just completed a drainage-tunnel, 236 feet in length, at a cost of from $10 to $40 per foot. The rock is hoisted by a whim, run by horse-power, through a shaft 94 feet deep. The Mountain Quail claim, two and a half miles from the above, is owned by Mr. Samuel Woods. He has 1,100 feet of a 20-inch vein, which is much broken. It has never paid less than $75 per ton. He is running two arrastras by water-power, employing three men, working through a shaft by a windlass.

One mile from the above, a San Francisco company are now engaged working three different ledges, known as the South Bank, Enchantress, and Oro Minta. On the latter a shaft has been sunk 130 feet. One 110 feet deep has been sunk on the Enchantress. On the South Bank, a shaft 12 feet deep reveals a well-defined ledge, 8 feet thick. The few tons of rock crushed from the above-named ledges have averaged from $20 per ton up into the thousands, for small lots. Neiswander, Jaquith, Parsons, and others are the proprietors.

This is the claim above referred to as belonging to the Calaveras Mining Company. The spring of 1872 will probably witness some extensive exploration and development in these districts. Mining here may truly be said to be only in its infancy.

A few miles north of Murphy's is found one of the remarkable natural wonders of the State-the great limestone cave. This cave was discovered by accident, in 1850; but on account of its nearly inaccessible situation it has been rarely visited and never thoroughly explored. The length of the explored passages is about 1,500 feet north and south, by 1,000 feet east and west. The height of the chambers varies from fifty to one hundred feet, and they present the most wonderful display of stalactites and stalagmites, grouped in the most fantastic shapes.

Railroad Flat and vicinity.-The town of Railroad Flat is situated at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, and lies to the north of the districts above described. A few years since the town was scarcely known, but now it is becoming a place of much importance on account of the development of numerous quartz-veins in the immediate neighborhood. These claims were located many years since, but operations were not carried on below the water-level on account of a want of capital and limited milling facilities. The "flat" comprises about 160 acres of ground, which was found to be auriferous, and was worked on a small scale by the hydraulic process. While engaged in washing, the croppings of the "Petticoat," the leading mine of the district, were discovered. The detrital matter here is not over twenty feet in thickness, and its auriferous character is the result of decomposition of quartz; but the principal interest centers in the numerous quartz-veins. These veins are generally narrow, and the pay zones or chimneys of very limited extent in the majority of claims, but the quartz is of high grade, and present workings indicate an increase in the length of the chimneys with increasing depth. The country-rock is generally slate, and the quartz yields from $20 to $60 per ton. There are two custom mills here, Randolph's and Clark's, both of which are run almost constantly. The price of milling is from $3.50 to $4 per ton. As wood is cheap-$2.50 per cord—and water is dear-20 cents per inch-steam-power is used in preference to water. Randolph's mill has ten stamps of 680 pounds each, eighty blows to the minute, and crushes fifteen tons per twenty-four hours. He amalgamates in battery and uses very fine screens, having three hundred apertures to the square inch. Each battery has 25 feet of amalgamated copper plates. The Clark mill has eight stamps. No sulphurets are saved except by special agreement, and then an extra price is charged.

The "Petticoat," so named from having been located in the names of the wives of the discoverers, was accidentally discovered by the uncovering in a placer claim of its outcrop. At this point it was very rich, and is said to have yielded, down to the water-line, an average of nearly

$100 per ton. In consequence of an error in the location of the hoistingworks, and general improvidence and mismanagement, the mine ran in debt after the exhaustion of the surface quartz, and operations were suspended for about two years. Work was resumed in the summer of 1871, and a contract let for the sinking of a shaft to a depth of 350 feet. Previous to this work the lowest level was at 200 feet. Pay-ore has been struck in the shaft now being sunk. The lead shows a broken body of quartz from three to four feet in width, sufficiently rich in gold to pay the expenses of sinking. A drift will immediately be run toward the north, so as to intersect the rich chimney which cropped out on the surface. The company have powerful hoisting-works, and exploration will be vigorously prosecuted. The future of the district depends on the success of this enterprise.

The Prussian Hill mine, in this vicinity, is being rapidly developed by a San Francisco company, who are negotiating for its purchase. It is located south and east of Glencoe, on the narrow divide between the North and Middle Forks of the Calaveras, and west of the great soapstone belt passing through the county. Some very rich rock has been taken from this mine, and it is believed, if properly developed, it will rank as one of the No. 1 mines in this county. Thirty tons of Prussian Hill ore, crushed, yielded about $1,100. The rock was taken from a shaft 70 feet in depth, and the lead improves as they go down upon it. The company have purchased the "French" mill at Rich Gulch Flat, which they intend removing to their mine as soon as practicable. The battery consists of 15 stamps, a 35 horse-power engine furnishing the motive power. A crushing in their mill has yielded $2,263 for 60 tons, or nearly $40 per ton.

West Point, another quartz-mining town, is situated six miles northeast of Railroad Flat. Its general features, both as to placers and quartz-veins, are similar to those of Railroad Flat, except that the country-rock is granite. None of the mines have been opened to a greater depth than 150 feet. The veins are narrow, rarely exceeding 15 to 20 inches, but the ore is of high grade, the yield varying from $40 to $50 per ton. There are five mills here, but only two have run constantly this season. Gravel-beds are rarely found so high in the Sierras. In plain sight of Railroad Flat and West Point there is a remarkable landmark of tabular shape called Fort Hill, which seems to be a portion of an ancient channel covered with lava. It has not been prospected.

El Dorado is a decayed mining town situated on the eastern edge of the limestone belt, a few miles south of Railroad Flat. There are numerous promising quartz-ledges near this town which are but little developed. George Rodocino is engaged in running a tunnel on a ledge 10 to 12 feet wide. The rock yields $10 to $12 per ton, and the vein is in slate. The tunnel will be 450 feet in length, and will strike the ledge at a depth of 150 feet. A 10-stamp mill run by water has been put on the claim.

Rich Gulch district, situated in the foot-hills of the county, about seven miles southwest of Mokelumne Hill, contains many valuable quartzclaims in a partial state of development. A correspondent of the Mining and Scientific Press, of San Francisco, whose statements we have found invariably reliable, notices several of these claims as follows:

"The Quartz Glen mine has been opened to a depth of 200 feet, and a tunnel run in on the lead 800 feet has just been completed, developing a ledge at this point (130 feet below the old works) of twelve feet average thickness. This rock is highly sulphureted. In a two years' run,

with the use of an ordinary 10 stamp mill to crush the rock, some $200,000 were taken out in bullion. Mr. H. Atwood is the present proprietor.

"Several other apparently good mines are only partially developed for want of capital. The Oak Ridge claim has been opened to a depth of forty feet, shows a vein five feet thick, abounding in sulphurets, and prospects well. Work is being done on this claim by Messrs. Hoey & Co., its proprietors.

"The Poor Man mine, situated twelve miles southwest from Mokelumne Hill, is owned by the Lewis Brothers & Co. This company own 1,200 feet of one of the finest ledges in this county. Their hoistingworks, which are very complete, are run by an engine of 35 horse-power, now working through a shaft (nearly vertical) 260 feet deep. At this point the ledge is 20 inches thick, and growing larger. They have opened, lately, 30 feet at their 160-foot level-the ledge was well defined at three feet-in the cross-cut, 300 feet from their main shaft. The same machinery that runs their hoisting-works also runs their 5-stamp mill, crushing five tons daily, (24 hours..) The machinery is arranged for 10 stamps."

The Poor Man Company own 1,200 feet on the ledge, and have applied for a United States patent. It was discovered in 1868, by Wesley & Lewis, who have expended $55,000 in labor and improvements. The yie d of the quartz has not been uniform. The best grade of rock has yielded $250 per ton, and the lowest grade from $20 to $40 per ton. The pay chute or chimney has steadily increased in length as depth was attained, and on lowest level has a length of 150 feet.

The Wolverine claim runs parallel with the above-mentioned, and only 100 rods distant. It is 1,000 feet long, has a shaft down 140 feet, and a tunnel in 300 feet. At this point they have a ledge four feet thick that prospects $30 to the ton; they have crushed 60 tons. San Francisco parties have thoroughly prospected this mine, and are about purchasing at $35,000. A recent number of the Calaveras Chronicle thus speaks of the development of this mine:

The work of prospecting the lead has proved the existence of three auriferous "chimneys," known as the north, middle, and south chimneys. The latter has been "stoped" out to the depth of 126 feet, the quartz extracted, good, bad, and indifferent, averaging something over $25 per ton. The new engine-shaft passed through a part of the middle chimney 221 feet from the surface. At that point some excellent quartz was taken out containing gold in visible quantities, associated with galena and iron sulphurets. The north chimney was intersected by the shaft at a depth of 182 feet. To the depth now reached, 220 feet, the quartz composing the chimney has rapidly improved in productiveness. The fissure, at present, is two and a half feet wide between walls, and is gradually widening as the shaft increases in depth. The rich stratum recently struck is now about six inches wide, and consists of a beautiful dark blue quartz, rich in gold, and the sulphurets of iron and galena. A level is to be run under the chimneys as soon as the shaft is down 230 feet, which will give "backs" for "stoping" as follows: North chimney, 130 feet; middle, 105 feet; south, 104 feet. Competent judges estimate that the best ore taken from the rich stratum recently discovered will pay as high as $150 per ton, while none of it will fall under $20.

Wet Gulch mine, three-fourths of a mile southwest of the Poor Man mine, is owned by Messrs. Bandman, Nielson & Co., (of the Giant Powder Company, San Francisco.) This mine has been thoroughly prospected by a shaft, 200 feet deep, as deep as could be done without machinery, which will likely be put in operation early in 1872.

Thorp's mine, near San Andreas, is looked upon as a promising mine. It is owned by Captain M. Thorp & Sons, who claim 1,000 feet of a ledge that averages four feet in width, (i. e., the principal vein.) It has three spurs, possibly three different veins. They have an incline shaft down on the ledge 65 feet deep, on an angle of 45°. With three arrastras and two stamps they have been crushing about five or six

tons per day. They have just completed a five-stamp mill, and now expect to crush eight tons daily. Their rock averages about $6 per ton, running as high as $10.

The Thorn mine, in the same vicinity, is developed to a depth of nearly 300 feet, and is yielding very high-grade rock. The ledge is 12 feet wide, of which nearly one-third is high-grade rock.

Mokelumne Hill and vicinity.-The town of Mokelumne Hill was formerly one of the most populous in the southern mines, and its past history does not materially differ from that of Sonora. It was settled at about the same time, and like Sonora had a rapid growth and a slow decay. The principal mining interest here was in the old channels, found in the adjacent hills and ranges, which are now nearly exhausted, the future prosperity of the town depending on quartz mines in the neighborhood. The geological features of this region possess peculiar interest, and are thus described by Professor Whitney, in his volume on General Geology:

The sedimentary and volcanic deposits near the town are about 250 feet thick, and rest on a bed-rock which has an elevation of about 1,800 feet above the bed of the Mokelumne River, which is only a mile distant to the north. The upper part of the volcanic ridge is a mass of boulders or fragments of trachytic lava, not polished or smooth, but roughly rounded, as if by friction with each other, unaided by water. There are no other kinds of rock than volcanic represented in this bed, and no stray pebbles, even of quartz or slate-a fact that has been observed in many other places in this region. Beneath this bed of lava-boulders is a mass of strata, in some places nearly 200 feet thick, consisting chiefly of volcanic ashes, stratified and consolidated by water. These sedimentary volcanic strata are often fine-grained and homogeneous, having a light pinkish-red color, and breaking with a conchoidal fracture. The upper beds have much pumice mixed with them. Immediately on the bed-rock lies the stratum of pay-gravel, which in some places has been of the most astonishing richness.

The early mining laws of Mokelumne Hill limited each location to 15 feet square on account of the great richness of the ground. The channel was reached by deep shafts, sunk through the overlying volcanic matters or by tunnels run into the mountain-side, and success was a matter of chance. Sometimes a fortune would be taken from one claim, while adjoining claims would prove entirely unproductive. Some of the shafts were sunk to a depth of 300 feet, and many tunnels were run more than 1,000 feet. The thickness of the pay-gravel rarely exceeded 24 feet. One of the layers of the channel on Stockton Hill, immediately southwest of the town, contains opals in great abundance. These opals were sent to France in large numbers, and there cut, but we cannot learn that the enterprise proved remunerative, and the casual visitor is welcome to dig out from the claim all the crude opals he may desire.

Most of the claims in the mountain have been practically exhausted, and such claims are now engaged in working over their "tailings," which have accumulated to great depth. Some idea of the great richness of the gravel may be formed from the results of the washings of their tailings. At the claim of Paul & Co. in cleaning up around the old dump-box-less than a week's labor-300 ounces of gold were obtained. At that rate the tailings will prove as valuable as the original mine, making it one of the very best gravel claims in the county.

Below the town, and to the south, is a deep depression between the mountains known as Chili Gulch. Near the head of this gulch hydraulic mining has been carried on by Shaw & Co. with profitable results. As the price of water here was 20 cents per inch, the ground must have been remarkably rich to afford a profit. The hydraulic ground was neither deep nor extensive.

The bottom of the ravine or gulch was exceedingly rich in gold, and in early times supported a large mining population. There are now but H. Ex. 211

-6

few companies engaged in mining. The principal claim of the neighborhood is the Indian Ravine Tunnel claim, situated one mile southwest of Chili Gulch, and owned in San Francisco. This is a blue-gravel, deepchannel claim, 1,200 feet in length, worked through a tunnel 2,800 feet long. The pay-gravel is about 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep. It is brought by car to the dump, at the mouth of the tunnel, and washed by hydraulic process. The pay averages about $1 per car-load, and 150 car-loads are taken out daily, (24 hours.) The tunnel cost $28,000. Air is forced into this tunnel by a water-blast. This is a fall of water arranged at the mouth of the same, 70 feet high, falling through a pipe into a tub, with another tub (inverted) of less diameter over the same, so arranged as to let the water escape but not the air. From this upper tube the air is conducted into the tunnel by a pipe.

The What Cheer Mining Company have recently opened some ground on an ancient channel about two miles south of Mokelumne Hill. They own 3,000 feet of ground, which was prospected in 1862 by a shaft 190 feet in depth, which struck the channel, but the claim was abandoned in consequence of the difficulty in pumping out the water. The present company have opened the ground by means of an incline 500 feet in length. The rim of the channel was struck at a perpendicular depth from surface of nearly 200 feet. The rim-rock was followed down until they reached the bottom of the channel, when drifting was commenced. This is known as the Corral Flat channel. The company have erected hoisting-works, run by water-power, using only twelve inches of water under a fall or head of nearly 300 feet, with a six-foot "hurdy-gurdy" wheel. Their water-power costs but $3 per twenty-four hours. The machinery for running the claim cost but $1,500, and the incline about the same amount. Two large dump-boxes have been erected, with a capacity of 1,000 tons each. The dirt will be run through 200 feet of sluice-boxes, by water raised from the mine by their pump. The total running-expenses of the claim, including labor, are said not to exceed $75 per day, which leaves a large margin of profit on low-grade dirt. The claim is owned by practical men, and is a notable instance of economical management.

Bates & Co. are working the old channel near Mokelumne Hill, through a tunnel 900 feet in length, with large returns. The Paul claim was opened by a tunnel 1,100 feet in length, which was found too high to reach the bed of the channel, and was cut down and run 1,000 feet further. Notwithstanding this great outlay it is said to have paid well. Quartz mines near Mokelumne Hill.-The Paloma or Gwin mine, situated six miles west of Mokelumne Hill, at Lower Rich Gulch, is unquestionably on the Mother lode. Between Angel's and this point the croppings of the lode disappear for several miles, though recent developments are in favor of the continuance of the lode. The Paloma is the property of Messrs. Gwin & Coleman. It is said they spent nearly $100,000 on the mine and machinery before it became productive, and were once on the point of suspending operations. It is now one of the leading mines of the State. This claim is 2,800 feet long, and the vein is on an average 10 feet thick. They are working through a shaft 500 feet deep on an incline of about 60°, employing 50 men, running two mills, one of 20 and the other of 16 stamps. Only 93 inches of water are required to run both mills. It is accomplished by conducting the water to a 7-foot hurdy-gurdy wheel at each mill, through a hydraulic pipe under a 280foot pressure. They crush daily (24 hours) 65 tons of rock, that averages them $10 per ton. Work will be commenced upon the 500-foot level as soon as the "sump" is sunk 10 feet deeper. The lead is look