end for the present with a few particulars respecting the 
 Eureka, one of the biggest and best mines here. It was taken up at a 
 very early day, and has since frequently changed hands, being now owned 
 by a company of large means, who are working it with a system and 
 thoroughness that indicate their confidence in it as a permanent invest- 
 ment. A large sum of money has been laid out in the erection of a first- 
 class mill and hoisting works and development of the mine, which, for 
 several years past, has been producing equal to almost anything else 
 about Grass Valley. The vein is as rich as the best, and much larger 
 than the average, giving evidence of a wealth and permanency that not 
 many others over in this rich district can boast. It has in its several 
 transfers commanded large sums, and it is said that the present owners 
 have been offered half a million dollars for their interest. When we 
 consider how small a portion of this mine has been worked out, and 
 how extraordinary have been the results thus far obtained, it would 
 seem as if a million dollars would be a low price for this splendid prop- 
 erty. Like most of the leading claims here, the Eureka grows better 
 and better the deeper it is opened, the rock from the lowest level 
 being much richer than that above. From these few disjointed but 
 thoroughly authentic facts, it will be seen what quartz mining is like, 
 and what sort of a future seems to await it in California. 
 
 [From San Francisco News Letter, August 10, 1866.] 
 California Mines. 
 
 UNION HILL. This mine is now free from water and is showing a 
 fine body of ore. Work will be immediately commenced to sink 
 another level, which will open it 100 feet deeper. A contract has been 
 made for a 20-stamp mill, which will be running in about twenty 
 days. The price paid for the mill, in eomplete running order, is 
 $19,000. Messrs. George D. Roberts, of this city, and Thomas Findlay, 
 of Grass Valley, are the largest owners, and have its entire manage- 
 ment. Some capitalists from New York are negotiating for its pur- 
 chase, but the proprietors have such great faith in the value of the 
 mine that they prefer further developing it before offering it for sale. 
 
 The Eureka Gold Mining Company, of Grass Valley, divided on 
 Thursday last, for the month of July, the sum of $30,000 amongst its 
 shareholders. Grass Valley is full of such mines* 
 
52 
 
 [From San Francisco Bulletin, March 30, 1866.] 
 Quartz Mining. 
 
 Gold quartz mining in California is only just fairly inaugurated. A 
 greater degree of success attends this branch of industry than ever 
 before. Along the chain of mining towns, from Columbia to Yreka, 
 ledges have been opened which yield all the way from $100 to $1,000 
 a ton. In some instances the stock is never on the market, and nothing 
 of that kind is ever issued. 
 
 It is not a rare thing to hear, in a private way, of recent locations of 
 gold quartz in this State which yield from $100 to $200 to the ton. In 
 every such instance the certainty of permanent success is ten to one in 
 favor of gold mines over the best silver mining in the country. 
 
 Shipment of Treasure. 
 
 Notwithstanding the spell of hard weather we have recently had, the 
 the shipment of treasure by our bankers for the past week will reach 
 some seventy-five thousand dollars, an increase of about twenty thou- 
 sand dollars over the average shipments for the past four months. This 
 does not include any returns from the principal mines either. 
 
 Professor Melville Attwood, in the " Alta California," of July 1, 1866, 
 gives a geological report on the mines of Owen's Valley, situated south 
 of Grass Valley, and in the course of his report remarks: "With 
 respect to the treatment of the auriferous quartz, I consider the miners 
 of Grass Valley to have had the most experience, and their simple 
 mode of treatment to be preferred to all others. They use no pans or 
 any apparatus that might strictly be called an amalgamator. The largest 
 and richest mines there, and, indeed, in the State, viz. : Allison's Ranch, 
 Watt's, Rocky Bar, North Star, and Hueston Hill, use at their mills the 
 old blanket trays, and do not put any mercury into their mortars." 
 
 The " Transcript " says : The Spring Hill Mining Company, Captain 
 Day, superintendent, struck very rich rock on Friday last. The com- 
 pany has been at work about eight months, and expended about 
 $60,000. On the surface are several ledges running parallel, and it 
 was supposed that these would come together below the surface. We 
 understand their drift reached these united ledges on Friday night, and 
 that the rock taken out is as rich as any in the county. 
 
53 
 
 [From New York Tribune's San Francisco despatch, dated June 29, 1866.] 
 
 " There is an increased disposition among San Francisco capitalists to 
 invest in California mines. Three claims in Nevada County are reported 
 sold, amounting in the aggregate to $830,000." 
 
 The Nevada " Gazette " says that the average yield of the Allison 
 Ranch Mine, for the first half of the present calendar year, has been 
 $40,000 per month, or $240,000 for the six months. This was extracted 
 from 2,300 tons of rock, being an average of about $104 per ton. The 
 vein is now being worked at a depth of 500 feet from the surface. 
 The Nevada "Transcript" learns that a twentieth interest in the 
 Eureka Mine, near Grass Valley, has been sold at $43,000. This is 
 equal to $860,000 for the mine, which one year ago was sold for $400,- 
 000. The Company are now reported to be getting out about $70,000 
 per month. An exchange says that one great advantage in working 
 mines in this State over other localities, is the comparatively little cost 
 here of mining and reducing ores. An instance is cited where a mine in 
 Nevada last year paid on an average $22.27 per ton to mine and work 
 its ores, while in this State the cost of mining and reducing ores is said 
 to be from $4 to $8 per ton, $5.50 being the average. Hence, gold ore 
 here, yielding $10 per ton, can be worked with profit, while silver ore 
 in Nevada, yielding $20 per tori, is worked at a loss, if these figures are 
 correct. 
 
 [From Evening Bulletin, September 19, 1866.] 
 Quartz as an Element of Prosperity. 
 
 Following the comparative exhaustion of the placer mines a few 
 years ago, there began a period of decline in' all the mining counties, 
 which was hastened by the exodus to new gold fields abroad. This 
 decline has been arrested in several instances by the 'increased attention 
 given to quartz mining a branch which gives to a community greater 
 stability and diversifies its industries. Nevada County furnishes a most 
 striking example of the value of quartz as an element of genuine pros- 
 perity. A few years ago, when placer mining was the leading interest 
 in the county, the taxable wealth did not exceed $3,000,000 although 
 even then Nevada could boast of the rich quartz mines of Grass Val* 
 ley. The people left by thousands for Washoe and British Colurnbiaj 
 and discouragement and gloom pervaded every circle of business. Since 
 then increased attention has been given to the development of the quartz 
 mines. As fesults of this, wo learn from the local press that the tax- 
 able property of Nevada County is this year assessed at about $5,000,000 
 
54 
 
 the increase for the last year alone being nearly $500,000 ; the pub- 
 lic debt has been reduced to a bagatelle ; and the metallic product is 
 estimated at from $9,000,000 to $12,000,000. If the population has 
 not increased, it has acquired stability, while the principal towns rank 
 among the foremost in the State for permanence and good order, arid for 
 the excellence of their society and public institutions. But it should be 
 remembered that quartz mining in Nevada County has not been specula- 
 tive. Its quartz stocks have not figured on 'Change, or in the telegrams 
 to the Eastern press. Its auriferous veins have been quietly worked by 
 small companies of practical men, generally unincorporated, who have 
 trusted to the products of their mills for profits on their outlay. They 
 have had no showy offices with Brussels carpet and walnut or mahogany 
 furniture, no $10,000 superintendents, no legal counsellors retained at 
 princely fees. Better than these, they have had good veins, energy, 
 prudent management, and the determination to make the rock itself 
 their banker. What is true of Nevada County is true in a lesser 
 degree of several other districts in California, where quartz is coming 
 in as an element of new and permanent prosperity. Managed by those 
 who have practical experience, and who will practise economy, it is 
 destined to take rank among the fixed and legitimate resources of the 
 State, especially since the wisdom of Congress has furnished a mode by 
 which the owners of vein mines can cheaply obtain the security of titles 
 in fee. 
 
55 
 
 Those persons satisfied with the mass of evidence 
 presented herewith, and desiring to invest, should lose 
 no time in making their subscription to 
 
 who is authorized to receive subscriptions and furnish 
 all necessary information to those interested. 
 
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