BUTTE COUNTY.

By E. B. PRESTON, E.M., Assistant in the Field.

The entire eastern side of this county is formed by outrunning spurs from the western side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, between which the different branches of the Feather River (North, Middle, and South, with their tributaries) debouch into the Sacramento Valley, after passing for the greater part of their course through a rich mineral country, in which gold-bearing quartz veins, as well as remains of ancient river channels, are abundant. These spurs contain an abundance of timber suitable for mining, while the south and west parts of the county contain as rich farming land as can be found anywhere in the State, insuring an unfailing source of supplies for the support of large bodies. of miners. Railroads extend up to the county seat, and good stage roads penetrate the foothills in different directions.

As a large part of the gold production of Butte County has been derived from the Feather River and its branches, which unite about 10 miles north of Oroville, the county seat, more capital has been expended in this branch of mining of late than in the development of the drift or quartz mines. Work of an extended nature in this direction has been brought to a close by two English companies, the Golden Gate Channel River Mining Company (limited), and the Golden Feather Channel River Mining Company (limited), on the main Feather River, just above Oroville, under the management of Col. Frank McLaughlin.

Of new developments in vein mining the most notable are on the Forbestown Ridge, while the successful reopening of the famous Perschbecker Mine, on the Dogtown spur, with other drift mines in this vicinity, bids fair to make that section prominent.

Immediately above the town of Oroville, which is built on auriferous gravel, are situated the two river claims previously referred to, which are of importance to the whole county, aside from their possible gold yield, as they furnish permanently a constant water power of four thousand horse-power in the immediate neighborhood of the town and railway, offering unequaled advantages for manufacturing establishments.

THE GOLDEN FEATHER CHANNEL COMPANY (LIMITED).

This is the first of the two river claims that are to be operated by English capital, and is situated on the Feather River, immediately above the Oroville bridge.

A vast amount of preliminary work has been required to insure the work to be carried on, comprising the building of 10 miles of substantial roads; the providing of dwellings in three separate camps capable of accommodating from one hundred and fifty to three hundred men, besides the necessary workshops; also the building of a canal along the right bank of the Feather River, 40 feet wide and 6,000 feet long, requiring the excavation of 50,000 cubic yards, to carry the river when turned out