Volume 11 (1865) (424 pages)

178 Ge Mining an Scientific Breas, Gomnunientians, In tuts Derantmugnt weinvite the FREE Discussrox of all proper subjcots—carrenponrdents alone being responsible for the idcas und theories they advance. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Esmeralda and its Mines. Enirors Press :—Notwithstanding the present depressed condition of the mining interests abont this place, the future of Aurora was never more hopeful tban to-day. The mistakes of the past are now more. fully understood, and the experience gaiued will be turned to the most prolitable acconnt for the fnture. Mining in ond about Aurora will hereafter be couducted on a scale of liberality -and with a degree of intelligence which cannot fail to produce most satisfactory results, and which will soou place tbe mines of this region in the front rank for botb productiveness and permanency. 1 propose, in this letter, to give your readers a brief account of the present condition of some of the most prominent ones, and in so doing will commence with the REAL DEL MONTE. This mine haviug changed very materially in both the quantity and quality of its ores, it was also found necessary to cbauge the management as well. The entire control of the business of the company is now in the hands of Mr. L. B. Hopkins, who, by a thorough system of economy bas pot only managed to keep the expenses of the mine within its iucome, but has realized to the company, from May 2d, 1864, to April, 1865, some $60,000 over expenses. The entire property of tlie Del Moute Company, mill, machinery, ete., is in most excellent condition. ‘Their mill is beyond doubt the finest on this coast, of its capacity. ‘Their mine, though rather narrow in the vein at present, is turuing out enough of ore to run their mill about half time; and as to the probability of their meeting ores as extensive aud rich as tbey have furmerly done when they get to water line—there is everything iu favor of supposiug that snch will be the case. This fact is uow being thoroughly tested by the sinking of perpendicular shatts toa depth of five to six hundred feet. A deep shaft is also being sunk by the Wide West Company, under the superintendence of Mr. Pope. ‘This being the most advanced will be the first to demonstrate whether or not any improveuient in the mines of Esmernlda may he looked for beyond the depths heretofore reached. Iam satisfied, after a carefnl exainination of all their surroundiugs, that the ines of this district will again astonish the world—as they once hefore have done—by the richuess of their mineral veins. Tow different would be the condition at the present tine of these heretofore magnificent niiues, had the managers ouly used the simple precaution of keeping their mine prospected in part of the country. Being possessed of meaus, enterprise, and skill, they are foremost in demonstrating tbe mineral wealth of the country. Under the management of Mr. Reese, smelting works are now being built by this New York Company, as well as « good mill for the treatment of such of the ores as may he, adapted to amalgamation. The richer ores of the district—like all rich ores— heing better treated hy smelting. COLUMDUS DISTRICT Lies contiguous to Blind Springs and Montgomery. ‘The ores of this distriet are so similar to those of the latter, that a de: cription of the one gives the character of the otber. Here, too, a mill is now on the way for the reduetion of the ores. ‘The ores of these districts, I would here remark, are very different from all others surrounding them—that is, in their combinations with other metals—being what is generally known by the name of silver cop-. per giance, sligbtly combined with antimony and considerably so with lead and sulphur. These being the only districts, with one ex-! ception, on which I feel competent to speak at present, I will now have a word to say of the BODIE DISTRICT, Which, though last is not the least of all those surrounding Aurora; being iu fact the best mining district in this section of the country, and I may add, in any other section of miuing country yet known. he mines of the Bodie district are situated on what is called Bodie Blnff and High Peak Hills; distauce from Aurora eleven miles, at an altitude of nine thonsand feet above the sea. ‘I‘hese hills are a portion of tbe series of foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada on their eastern side; at a distance of some twenty iniles. Bodie is in Mono County, Cal., bat quite close to the dividing line of that State from the State of Nevada. From the top of Bodie Vluff and seemingly at your feet, though distant twelve miles, lies Lake Mono—or ns it is more appropriately called, the “Dead Sea of the West”—stretching itself for some thirty miles north and south, along the foot of the Sierras, of which latter you can enjoy a never ending view from this elevation. ‘I'he “« Wbite Mountains,” too, stand out in bold relief npon the sterile plain before you, which stretches from Walker Lake, at its northern extremity, to the Owen's River Valley south, lifting their chalky crest to bound yonr view as you look eastward from here. The mines of Bodie Bluff were discovered by a Frenchman named “ Bodie,” as early as 1859—by his first discovering placer divgings, which nre here very rich even to this day, but cannot be worked to advantage for want of sufficient water. They have been worked for sbort terms in the spring, when the melting snows would afford sufficient water, and pay from fifteen to twenty-five dollars per day to the hand. Though the quartz ledges were discovered in ‘59, yet little or no attention was paid to their development notil ’61, and even then received no further attention heyond loeation and sufficient working to prove their volue and hold them by law. This neglect of advance of their drifts, whicb should have been done by keeping their main shalt or incline, sume one or two hundred feet below . their working levels. Instead of doing so, they rau all over the veins for the richest ores, earryiug their exvavations ou without the least regard to system or mining engineering, leaving the mino in such condition as to require a large outlay and mneh risk in putting it in working order or safe condition, which is now being done. TNE MILLS OF FSMERALDA DISTRICT. Iwas much snrprised at finding so many here, there being no less than twelve—all depending on the ledges of Last Chance Hill, tora supply of ores—but unfortunately nearly every one of thein are idle at present, peuding the lurther development of the place. THE OUTSIDE DISTRICTS Are nnmerons, and the proof of their richness, both in gold and silver—the latter abounding miost—is uot wanting. Foremost amongst these is the Montgomery district. ‘The richnrs3 of the ores from this district are too well known to need comment. The leads, it is trne, are small, but numerous and valuable. ‘There . are two fonr-stamp mills now being put up there, and two nore in contemplation. ‘lhe distance from here is fifty-five miles, in a southeast direction. THE BLIND SPRINGS DISTRICT Is nnother very rich mining section, fifty miles east of here. The ledges of this place are very large, being from four to twelve feet in thickness. Sone of the leading lodes of Blind Springs have been sold to Hastern capitulists, whose attention has been drawn to such very valuable mines, was owing to the extraordinary excitement then prevailing about those of Ksmeralda district. ‘The principal ledges of the district in 1861 and 1862, were taken np by and organized into the following ‘compnnies; namely: Bodie Bluff Consolidation, Bodie No. 2, Isabella Company, ‘Lioga Company, and Rio Vista Company. During the summer of 1864, a consolidation of the entire interests of these companies took place, forming the present “ Hmpire Gold and Silver Mining Company,” with their head office at New York city, where resides a majority of the trustees. Vhe working capital of the company is one million dollars, and with this they have gone to work in the most thorough manner to open out theiz mines, by running tunnels, sinking shafts, ete. ete. bey have been thus at work for the past ten months, and have now three separate tunnels run in, trans verse of several of their ledges, toa distance of from 252 to 375 feet, being at a depth fromthe upper surface of 255 to 300 feet. As the object of the conipany was uot to take out ore so much as to put the mines tn a good condition Yor future operations, they have succeeled so far, thut now they can put 200 men immediately to work extracting ore, when, from the fissile nature of the quartz, and the regularity of the thickness of the veins, which are generally wideenongh from casing to casing to admit of being worked withont breaking througb the wall rock, five hundred tops per day might be taken from these ledges. The husiness of the Iimpire Company is under the management of Dr. J. L. Howard, of the frm of Howard & Sanches, bankers at Aurora—as general manager and financial agent. To his credit I must say that it would tese inines by that very enterprising gentle-. be well for the country if many of our mining man, Mr. Reese, of the firm of Krouse & superintendents would come and take a lesson Reese, assnyers of Aurora. These gentlemen are largely interested iu this district. as also from the system of mining management inau. gnrated here. Of the value of the ores of these jn almost every well developed” project in this . ledges I need not say much, as their character in that particular has been well proven and is generally known. ‘ There has been sevcra] hundred tons of the ore from these ledges worked at the Aurora . mills, yielding by a rather imperfect metbod of amalgamation. Irom forty to filty dollars per) ton; thongh the assays were as high as one hundred and over. This company have just completed their first mill. It is situated at the foot of Bodie Blof and right uuder the mouth of the tunnels. The distance in perpendiculur hight lrom the inill to the lodes at their outcrop ou the Bluff, is 800 feet, affording the finest tucility possible for conveying the ore frum the mines to the mill. T'bis inill has been planned by Mr. B. 0. Cutter, of San Francisco, and built under his immediate supervision. It certainly does credit to him as an architect in this particular line of mill building. Mr. Cutter has planned and built many of the leading mills of the country. In this section of country he bnilt the Fogus inill, the Durand mill, and also the autelope mill; the latter is not to be excelled by anything [have yet seen. ‘The Empire mill is planned after the Antelope; like it, is bnilt of brick, in the most substantial manner, and so orranged in placing the machinery, ag, to afford the utmost convenience in its nse. ‘Chis mill has sixteen stamps, eight of Wheeler’s pans, three settlers, with shaking tables, and a continuation of rifled sluices—the whole so well adapted to the saving of everything contained iu the ore, that I cannot see tbe least possibility of a fuilure to work this ore up to ninety per cent. of its assay. The company have a ulost splendid snpply of water taken from adjacent springs. ‘Ihe motive power is a thirty-five horse power engine, a splendid tubnlar boiler, with all the necessary appendages in the very best order and style ; tbe eutire strncture is covered with a tin roof. The first movement of a quartz mill iu the Bodie district was made hy this one, on the 6th instant, by setting her stamps to work, ond on the [3th instant by moving ber entire maebinery, which now are steadily running, with a fair prospect of continuiug to do so for n long time to come. In my next you shall hear from the result of the workings of the ore in this mill. In view of the fact of this mill not heing able to ernsh one fourth of tbe ore now coming out of the mines, this company are now preparing to erect another of thirty stamps as soon as spring opens. And tbe impression is, with tbe most suhstnntial lucts to. snstuin it, that even then they cannot reduce more than one half of the ore which will be coming ont by that time. ‘Tbere are other mines situated on the “ Bodie and High Peak Hills,” which certainly are equally as noteworthy as any one ot the Empire Co.’s lodes, There is the “San Antonio,” the “Tome Stake,” ond several others not yet much developed. But the two named are most thoroughly prospected and their value fully establisbed—by having several tons of the ore worked in mills at Aurora. The “ Home Stake Company” are iow eneaged in building a twelve-stuimp mill close to their mine, which they expect to have rnnning in about five weeks’ time. This mill, and the mine connected, are under the manugemeut of Dr. J. L. Howard, who is largely interested in it, and like pe business ot the Mmpire Company, is being carried ou wilh the closest regard tun proper application of the means laced at his disposal for the coustruction of the mill and working of the mine. This company have now at their mine several hundred stons of ore that will certainly work as high, by mill process, as $125 per ton. Mr. B. O. Cutter is also the architect of this will, when, lrom what [ have seen of the Empire mill, I am Satisfied that this one will be hut another monument to his fame as a mill architect. That Bodie district is now taking the lead, none can deny, while all admit that to the enterprise and euergy of Mr. Howard in briuging about these very desirable improvements, as well as in the better development of the mines of these companies, is due the credit of the great benefit to be derived hy the country generally, but by Aurora in particular, from the vast outlay going ou, as well as trom the large amount of bullion which these mines will tnrn out from this time forward. Before this reaches you the first shipment of bullion will be made from here. J.R.M. Aurora, September. 1865. t Precions Stones In Norra Caronina.—lt is reported that precious stones of considerable value have been fonnd in the southwestern partof North Carolina. A lady owning property in that region claims to have in her is beginning to attract n possession two of the finest opals ever discovered, which were found in Cherokee County. A Sare Company ro TraveL Wira.—It is said tbat tbe Cunard steamship company, which is now twenty-five years old, has never . lost a life or letter during the many trips its stenmers have made across the Atlautic. THE KERN RIVER MINES, ‘What is generally known as the Kern River . ) mines, embraces quite a large extent of coun. try in Tulare,county, to the southeast of the town of Visalia. It is divided into a number of districts, each of which, we helieve, is al. luded to separately in the letter of onr corres pondent which is given below. ‘This regio . large amount . of attention. and a strong current of emigration is now setting in that direction. It is es. timated that there nre not less than 1,000 miners now at work around the hills and hollows abont tle head of Clear Creek. } There can scarcely be any doubt about the richnes: of these mines. ‘lhey have been carefnlly an repeatedly examined by our best experts, who are unanimous in their opinion of their value, Quite a number of capitalists, who have long been engaged iu qnarta mining in other parts of this State and in Nevada, have recently in vested in these mines, and are now engaged it putting up machinery. Several mills have ale ready gone iuto operation with the most flat ! tering results. The former prejudice against . . theso mines is now fully broken down, and . they are fast establishing a reputation which. will soon place them among the most valuable of the gold mines of California. They yield; by netual working from $30 to $50 aud $75 per tou. ‘The ledges nre well developed aud heavy, and the rock is very easily worked, We give below a very full and interesting le ter descriptive of what is now going oni these mines. We hope to hear from our correspondent often : THE WNIT RIVER DISTRICT Is gitnated on White River, fifty-five mile from Visalia. he mines in this district have been worked successfully for several. years but uew discoveries are constantly being made, among which we may mention the McCullongh, on Keys Lode, and the Joseptine Lode, belonging to C.F. Woods & Uo., who have an 8-stamp mill. ‘The rock from tlis claim pays 1 lrom $45 to $75 per ton. ‘he richest lode, : pethaps, in this district, isthe Surab Campbell, . owned bya Philadelphia company. This com4) pany have a patent crusher, and intend putting . np olarge mil. ‘Their rock is said to pay” $125 per ton. Many other parties are sinking ; upon lodes which they have discovered, most ot which are very promising, so far as opened, GREENHORN DISTRICT Ig sitnated on the suinmit of the mountain knowu by the same naine. this district is about 7,000 feet. It contains an abundance of timber, pine, oak, fir, and cedar, and plenty of water. The principal ~ lodes that are being worked in this district are the Sanders, owned by J. Lewis & Co., the . . rock from which is crushed in arastras, and ¢ pays about $60 on an average; another lode” the Rough and Ready, is worked by R. Huduut, and pays from $35 to $70 perton, Iti worked by a water-mill, with five stamps, an subseqnently run through arastras. Other lode are heing sunk upon with good prospects. KEYSVILLE DISTRICT Ts situated on Kern River, east side of Green: horn mountain, and is algo a timbered country. * The principal lodes in this district ure the Olds Mammoth lode, which bas been worked lor several years, paying an average of $36.50 per” ton. It is worked by a water-nill, with eight stamps. ‘Che famous, though recently discov ered Knickerbocker lode, owned by MeCnl . } lough & Co., is also in this district ; the owm= ers are sinking down upon it, and it is proving remarkably rich. Next comes Dalfish & Cow /}. with mill and lodes. ‘This company have sold their entire interest to Judge W: Ish & Co., for a large amount of money, who intend putting np new machinery immediately, ‘Ihere ure other lodes of very fiue prospects in progress of development. CAVE OR KERNVILLE DIstTRICT, Is also on Kern River, ten miles above Keysville, where the Big Blue and Summer lodes are sitnated. Most of the work going on in this district, is heing done by A. Staples & Co. Mr. King, and’ the companies owning Bull Run, Summer and Frank lodes, are working seventy men and running three mills, witha capacity of twenty-two stamps, the average pay of rock being $88 per ton. Wheeler & Co. are also rnnning arastras by water-power on the Stone lode, whicb pays from $35 to $40 . per ton. ‘The village of Kernville is situated in this district, and contains two hotels and two stores, besides shops of different descriptions. Some fine gardens and farms are also to be found iu this vicinity. . CLEAR CREEK MINES. Havilla City is situated on Copperas Run, . with plenty of timber aud water. ‘The towa .

178 Ge Mining an Scientific Breas, Gomnunientians, In tuts Derantmugnt weinvite the FREE Discussrox of all proper subjcots—carrenponrdents alone being responsible for the idcas und theories they advance. [Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Esmeralda and its Mines. Enirors Press :—Notwithstanding the present depressed condition of the mining interests abont this place, the future of Aurora was never more hopeful tban to-day. The mistakes of the past are now more. fully understood, and the experience gaiued will be turned to the most prolitable acconnt for the fnture. Mining in ond about Aurora will hereafter be couducted on a scale of liberality -and with a degree of intelligence which cannot fail to produce most satisfactory results, and which will soou place tbe mines of this region in the front rank for botb productiveness and permanency. 1 propose, in this letter, to give your readers a brief account of the present condition of some of the most prominent ones, and in so doing will commence with the REAL DEL MONTE. This mine haviug changed very materially in both the quantity and quality of its ores, it was also found necessary to cbauge the management as well. The entire control of the business of the company is now in the hands of Mr. L. B. Hopkins, who, by a thorough system of economy bas pot only managed to keep the expenses of the mine within its iucome, but has realized to the company, from May 2d, 1864, to April, 1865, some $60,000 over expenses. The entire property of tlie Del Moute Company, mill, machinery, ete., is in most excellent condition. ‘Their mill is beyond doubt the finest on this coast, of its capacity. ‘Their mine, though rather narrow in the vein at present, is turuing out enough of ore to run their mill about half time; and as to the probability of their meeting ores as extensive aud rich as tbey have furmerly done when they get to water line—there is everything iu favor of supposiug that snch will be the case. This fact is uow being thoroughly tested by the sinking of perpendicular shatts toa depth of five to six hundred feet. A deep shaft is also being sunk by the Wide West Company, under the superintendence of Mr. Pope. ‘This being the most advanced will be the first to demonstrate whether or not any improveuient in the mines of Esmernlda may he looked for beyond the depths heretofore reached. Iam satisfied, after a carefnl exainination of all their surroundiugs, that the ines of this district will again astonish the world—as they once hefore have done—by the richuess of their mineral veins. Tow different would be the condition at the present tine of these heretofore magnificent niiues, had the managers ouly used the simple precaution of keeping their mine prospected in part of the country. Being possessed of meaus, enterprise, and skill, they are foremost in demonstrating tbe mineral wealth of the country. Under the management of Mr. Reese, smelting works are now being built by this New York Company, as well as « good mill for the treatment of such of the ores as may he, adapted to amalgamation. The richer ores of the district—like all rich ores— heing better treated hy smelting. COLUMDUS DISTRICT Lies contiguous to Blind Springs and Montgomery. ‘The ores of this distriet are so similar to those of the latter, that a de: cription of the one gives the character of the otber. Here, too, a mill is now on the way for the reduetion of the ores. ‘The ores of these districts, I would here remark, are very different from all others surrounding them—that is, in their combinations with other metals—being what is generally known by the name of silver cop-. per giance, sligbtly combined with antimony and considerably so with lead and sulphur. These being the only districts, with one ex-! ception, on which I feel competent to speak at present, I will now have a word to say of the BODIE DISTRICT, Which, though last is not the least of all those surrounding Aurora; being iu fact the best mining district in this section of the country, and I may add, in any other section of miuing country yet known. he mines of the Bodie district are situated on what is called Bodie Blnff and High Peak Hills; distauce from Aurora eleven miles, at an altitude of nine thonsand feet above the sea. ‘I‘hese hills are a portion of tbe series of foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada on their eastern side; at a distance of some twenty iniles. Bodie is in Mono County, Cal., bat quite close to the dividing line of that State from the State of Nevada. From the top of Bodie Vluff and seemingly at your feet, though distant twelve miles, lies Lake Mono—or ns it is more appropriately called, the “Dead Sea of the West”—stretching itself for some thirty miles north and south, along the foot of the Sierras, of which latter you can enjoy a never ending view from this elevation. ‘I'he “« Wbite Mountains,” too, stand out in bold relief npon the sterile plain before you, which stretches from Walker Lake, at its northern extremity, to the Owen's River Valley south, lifting their chalky crest to bound yonr view as you look eastward from here. The mines of Bodie Bluff were discovered by a Frenchman named “ Bodie,” as early as 1859—by his first discovering placer divgings, which nre here very rich even to this day, but cannot be worked to advantage for want of sufficient water. They have been worked for sbort terms in the spring, when the melting snows would afford sufficient water, and pay from fifteen to twenty-five dollars per day to the hand. Though the quartz ledges were discovered in ‘59, yet little or no attention was paid to their development notil ’61, and even then received no further attention heyond loeation and sufficient working to prove their volue and hold them by law. This neglect of advance of their drifts, whicb should have been done by keeping their main shalt or incline, sume one or two hundred feet below . their working levels. Instead of doing so, they rau all over the veins for the richest ores, earryiug their exvavations ou without the least regard to system or mining engineering, leaving the mino in such condition as to require a large outlay and mneh risk in putting it in working order or safe condition, which is now being done. TNE MILLS OF FSMERALDA DISTRICT. Iwas much snrprised at finding so many here, there being no less than twelve—all depending on the ledges of Last Chance Hill, tora supply of ores—but unfortunately nearly every one of thein are idle at present, peuding the lurther development of the place. THE OUTSIDE DISTRICTS Are nnmerons, and the proof of their richness, both in gold and silver—the latter abounding miost—is uot wanting. Foremost amongst these is the Montgomery district. ‘The richnrs3 of the ores from this district are too well known to need comment. The leads, it is trne, are small, but numerous and valuable. ‘There . are two fonr-stamp mills now being put up there, and two nore in contemplation. ‘lhe distance from here is fifty-five miles, in a southeast direction. THE BLIND SPRINGS DISTRICT Is nnother very rich mining section, fifty miles east of here. The ledges of this place are very large, being from four to twelve feet in thickness. Sone of the leading lodes of Blind Springs have been sold to Hastern capitulists, whose attention has been drawn to such very valuable mines, was owing to the extraordinary excitement then prevailing about those of Ksmeralda district. ‘The principal ledges of the district in 1861 and 1862, were taken np by and organized into the following ‘compnnies; namely: Bodie Bluff Consolidation, Bodie No. 2, Isabella Company, ‘Lioga Company, and Rio Vista Company. During the summer of 1864, a consolidation of the entire interests of these companies took place, forming the present “ Hmpire Gold and Silver Mining Company,” with their head office at New York city, where resides a majority of the trustees. Vhe working capital of the company is one million dollars, and with this they have gone to work in the most thorough manner to open out theiz mines, by running tunnels, sinking shafts, ete. ete. bey have been thus at work for the past ten months, and have now three separate tunnels run in, trans verse of several of their ledges, toa distance of from 252 to 375 feet, being at a depth fromthe upper surface of 255 to 300 feet. As the object of the conipany was uot to take out ore so much as to put the mines tn a good condition Yor future operations, they have succeeled so far, thut now they can put 200 men immediately to work extracting ore, when, from the fissile nature of the quartz, and the regularity of the thickness of the veins, which are generally wideenongh from casing to casing to admit of being worked withont breaking througb the wall rock, five hundred tops per day might be taken from these ledges. The husiness of the Iimpire Company is under the management of Dr. J. L. Howard, of the frm of Howard & Sanches, bankers at Aurora—as general manager and financial agent. To his credit I must say that it would tese inines by that very enterprising gentle-. be well for the country if many of our mining man, Mr. Reese, of the firm of Krouse & superintendents would come and take a lesson Reese, assnyers of Aurora. These gentlemen are largely interested iu this district. as also from the system of mining management inau. gnrated here. Of the value of the ores of these jn almost every well developed” project in this . ledges I need not say much, as their character in that particular has been well proven and is generally known. ‘ There has been sevcra] hundred tons of the ore from these ledges worked at the Aurora . mills, yielding by a rather imperfect metbod of amalgamation. Irom forty to filty dollars per) ton; thongh the assays were as high as one hundred and over. This company have just completed their first

mill. It is situated at the foot of Bodie Blof and right uuder the mouth of the tunnels. The distance in perpendiculur hight lrom the inill to the lodes at their outcrop ou the Bluff, is 800 feet, affording the finest tucility possible for conveying the ore frum the mines to the mill. T'bis inill has been planned by Mr. B. 0. Cutter, of San Francisco, and built under his immediate supervision. It certainly does credit to him as an architect in this particular line of mill building. Mr. Cutter has planned and built many of the leading mills of the country. In this section of country he bnilt the Fogus inill, the Durand mill, and also the autelope mill; the latter is not to be excelled by anything [have yet seen. ‘The Empire mill is planned after the Antelope; like it, is bnilt of brick, in the most substantial manner, and so orranged in placing the machinery, ag, to afford the utmost convenience in its nse. ‘Chis mill has sixteen stamps, eight of Wheeler’s pans, three settlers, with shaking tables, and a continuation of rifled sluices—the whole so well adapted to the saving of everything contained iu the ore, that I cannot see tbe least possibility of a fuilure to work this ore up to ninety per cent. of its assay. The company have a ulost splendid snpply of water taken from adjacent springs. ‘Ihe motive power is a thirty-five horse power engine, a splendid tubnlar boiler, with all the necessary appendages in the very best order and style ; tbe eutire strncture is covered with a tin roof. The first movement of a quartz mill iu the Bodie district was made hy this one, on the 6th instant, by setting her stamps to work, ond on the [3th instant by moving ber entire maebinery, which now are steadily running, with a fair prospect of continuiug to do so for n long time to come. In my next you shall hear from the result of the workings of the ore in this mill. In view of the fact of this mill not heing able to ernsh one fourth of tbe ore now coming out of the mines, this company are now preparing to erect another of thirty stamps as soon as spring opens. And tbe impression is, with tbe most suhstnntial lucts to. snstuin it, that even then they cannot reduce more than one half of the ore which will be coming ont by that time. ‘Tbere are other mines situated on the “ Bodie and High Peak Hills,” which certainly are equally as noteworthy as any one ot the Empire Co.’s lodes, There is the “San Antonio,” the “Tome Stake,” ond several others not yet much developed. But the two named are most thoroughly prospected and their value fully establisbed—by having several tons of the ore worked in mills at Aurora. The “ Home Stake Company” are iow eneaged in building a twelve-stuimp mill close to their mine, which they expect to have rnnning in about five weeks’ time. This mill, and the mine connected, are under the manugemeut of Dr. J. L. Howard, who is largely interested in it, and like pe business ot the Mmpire Company, is being carried ou wilh the closest regard tun proper application of the means laced at his disposal for the coustruction of the mill and working of the mine. This company have now at their mine several hundred stons of ore that will certainly work as high, by mill process, as $125 per ton. Mr. B. O. Cutter is also the architect of this will, when, lrom what [ have seen of the Empire mill, I am Satisfied that this one will be hut another monument to his fame as a mill architect. That Bodie district is now taking the lead, none can deny, while all admit that to the enterprise and euergy of Mr. Howard in briuging about these very desirable improvements, as well as in the better development of the mines of these companies, is due the credit of the great benefit to be derived hy the country generally, but by Aurora in particular, from the vast outlay going ou, as well as trom the large amount of bullion which these mines will tnrn out from this time forward. Before this reaches you the first shipment of bullion will be made from here. J.R.M. Aurora, September. 1865. t Precions Stones In Norra Caronina.—lt is reported that precious stones of considerable value have been fonnd in the southwestern partof North Carolina. A lady owning property in that region claims to have in her is beginning to attract n possession two of the finest opals ever discovered, which were found in Cherokee County. A Sare Company ro TraveL Wira.—It is said tbat tbe Cunard steamship company, which is now twenty-five years old, has never . lost a life or letter during the many trips its stenmers have made across the Atlautic. THE KERN RIVER MINES, ‘What is generally known as the Kern River . ) mines, embraces quite a large extent of coun. try in Tulare,county, to the southeast of the town of Visalia. It is divided into a number of districts, each of which, we helieve, is al. luded to separately in the letter of onr corres pondent which is given below. ‘This regio . large amount . of attention. and a strong current of emigration is now setting in that direction. It is es. timated that there nre not less than 1,000 miners now at work around the hills and hollows abont tle head of Clear Creek. } There can scarcely be any doubt about the richnes: of these mines. ‘lhey have been carefnlly an repeatedly examined by our best experts, who are unanimous in their opinion of their value, Quite a number of capitalists, who have long been engaged iu qnarta mining in other parts of this State and in Nevada, have recently in vested in these mines, and are now engaged it putting up machinery. Several mills have ale ready gone iuto operation with the most flat ! tering results. The former prejudice against . . theso mines is now fully broken down, and . they are fast establishing a reputation which. will soon place them among the most valuable of the gold mines of California. They yield; by netual working from $30 to $50 aud $75 per tou. ‘The ledges nre well developed aud heavy, and the rock is very easily worked, We give below a very full and interesting le ter descriptive of what is now going oni these mines. We hope to hear from our correspondent often : THE WNIT RIVER DISTRICT Is gitnated on White River, fifty-five mile from Visalia. he mines in this district have been worked successfully for several. years but uew discoveries are constantly being made, among which we may mention the McCullongh, on Keys Lode, and the Joseptine Lode, belonging to C.F. Woods & Uo., who have an 8-stamp mill. ‘The rock from tlis claim pays 1 lrom $45 to $75 per ton. ‘he richest lode, : pethaps, in this district, isthe Surab Campbell, . owned bya Philadelphia company. This com4) pany have a patent crusher, and intend putting . np olarge mil. ‘Their rock is said to pay” $125 per ton. Many other parties are sinking ; upon lodes which they have discovered, most ot which are very promising, so far as opened, GREENHORN DISTRICT Ig sitnated on the suinmit of the mountain knowu by the same naine. this district is about 7,000 feet. It contains an abundance of timber, pine, oak, fir, and cedar, and plenty of water. The principal ~ lodes that are being worked in this district are the Sanders, owned by J. Lewis & Co., the . . rock from which is crushed in arastras, and ¢ pays about $60 on an average; another lode” the Rough and Ready, is worked by R. Huduut, and pays from $35 to $70 perton, Iti worked by a water-mill, with five stamps, an subseqnently run through arastras. Other lode are heing sunk upon with good prospects. KEYSVILLE DISTRICT Ts situated on Kern River, east side of Green: horn mountain, and is algo a timbered country. * The principal lodes in this district ure the Olds Mammoth lode, which bas been worked lor several years, paying an average of $36.50 per” ton. It is worked by a water-nill, with eight stamps. ‘Che famous, though recently discov ered Knickerbocker lode, owned by MeCnl . } lough & Co., is also in this district ; the owm= ers are sinking down upon it, and it is proving remarkably rich. Next comes Dalfish & Cow /}. with mill and lodes. ‘This company have sold their entire interest to Judge W: Ish & Co., for a large amount of money, who intend putting np new machinery immediately, ‘Ihere ure other lodes of very fiue prospects in progress of development. CAVE OR KERNVILLE DIstTRICT, Is also on Kern River, ten miles above Keysville, where the Big Blue and Summer lodes are sitnated. Most of the work going on in this district, is heing done by A. Staples & Co. Mr. King, and’ the companies owning Bull Run, Summer and Frank lodes, are working seventy men and running three mills, witha capacity of twenty-two stamps, the average pay of rock being $88 per ton. Wheeler & Co. are also rnnning arastras by water-power on the Stone lode, whicb pays from $35 to $40 . per ton. ‘The village of Kernville is situated in this district, and contains two hotels and two stores, besides shops of different descriptions. Some fine gardens and farms are also to be found iu this vicinity. . CLEAR CREEK MINES. Havilla City is situated on Copperas Run, . with plenty of timber aud water. ‘The towa .