surface layers along the Merced and Bear Creek, which attracted a considerable number of diggers, particularly below Horshoe Bend on Merced River, and near Quartzburg; but on the Mariposa, Chowchilla, Fresno, and San Joaquin they diminished to small proportions, disappearing in Tulare county. Beyond this they were again discovered in 1853, and led to the brief Kern River excitement of 1854-5. Bank and gravel claims also faded, with a correspondingly decreasing demand for hydraulic methods. The chief wealth of the section consisted of quartz; and although the mother lode tapers rapidly, it still makes a good display in Mariposa, dividing here into two veins which a number of mines opened. This county is entitled to the distinction of the first discovery of such veins in California, on Fremont's grant, in 1849; but development was obstructed, not only by the early obstacles hampering this branch, but by litigation and lack of energy. Kern River revealed several ledges of value, and above there the Sierra Nevada disclosed a large number, especially of silver, extending into Tulare county and southward; but being less accessible and rich, they had to bide their time. The real silver region lies on the eastern slopes of the Sierra and beyond, in Alpine, Mono, Inyo, and San Bernardino counties, each containing some gold, which in the last named is found also in gravel; but lack of wood and water tended here to discourage.early efforts.3

37

36

4-5, May 10, July 24, 1856; Sac. Union, Nov. 4, 1854; Mar. 12, June 18, July 28, Sept. 27, Nov. 5, 1855. Eastward, the auriferous bodies passed into Mono county, beyond the Sierra Nevada, but the limited placers round Monoville were soon exhausted, and elsewhere the prospect was poor. Quartz was, however, in due time to produce activity here. Monoville possessed a ditch

of 20 miles.

36 For allusions to Alpine and Mono, see Amador and Tuolumne sections, to which they belonged in early years.

37 In Mariposa county, which at first included Fresno and Merced, the shallow, spotted placers were of smaller extent than in Tuolumne; yet the rich discoveries made at times sufficed to attract diggers. Instance reports in Pac. News, May 25, June 4, Aug. 23, Oct. 28, 1850; Cal. Courier, Oct. 5, 1850; S. F. Picayune, Nov. 26, 1850. In Nov. 1851, Bear Valley created an excitement by the report of six persons obtaining $220,000 in four days. At Bear Gulch near Quartzburg, some Mexicanз were said to have taken out a

The junction of the Sierra Nevada with the Coast Range, both at the north and at the south, brought

similar amount. Martin's Narr., MS., 54-5. In Drunken Gulch and at Cunningham's rancho near Princeton new ground was opened in 1854, and at Snelling's on the Merced, a river which supplied many profitable races. The section between Horseshoe Bend and Washington Flat was producing largely in 1856, and at Red Banks $20 a day was obtained, yet some made from $100 to $200, mostly in pieces of from 25 cents to $20. Hornitos yielded by lumps, partly of decomposed quartz. Mariposa Creek, worked since 1851, was paying $3 to $4 a day in 1856. Chowchilla, Fresno, and San Joaquin rivers had each their placers. Coarse Gold Gulch, which though prominent in 1851, declined under Indian hostilities; Fine Gold Gulch rose later; Rootville revived under the name of Millerton, and Indian Gulch, Mounts Ophir and Bullion, Agua Frio and Mormon Bar flourished a while. Jamestown, Junction Bluff, and Coulterville stood in high repute. Many details are given in Mariposa Chronicle, Dec. 8, 1854, etc.; Id., Gaz., June 27, 1873, etc., with reproduction of early records; Alta Cal., Jan. 16, 1852; Mar. 1, 13, 1854; Apr. 16, Oct. 1, 1855; Jan. 7, 26, July 12, Sept. 13, 22, Oct. 12, Nov. 4, 29, Dec. 27, 1856; S. F. Bulletin, Jan. 7, 12, 19, Aug. 5-7, 29, Sept. 13, 20, 26, 1855; Dec. 5, 1854; Oct. 1, 17, 20, Nov. 13, 1855; also 1856, passim. Bank diggings and gravel claims were limited, and consequently tunnelling and hydraulic works, with few ditches. Alta Cal., Mar. 26, Sept. 28, 1856. The valley section, later formed into Merced county, shared in its north-east part in placer mining. The veta madre tapers off in this region, and divides on Fremont's grant into two veins, Pine Tree and Josephine, upon which a number of mines opened in course of time. Princeton was the centre of another group opened in 1852, which at first yielded $75 per ton. The first discovery of California quartz veins was made on Fremont's grant in 1849, the reddish samples yielding 2 ounces to every 25 lbs, as Taylor testifies. Eldorado, i. 110-11. Subsequent developments by others showed 6 or 8 lbs to 50 lbs of rocks, and $2,500 to 100 lbs. Pac. News, Sept. 7, 1850; Sac. Transcript, June 29, Nov. 29, 1850. On Maxwell Creek a bowlder of 124 lbs was literally striped with gold. Alta Cal., July 15, 1851. According to J. Duff, in Mariposa Gaz., Jan. 17, 1873, a quartz-mill, the first in Cal. with steam-engine, was brought by him for Fremont and planted near Mariposa as early as August 1849, but this should probably read 1850; sec later about quartz-mills; four other mills were erected in 1850, two by J. Johnson, and the others by Capt. Howard and by I. R. Morris for Com. Stockton. Palmer, Cook, & Co. took charge of Frémont's claim, and uniting with a London company made large profits. The first week's crushing yielded $18,000. Sac. Transcript, Jan. 14, Feb. 14, 1851; June 29, 1850. One party sold a vein at Burns for $55,000. Frémont's agent was accused of swindling English capitalists by representing purchased quartz as coming from his Mariposa lead. Morn. Globe, Aug. 19, 1856. Litigation interfered with development on this estate; elsewhere rich croppings continued to be found, as at Hornitos and Johnson Flat. Near Mariposa the yield was in 1856 reported at $43 per ton. Pac. News, May 15, Oct. 4, 1850, and Picayune, May 15, Sept. 7, 1850, allude to numerous lumps from $4,500 downward. The poorest quartz veins yield $120 per ton. Alta Cal., Jan. 3, Feb. 20, 1854; Dec. 13, 1856; Sac. Union, Feb. 5, 28, May 4, 1855; S. F. Bulletin, Jan. 7, Aug. 25, 1856, etc.; Hist. Fresno Co., 87-9, 187, etc.; Hist. Merced Co., 86, etc. Southward no placer deposits of any note were found till 1853–4, when Kern River revealed specimens, including lumps, one of 42 ounces, which soon produced the Kern River excitement. This was wholly overdone, for the deposits proved limited in extent. A few parties made from $16 to $60 daily, others were content with $5 to $8, but the majority failed to obtain satisfactory returns. The quality was also inferior, assaying only $14 per ounce. The discovery was made by immigrants. Bakersfield South. Cal., June 8, Nov. 23, 1876, etc.; South. Cal., Dec. 7, 1854; Fresno Expositor, June 22, 1870;

LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO.

379

the auriferous strata nearer to the ocean, although in greatly attenuated form. It was this approximation in the south that led to the first discovery of gold in California, in Los Angeles county, as explained elsewhere. After being long neglected for the richer slopes of the Sierra, this region again received attention, and with improved methods the limited placers were made to yield fair profits. The chief result was the revelation of valuable quartz leads, extending into San Diego county, upon which a number of mines opened in later years. Northward the coast counties presented only slight scattered indications of gold, which, however, unfolded in Santa Cruz, along the San Lorenzo, into a limited placer and quartz field, and later attracted a certain attention in Marin county. Beyond this another barren expanse intervened till the approach once more of the auriferous Sierra Nevada became apparent in the rich earth and rock of Trinity and adjoining counties. Yet the central coast region was not devoid of mineral wealth. It contained some coal, the leading quicksilver mine of the world, and other metals, consonant with the solfataric nature of the determining range, the proper Havilah Courier, Sept. 8, 1866; Sac. Union, Dec. 1854-May 1855; Alta Cal., id., and scattered items in later numbers; Hayes' Angeles, ii. 102–8, 258, 272; Id., Mining, v. 122-42 There had been a rush in 1851 to Kern. Alta Cal., July 22, 1851. The deposits led to more encouraging quartz lodes, at Whiskey Flat, later Kernville, Keysville, Havilah, etc.; for which mills began to be erected. While not extensive, the veins have proved rich, some assaying at 16 cents per lb. S. F. Bulletin, Dec. 26, 1855; Alta Cal., Oct. 20, 1855; Mar. 31, 1856, etc.; Hist. Kern Co., 101, 110-13, 151. High in the Sierra were more extensive indications, chiefly of silver, whereof Tulare county had her share, but being less rich and accessible they had to bide their time. Above the water line the ores were easy to reduce, but not so the main sulphureted bodies below. On Clear Creek, in Tulare, the veins were from 2 to 6 feet thick. East of the Sierra the regular silver district was about to unfold in Inyo county in Panamint Mountains, near the main deflection of the Amargoso at Mojave desert, and at Lone Pine along the west base of Inyo Mts, the latter with much gold, and assaying $100 to $300 per ton. The lack of wood and water together with hostile Indians were here serious obstacles, which applied also to San Bernardino county, wherein the continuation of these leads extended. Here a limited placer field with gravel was found at Lytte Creek, which awaited ditches for thorough working. Soulé penetrated to the Amargoso in 1850, found rich specimens, formed a company, but spent money in vain. Stat., MS., 3-4. Others tried and failed. Sac. Transcript, Nov. 29, 1850; Hayes' Mining, v. 111-22; Alta Cal., Aug. 26, 1852; Sac. Union. Jan. 18, Oct. 12, Nov. 14, 1855.

development of which pertains to the period covered by my next volume. 88

38 In 1851 several slight excitements were stirred up by prospectors in the coast region, and in Los Angeles the old San Fernando field was reopened. Sac. Transcript, Feb. 14, 1851; Hayes' Mining, v. 110-20; Janssen, Vida, MS., 221. In 1854 Santa Anita received a rush; the gravel claims of San Gabriel Cañon were then worked with moderate success, encouraging the construction of ditches, and subsequently quartz was developed of promising quality, the region round Soledad Pass revealing silver. Alta Cal., Feb. 19-22, 1854; Dec. 29, 1856; Sac. Union, Jan. 10, Mar. 28, Apr. 18, May 9, 1855; Hayes' Mining, v. 116-20, 143, et seq.; L. A. Eve. Express, May 29, 1872. In 1856 Sta Catalina Island was found to contain veins, which it was in later times proposed to open. S. F. Bulletin, June 12, 1856; L. A. Herald, Dec. 23, 1874. San Diego also gave indications which in later times led to the opening of several veins. Alta Cal., March 19, 1855; Hayes' S. Diego, i. 94. North of Los Angeles the prospect faded, with small indications in Sta Bárbara and Ventura, S. F. Bulletin, Oct. 15, 1855; and with very limited_developments in later years in S. Luis Obispo. Hist. S. L. Ob. Co., 248-53. In Santa Cruz, however, both ledges and placers were revealed which gave employment to a small number of men. The padres are supposed to have known of their existence, but kept it secret. In 1851 Anson discovered placers on Guadalupe Creek, but yielding only $3 or $4 a day, they were neglected till 1853, Placer Times, June 27, 1853, when remunerative spots were found also on S. Lorenzo Creek. Alta Cal., July 29, 1853. Trask, Geol., pointed to auriferous signs from Soquel to Point Año Nuevo. In 1854 a rich bowlder was found on Graham Creek. In 1855 Gold Gulch on the San Lorenzo yielded from $3 to $10 a day, and lasted for several years. Quartz was also found, and a large number of companies took up claims; but the first promise was not sustained. Hayes' Mining, 399–403; Sac. Union, July 21, Nov. 7, 1855; S. F. Bulletin, June 19, 1856. Attempts were also made at beach mining. In Monterey county a ripple was created by a placer at Pacheco Pass, which for a brief period yielded from $5 to $9 a day. Sac. Transcript, Feb. 14, 28, 1851; S. F. Picayune, Jan. 26, 1851. In 1855-6 San Antonio Creek attracted attention with a yield of $3 to $5 a day, and occasional richer developments; also Cow Creek. Sac. Union, March 23, June 20, Nov. 17, 1855; Apr. 23, 1856; Alta Cal., Mar. 21, 1855. Feb. 7, Apr. 21, 1856; Hist. Mont. Co., 95; S. F. Bulletin, Feb. 7, 1856. Rumors of placers near the southern end of S. F. Bay, even around Oakland and Mount Diablo, floated at one time. Sac. Transcript, June 29, 1850; Sac. Union, Feb. 7, 1856; Hittell, Mining, 27; and San Francisco had indications on Telegraph Hill. Annals S. F., 417-18; leakages from miners' bags caused once or twice a scramble at the plaza, Taylor's Eldorado, ii. 60-1; and Bernal Heights gave food for vain excitements in later years. In Marin county a little mining was done in later years. Hist. Marin Co., 288, 311, 378-82; and on the Russian River some indications lured to unsuccessful attempts. T. M. Smyth obtained a little dust from Dry Creek. Russian R. Flag., Jan. 22, 1874; Alta Cal., Sept. 20, 1853; Apr. 6-7, 1855; Sac. Union, May 30, 1855; signs at Bodega, Hist. Sonoma Co., 29-38; and in Colusa. Colusa Co. Annual, 1878, 46. Equally feeble were the prospects in Mendocino, but in the adjoining Trinity county the auriferous Sierra Nevada again revealed itself.

CHAPTER XV

GEOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ANATOMY OF THE MINES.

1848-1856.

PHYSICAL FORMATION OF THE CALIFORNIA VALLEY-THE THREE GEOLOGIC BELTS-PHYSICAL ASPECT OF THE GOLD REGIONS--GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS INDICATIONS THAT INFLUENCE THE PROSPECTOR- ORIGIN OF RUSHES AND CAMPS-SOCIETY ALONG THE FOOTHILLS-HUT AND CAMP LIFE-SUNDAY IN THE MINES-CATALOGUE OF CALIFORNIA MINING RUSHES-MARIPOSA, KERN, OCEAN BEACH, NEVADA, GOLD LAKE, LOST CABIN, GOLD BLUFF, SISKIYOU, SONORA, AUSTRALIA, FRASER RIVER, NEVADA, COLORADO, and thE REST--MINING LAWS AND REGULATIONS -MINING TAX---DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FOREIGNERS.

THE largest and most important section of California, between latitudes 35° and 41°, may be divided into three geological as well as physical belts, beginning at the main axial line drawn from Mount Shasta through the leading summit peaks of the Sierra Nevada for nearly 500 miles. The limit of the first belt would be a line 50 miles westward along the edge of the foothills, touching at Red Bluff and Visalia. The next belt, of equal width, would be bounded by the eastern edge of the Coast Range, and the third belt by the coast line. A fourth belt may be added, which, extending eastward from the Sierra summit, falls partly within Nevada, and covers a series of lakes, arid depressions, and tracts marked by volcanic convulsions. South of the great valley, where the united ranges subdivide into low and straggling elevations,

1 Prof. Whitney, upon whose Geol. Survey of Cal., i. 2 et seq., I base these observations, makes the belts 55 miles wide, and adds a fourth, eastward from the Sierra crest. The zonal parallelism of the metals in these belts was first observed by Prof. Blake.