Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

310 he Wining and Selentitic Dress. Gonmnrnicntions. Ix THIS DEPARTMENT We Ilivite the FREE DISCUSSION alone belng r of all proper T for the ideas and theorles they advance. (Written for the Mining and Scleutific Press.) The Clear Oreek Mines, Kern County, BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. [Continued from Page 354.) Eorrors Press:—The first mill ereeted in the Mount Sinai district was that of tbe Pettis’ Gold Mining company, who put up a “ patent erusher,” imported from Boston. This proved a failure, and the mill is now idle, bet it ran long enough to prove the richness of the rock, and the owners intend replacing it with a stamp mill this sumer. Mr. R. H. Rogers, of. San Francisco, has purchased. conditionally, some twenty or thirty claims, including one or two locations on tbe Antelope vein. He was patting up a 5-stamp mill for the purpose of testing them, which is probably running by this time. It is driven by a “Hoadley” portable engine of 15-horse power, and is erected in the most thorough and suhstantial manner. The Olanche Silver Mining company, Mr. Farleigh superintendent, were engaged huilding a saw-mill, which they expected to have in successful operation ina few days. hey have a 40-horse power “ Little Giant” engine, and intend adding an 8 stamp hattery for quartz, as soon as their saw-mill is fairly under way. In the afternoon the whole party rode out to the Pi Ute district, situated in a range of slate formation, soine three miles west of Claraville. ‘this district is as yet entirely undeveloped. Though several fine-looking veins have been discovered which prospect well, none of them are opened more than three feet deep; yet, in this undeveloped condition, one of them, the Cherokee Dick ledge, which is nineteen feet wide on the surface, has heen sold for $50,000, of which $600 was paid down to-bind the bargain. ‘The veins in this district run across tbe strata of the slate, are very well delined, with distinet and regular walls. The next morning Mr. Burke and myself started for Walker’s Basin, where we arrived about two o'clock. Fonr miles further, over a gently undulating country, covered with a scant growtb of timber, we alighted at the famous JOE WALKER MINE, In what is called Quito Mining District, eight milea sonth of Havilah. The mine was located onthe 20th of March, 1866, hy Mr. Hamp Williams, by whom it was sold to Messrs, Burdett and McKidney, who afterwards sold a third interest to Mr. E. R. Burke, the present superintendent. At the time of my visit, a large, well-timhered shaft was dowa sixty-five feet on the vein, and the workmen were prepariog to drift. Tire formation of this district, like that of all otbers aouth of the Sara River, with the exception of the Pi Ute, is granite. The course of the Walker vein is northeast and southwest, with a slight dip to the southeast. The narrowest point in the vein yet opened is three feet eight inches, and its breadth varies from thot to seven feet, prohahly averaging from four to five feet. The walls are very regylar and smooth, with a tough clay “ gouge ” on the foot or western wall. he rock throughont prospects well. The owners of this mine have secured some 1,500 acres of timber land, which will furuisb them with wood for many years Some otber veins have heen discovered iu this district, but they are generally small, nud oo work has been done on any of them. On the following morning I set out in company with Mr. Ostrom, of Havilah, to visit the mines in Cottonwood and Agua Caliente districts. COTTONWoou DISTRICT Is located in the foot-hills east of Agua Caliente Basin, twenty miles southeast of Havilah. Tbe formation ond appearance of the country are quite similar to that of the Quito distriet. The veins in this district have heen discovered and located by persons in the employ of the Enterprise Prospecting Company, composed of seven of tbe citizeus of Havilab, in whose employ Capt. Titcomh and party have been traveling and prospecting for five months past. In this distriet this eompary own ten lodes, hesides valuable locations elsewhere. At the time of our visit Capt. Titeomb was at work prospecting the Keystone, the largest and most promising of the company’s claims in this distriet. The rock prospects quita well. ‘There are 00 mills, arastras, or other means of crusbing rock in this distriet. At the invitation of Capt. I. and Mr. Kelly we spant the night at tbeir camp, and in tbe morning set out for the AGUA CALIENTE DISTRICT, Distant about three miles in an easterly direction. This district was discovered several years since, and over one hundred ledzes have been located. A mill of five stamps, with engine of 30-horse power, well and substantially built, was erected some years since, hut on account of miserahle management proved a lailwre. It is expected to start it aguin this summer, under the management of Judge Walsh, the well-known prospector, and with fair reason to expect success. Several arastras have been running lor the past year with very good success, and the hopes of the miners in regard to the district are very high indeed. I visited several veins, but few of which had been opened to any extent; but as lar as opened many of them showed flattering prospects. One in particular, the Monarch, is lrom six to seven leet wide, and the sutface rock prospects finely. All the ‘others that I visited were small, hut several of them prospect very well. I was informed that in the upper part ol the district there were several ledges of equal size aud prospects with the Monarch, but want ot time forbid iy visiting them. ‘Ts district is well supplied with wood, and has sufficient waiter for steam and amalgamating purposes. I started on Monday morning for Keysville, on Kein River. The most important enterprise in tbis district is that of the MAMMOTH GOLD MINING COMPANY, Who ourchased the celebrated Mamm:th lend, situated ina hill just back of the Keysville. This vein hag been worked on the surface lor over 2,000 feet, and immense quantities ol gold taken out, but from sonie cause its owners have never inanaged to, make it proftahle. The preseut owners are erecting a 20-stamp waterinill, under the superintendence of Mr. McCtellan. By the politeness of-Mr. O. A. Sanhora, one of the present proprietors of the mine, I was shown tha works. An old tnnnel started by those who formerly worked the mina has been re-opened, and extended until it is now 440 feet into the hill, following the vein the whole distance. ‘The cuurse of the vein is northeast and. southwest, with a slight dip to the southeast, and throughout this tunyel it varies in width from one to six feet, averaging three and a half; though in some places, in the upper works, the vein appears to have been much wider. A parallel tunnel, 130 feet below tbe old one, hns been started by the present proprietors, and driven in a distance of 130 feet, but has not yet cut the vein. It is estimated that this tunnel will open the lexd toa depth of 500 feet. Alter dinner I pressed on up the mountains some ten miles, to the GREEN MOUNTAIN Of[STRICT, Situated on the summit of the western range of the Sierras, here known as Greenhorn Mountain. This district is the best supplied with timher and water, and possesses the most heautiful scenery and the finest agricaltural lands of any tining district I have visited south of Visalia. The only mines fo optration here at present area series of ledges now owned by White & Butterfield, of San Francisco, and formerly by the Hudnatt Bros., who have been liviyg in the district for the past teu years. ‘The principal of these is that known as the Rough and Ready, which was opened ‘by the former owners to a depth of 180 feet; but the works having heen filled up by the fleods of 1861-2, it had been nhandoned until it came into the hands of the present owners, who have sunk on the vein to a depth of sixty-five leet, re-opening some of the old works, and showing the ledge with an average width ol one foot. I was informed by Mr. Hudnatt that the rock from the old works had all paid from forty to ninety-six dollars per ton in arastras. Besides the R. and R., Messrs. Butterfield has also purchased the United States, Frenchtown, and several other promising veins. Atter spending the night and the forenoon of ‘Tuesday with the hospitable miners of Greenborn, I set out for Long ‘Tom, distant ahout sixteen miles in a northwesterly direction. The principal mine of this district is the LONG TOM MINE, Owned by Geo. D. Roberts & Co., who purchased it about a year since of the original locators, who discovered tbe vein about three years ago, and had been working it with arastras for about two yaars. The ledge is in dipping to the westward at an angle of thirty degrees. It is opened toa depth of 110 feet hy two shafts, from one of which the rock is hoisted hy horse power with a whim, no water having yet heen struek. The average width throughout these works is from six to seveu feet. A 10-stamp mill, driven by a 20-horse power engine, built at the Miners’ Foundry, is erected three-fourths of a mile below the mine. It is built after the Grass Valley style, with Attwood amalgamators, ete., and is capable of reducing twenty tons of quartz daily. From thirty-ona days’ run of this mill Mr. Roberts informed me that they hava cleaned up $28,000 in gold, a result whieh tbey think the present run will largely improve upon, as they are now . , working what they eonsider much Hetter rock. I spent the night with Mr. Roberts, and in the morning left lor White River, where I arrived late in the evening. Direetly at the village of White River is the mill of the WHITE RIVER MININO CO., Of eight wooden stamps, driven by waterpower, and capable of crushing four tons of quartz daily. It was employed on rock from. the Josephine mine, situated some three miles distant, and which pays from seventy to one hundred dollars per ton. ‘Tha whole affair is very crude, but as the rock is rich and easily worked it pays very well. The company own several veins, of which, however, the Josephine is the most thoroughly opened, and appears to be most valuahle. i Half a mile below the villaga is the mill of Fleck & Piatt, consisting of a jaw crusher and two arastras, driven by a turbine water-wheel. The crusher is the invention of Mr. Fleck himself,and was described in the issue of the Press published two weeks since, under the head of California patenls. It is said to be capable of reducing four tons of quartz daily. Four miles below the village is the mill of Mr. John D. Carter, superintended by Mr. Rivers. Mr. C. owns seven different veins, and has been trying to work them heretofore by means of a water-mill, consisting of a jawcrusher, and some of Beath’s.and Howland’s pans. ‘This. however, did notsucceed to his satisfaction, and he is now building a fine 10-stamp steam-mill, which looks considerably more like work. Mr. C. is also hnilding a private teleeraph line to connect with that leading lrom Los Angeles to Visalia, thus placing his mill in immediate telegraphic communication with San Francisco. After looking at the mill. and conversing with Mr. Carter for an hour or two, we rode out in company with Mr. Rtvers to visit the mines of the district, most of which are located in a range of slate hills at some distance from the river. After visiting several ol the veins belonging to Mr. Carter,many of) which appear well on the surface, though but one has heen opened to any great depth, we passed on to the Josephine, owned by the’ White River company, which being the most thoroughly opened, and probably the best mine in the district, . have selected it as a type, and will descrihe it more minutely. the vein is northwest and southeast, parallel with the strata of slate, with a dip to the northeast ol forty degrees. It has been opened ahout ilty (eet deep, showing a chimney of pay ore trom one to two feet wide, and about fifty feet long, pitching to the northwest. The rock from this chimney is said to pay from seventy to one bundred dollars per ton, and as the mine contains no water, and may be cheaply worked, it certainly ought to, pay handsomely. The people of White River are sadly in want of a post office, but as it seems to have been heretofore impossible to find a loyal man who was willing to accept the position of postmaster, they have heea unahle to obtain the proper accommodations. It ‘is to be hoped that the authorities will soon make the necessary arrangements. for the village is directly on the line of the present mail route Irom Visalia to Havilah, and a post office here would require neither expense nor trouble to the Government. Leaving White River about two o’clock in the afternoon, nothing of special interest occurred until I drew rein ander the shade-trees in front of Mr. Daley’s quiet and home-like hotel on Tule River, tweuty miles distant on the Visalia road. The Tule River valley is certainly one of the loveliest farming sections it hasever been my lot tolook upon. ‘The banks of the stream are very low, +ffording easy means of irrigation, while the broad oaks seattered over the country in every direction give it a cool and shady appearauce very inviting to strangers. Leaving the pleasant retreat at an early hour yesterday morning, I arrived in Visalia a little after noon, and am now enjoying comlertable quarters in the Visalia Hotel, where my friend Harland does all that is in human power to make me feel at home. and sueceeds so well that I shall probably stay here for several days. Yours wanderingly, Db. Despise none, however hnmble; the rudeat stone in the quarry may yet hecome the capgranite, rauning northeast and southwest, aud . stone of a beautiful structure. The conrse of . {Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Sierra Buttes Quartz Ledges. Messrs. Entrors: Through rain ond snow your correspondent has panetrated the “mountains, and visited these valuable ledges. ‘They are situated on the slope of the Buttes about. half way from the level of the’ ‘river to the suminit in Sierra eounty. The Buttes cor sists of a ‘cluster of hald and rugged peal that lift themselves high above the surronnd. ahove the level of the sea. Their snow-clad scenery unsurpassed by any part of the Sierras ‘Though many visions of great beauty are pre eonfined. SIERRA BUTTES QUARTZ MININO COMPANY, and at present the most valuable of all thi mines here. is lourteen miles. The mountains are go rugged that wagon roads thus far have heen an impossibility, and all travel and transportation ol goods have been by mules. The mine is known in the country here as the Reis mill, on account of its heing owned mostly hy the Reis Brothers of San Francisco. Mr. F. Reis ree sides at the mine, and is superintendent of the works. The ledge or ledges upon whiel the mine is located was discovered in 1852 hy some one now unknown. It was first worke hy Mr. Sol. Woods, who let it out to Spaniards to be worked on contract. With their inex: perience it did not give the promise of its present permanence and value, and the gentle= man named was induced to part with bis ine terest at a nominal sum. Since then tlie present owners have steadily developed it to its present condition, that is, one of the best mines oa the coast. On our arrival at the mine we were kindly entertained, and after @ bountiful repast, guided by Mr. W. A. Farishy the foreman of the works, candle iu hand, w entered tha levels and conimenced nur tour sight-seeing. We found the mine to consist of three ledges, well defined and valuable in inineral deposits. ‘The ledges are named Cli 4iriel aud Rose. The Cliff nnd ASrial are nearly parallel, running west and joining io the center of the hill. ‘The dip ol these ledges isto the north. The Rose ledge rons north west by south, cutting the other ledges at an acute angle. main tunnels have heen extended with respecThe upper, lower and middle tunnels have a counted extents in sectional tunnels. . distance between the npper and middle tunnel is 240 feet; between middle aud lower 220 fect. Between the middle and upper tunnel upon the Rose ledge, a body of good ore has heen strack 240 feet high, with an averaga width of twelve feet, apon whicb workmen are now engaged in hreasting. ‘Uhis body h already heen taken out a distance of 600 fe In the middle lead, where the rial and Clif join, a body of mineral isin sight, running it thickness of from ten to twenty feet. Jn tha lower level, 220 feet below, nnd ata distance” of 1,200 feet from the mouth of tbe tunnel, the same body of rock is met still striking down, On the same level, the /Eriel, before jotning the Clif, discovers a streak of mineral 200 ‘feet in length, with a width of from five to ten fect ‘The qnartzin tha Zriel and Cliff is of similar,character, a milkish eolor interspersed with brown sulphnrets, whieh hold great quan= tities of free gold; it is also streaked with lines ol rihbon rock. ‘The wall rock is talcosa slate, and the hanging wall in places shows greenstone. ‘The quartz of the Rose ledge Is of difierent character, of a reddish cast, containing hright sulphurets and, streaked witlt verdigris. This is the best paying of all. While speaking of the ledges, I lorgot to state that they inereasein both richnessand estent as they descend. ‘Two mills of twelve stamps each are in eonstant operation, making rubs averaging sixty days. No amalgamating pans are used, copper plates and blankets tale theit icg ranges at an elevation of ahout 11,000 feet The distance from Downievilla — On or near these ledges three: tive drifts and chamhers intersecting the ledges. total length of 3,300 feet, hesides many unTha a westerly directicn 200 feet in length, with a '

310 he Wining and Selentitic Dress. Gonmnrnicntions. Ix THIS DEPARTMENT We Ilivite the FREE DISCUSSION alone belng r of all proper T for the ideas and theorles they advance. (Written for the Mining and Scleutific Press.) The Clear Oreek Mines, Kern County, BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. [Continued from Page 354.) Eorrors Press:—The first mill ereeted in the Mount Sinai district was that of tbe Pettis’ Gold Mining company, who put up a “ patent erusher,” imported from Boston. This proved a failure, and the mill is now idle, bet it ran long enough to prove the richness of the rock, and the owners intend replacing it with a stamp mill this sumer. Mr. R. H. Rogers, of. San Francisco, has purchased. conditionally, some twenty or thirty claims, including one or two locations on tbe Antelope vein. He was patting up a 5-stamp mill for the purpose of testing them, which is probably running by this time. It is driven by a “Hoadley” portable engine of 15-horse power, and is erected in the most thorough and suhstantial manner. The Olanche Silver Mining company, Mr. Farleigh superintendent, were engaged huilding a saw-mill, which they expected to have in successful operation ina few days. hey have a 40-horse power “ Little Giant” engine, and intend adding an 8 stamp hattery for quartz, as soon as their saw-mill is fairly under way. In the afternoon the whole party rode out to the Pi Ute district, situated in a range of slate formation, soine three miles west of Claraville. ‘this district is as yet entirely undeveloped. Though several fine-looking veins have been discovered which prospect well, none of them are opened more than three feet deep; yet, in this undeveloped condition, one of them, the Cherokee Dick ledge, which is nineteen feet wide on the surface, has heen sold for $50,000, of which $600 was paid down to-bind the bargain. ‘The veins in this district run across tbe strata of the slate, are very well delined, with distinet and regular walls. The next morning Mr. Burke and myself started for Walker’s Basin, where we arrived about two o'clock. Fonr miles further, over a gently undulating country, covered with a scant growtb of timber, we alighted at the famous JOE WALKER MINE, In what is called Quito Mining District, eight milea sonth of Havilah. The mine was located onthe 20th of March, 1866, hy Mr. Hamp Williams, by whom it was sold to Messrs, Burdett and McKidney, who afterwards sold a third interest to Mr. E. R. Burke, the present superintendent. At the time of my visit, a large, well-timhered shaft was dowa sixty-five feet on the vein, and the workmen were prepariog to drift. Tire formation of this district, like that of all otbers aouth of the Sara River, with the exception of the Pi Ute, is granite. The course of the Walker vein is northeast and southwest, with a slight dip to the southeast. The narrowest point in the vein yet opened is three feet eight inches, and its breadth varies from thot to seven feet, prohahly averaging from four to five feet. The walls are very regylar and smooth, with a tough clay “ gouge ” on the foot or western wall. he rock throughont prospects well. The owners of this mine have secured some 1,500 acres of timber land, which will furuisb them with wood for many years Some otber veins have heen discovered iu this district, but they are generally small, nud oo work has been done on any of them. On the following morning I set out in company with Mr. Ostrom, of Havilah, to visit the mines in Cottonwood and Agua Caliente districts. COTTONWoou DISTRICT Is located in the foot-hills east of Agua Caliente Basin, twenty miles southeast of Havilah. Tbe formation ond appearance of the country are quite similar to that of the Quito distriet. The veins in this district have heen discovered and located by persons in the employ of the Enterprise Prospecting Company, composed of seven of tbe citizeus of Havilab, in whose employ Capt. Titcomh and party have been traveling and prospecting for five months past. In this distriet this eompary own ten lodes, hesides valuable locations elsewhere. At the time of our visit Capt. Titeomb was at work prospecting the Keystone, the largest and most promising of the company’s claims in this distriet. The rock prospects quita well. ‘There are 00 mills, arastras, or other means of crusbing rock in this distriet. At the invitation of Capt. I. and Mr. Kelly we spant the night at tbeir camp, and in tbe morning set out for the AGUA CALIENTE DISTRICT, Distant about three miles in an easterly direction. This district was discovered several years since, and over one hundred ledzes have been located. A mill of five stamps, with engine of 30-horse power, well and substantially built, was erected some years since, hut on account of miserahle management proved a lailwre. It is expected to start it aguin this summer, under the management of Judge Walsh, the well-known prospector, and with fair reason to expect success. Several arastras have been running lor the past year with very good success, and the hopes of the miners in regard to the district are very high indeed. I visited several veins, but few of which had been opened to any extent; but as lar as opened many of them showed flattering prospects. One in particular, the Monarch, is lrom six to seven leet wide, and the sutface rock prospects finely. All the ‘others that I visited were small, hut several of them prospect very well. I was informed that in the upper part ol the district there were several ledges of equal size aud prospects with the Monarch, but want ot time forbid iy visiting them. ‘Ts district is well supplied with wood, and has sufficient waiter for steam and amalgamating purposes. I started on Monday morning for Keysville, on Kein River. The most important enterprise in tbis district is that of the MAMMOTH GOLD MINING COMPANY, Who ourchased the celebrated Mamm:th lend, situated ina hill just back of the Keysville. This vein hag been worked on the surface lor over 2,000 feet, and immense quantities ol gold taken out, but from sonie cause its owners have never inanaged to, make it proftahle. The preseut owners are erecting a 20-stamp waterinill, under the superintendence of Mr. McCtellan. By the politeness of-Mr. O. A. Sanhora, one of the present proprietors of the mine, I was shown tha works. An old tnnnel started by those who formerly worked the mina has been re-opened, and extended until it is now 440 feet into the hill, following the vein the whole distance. ‘The cuurse of the vein is northeast and. southwest, with a slight dip to the southeast, and throughout this tunyel it varies in width from one to six feet, averaging three and a half; though in some places, in the upper works, the vein appears to have been much wider. A parallel tunnel, 130 feet below tbe old one, hns been started by the present proprietors, and driven in a distance of 130 feet, but has not yet cut the vein. It is estimated that this tunnel will open the lexd toa depth of 500 feet. Alter dinner I pressed on up the mountains some ten miles, to the GREEN MOUNTAIN Of[STRICT, Situated on the summit of the western range of the Sierras, here known as Greenhorn Mountain. This district is the best supplied with timher and water, and possesses the most heautiful scenery and the finest agricaltural lands of any tining district I have visited south of Visalia. The only mines fo optration here at present area series of ledges now owned by White & Butterfield, of San Francisco, and formerly by the Hudnatt Bros., who have been liviyg in the district for the past teu years. ‘The principal of these is that known as the Rough and Ready, which was opened ‘by the former owners to a depth of 180 feet; but the works having heen filled up by the fleods of 1861-2, it had been nhandoned until it came into the hands of the present owners, who have sunk on the vein to a depth of sixty-five leet, re-opening some of the old works, and showing the ledge with an average width ol one foot. I was informed by Mr. Hudnatt that the rock from the old works had all paid from forty to ninety-six dollars per ton in arastras. Besides the R. and R., Messrs. Butterfield has also purchased the United States, Frenchtown, and several other promising veins. Atter spending the night and the forenoon of ‘Tuesday with the hospitable miners of Greenborn, I set out for Long ‘Tom, distant ahout sixteen miles in a northwesterly direction. The principal mine of this district is the LONG TOM MINE, Owned by Geo. D. Roberts & Co., who purchased it about a year since of the original locators, who discovered tbe vein about three years ago, and had been working it with arastras for about two yaars. The ledge is in dipping to the westward at an angle of thirty degrees. It is opened toa depth of 110 feet hy two shafts, from one of which the rock is hoisted hy horse power with a whim, no water having yet heen struek. The average width throughout these works is from six to seveu

feet. A 10-stamp mill, driven by a 20-horse power engine, built at the Miners’ Foundry, is erected three-fourths of a mile below the mine. It is built after the Grass Valley style, with Attwood amalgamators, ete., and is capable of reducing twenty tons of quartz daily. From thirty-ona days’ run of this mill Mr. Roberts informed me that they hava cleaned up $28,000 in gold, a result whieh tbey think the present run will largely improve upon, as they are now . , working what they eonsider much Hetter rock. I spent the night with Mr. Roberts, and in the morning left lor White River, where I arrived late in the evening. Direetly at the village of White River is the mill of the WHITE RIVER MININO CO., Of eight wooden stamps, driven by waterpower, and capable of crushing four tons of quartz daily. It was employed on rock from. the Josephine mine, situated some three miles distant, and which pays from seventy to one hundred dollars per ton. ‘Tha whole affair is very crude, but as the rock is rich and easily worked it pays very well. The company own several veins, of which, however, the Josephine is the most thoroughly opened, and appears to be most valuahle. i Half a mile below the villaga is the mill of Fleck & Piatt, consisting of a jaw crusher and two arastras, driven by a turbine water-wheel. The crusher is the invention of Mr. Fleck himself,and was described in the issue of the Press published two weeks since, under the head of California patenls. It is said to be capable of reducing four tons of quartz daily. Four miles below the village is the mill of Mr. John D. Carter, superintended by Mr. Rivers. Mr. C. owns seven different veins, and has been trying to work them heretofore by means of a water-mill, consisting of a jawcrusher, and some of Beath’s.and Howland’s pans. ‘This. however, did notsucceed to his satisfaction, and he is now building a fine 10-stamp steam-mill, which looks considerably more like work. Mr. C. is also hnilding a private teleeraph line to connect with that leading lrom Los Angeles to Visalia, thus placing his mill in immediate telegraphic communication with San Francisco. After looking at the mill. and conversing with Mr. Carter for an hour or two, we rode out in company with Mr. Rtvers to visit the mines of the district, most of which are located in a range of slate hills at some distance from the river. After visiting several ol the veins belonging to Mr. Carter,many of) which appear well on the surface, though but one has heen opened to any great depth, we passed on to the Josephine, owned by the’ White River company, which being the most thoroughly opened, and probably the best mine in the district, . have selected it as a type, and will descrihe it more minutely. the vein is northwest and southeast, parallel with the strata of slate, with a dip to the northeast ol forty degrees. It has been opened ahout ilty (eet deep, showing a chimney of pay ore trom one to two feet wide, and about fifty feet long, pitching to the northwest. The rock from this chimney is said to pay from seventy to one bundred dollars per ton, and as the mine contains no water, and may be cheaply worked, it certainly ought to, pay handsomely. The people of White River are sadly in want of a post office, but as it seems to have been heretofore impossible to find a loyal man who was willing to accept the position of postmaster, they have heea unahle to obtain the proper accommodations. It ‘is to be hoped that the authorities will soon make the necessary arrangements. for the village is directly on the line of the present mail route Irom Visalia to Havilah, and a post office here would require neither expense nor trouble to the Government. Leaving White River about two o’clock in the afternoon, nothing of special interest occurred until I drew rein ander the shade-trees in front of Mr. Daley’s quiet and home-like hotel on Tule River, tweuty miles distant on the Visalia road. The Tule River valley is certainly one of the loveliest farming sections it hasever been my lot tolook upon. ‘The banks of the stream are very low, +ffording easy means of irrigation, while the broad oaks seattered over the country in every direction give it a cool and shady appearauce very inviting to strangers. Leaving the pleasant retreat at an early hour yesterday morning, I arrived in Visalia a little after noon, and am now enjoying comlertable quarters in the Visalia Hotel, where my friend Harland does all that is in human power to make me feel at home. and sueceeds so well that I shall probably stay here for several days. Yours wanderingly, Db. Despise none, however hnmble; the rudeat stone in the quarry may yet hecome the capgranite, rauning northeast and southwest, aud . stone of a beautiful structure. The conrse of . {Written for the Mining and Scientific Press.] Sierra Buttes Quartz Ledges. Messrs. Entrors: Through rain ond snow your correspondent has panetrated the “mountains, and visited these valuable ledges. ‘They are situated on the slope of the Buttes about. half way from the level of the’ ‘river to the suminit in Sierra eounty. The Buttes cor sists of a ‘cluster of hald and rugged peal that lift themselves high above the surronnd. ahove the level of the sea. Their snow-clad scenery unsurpassed by any part of the Sierras ‘Though many visions of great beauty are pre eonfined. SIERRA BUTTES QUARTZ MININO COMPANY, and at present the most valuable of all thi mines here. is lourteen miles. The mountains are go rugged that wagon roads thus far have heen an impossibility, and all travel and transportation ol goods have been by mules. The mine is known in the country here as the Reis mill, on account of its heing owned mostly hy the Reis Brothers of San Francisco. Mr. F. Reis ree sides at the mine, and is superintendent of the works. The ledge or ledges upon whiel the mine is located was discovered in 1852 hy some one now unknown. It was first worke hy Mr. Sol. Woods, who let it out to Spaniards to be worked on contract. With their inex: perience it did not give the promise of its present permanence and value, and the gentle= man named was induced to part with bis ine terest at a nominal sum. Since then tlie present owners have steadily developed it to its present condition, that is, one of the best mines oa the coast. On our arrival at the mine we were kindly entertained, and after @ bountiful repast, guided by Mr. W. A. Farishy the foreman of the works, candle iu hand, w entered tha levels and conimenced nur tour sight-seeing. We found the mine to consist of three ledges, well defined and valuable in inineral deposits. ‘The ledges are named Cli 4iriel aud Rose. The Cliff nnd ASrial are nearly parallel, running west and joining io the center of the hill. ‘The dip ol these ledges isto the north. The Rose ledge rons north west by south, cutting the other ledges at an acute angle. main tunnels have heen extended with respecThe upper, lower and middle tunnels have a counted extents in sectional tunnels. . distance between the npper and middle tunnel is 240 feet; between middle aud lower 220 fect. Between the middle and upper tunnel upon the Rose ledge, a body of good ore has heen strack 240 feet high, with an averaga width of twelve feet, apon whicb workmen are now engaged in hreasting. ‘Uhis body h already heen taken out a distance of 600 fe In the middle lead, where the rial and Clif join, a body of mineral isin sight, running it thickness of from ten to twenty feet. Jn tha lower level, 220 feet below, nnd ata distance” of 1,200 feet from the mouth of tbe tunnel, the same body of rock is met still striking down, On the same level, the /Eriel, before jotning the Clif, discovers a streak of mineral 200 ‘feet in length, with a width of from five to ten fect ‘The qnartzin tha Zriel and Cliff is of similar,character, a milkish eolor interspersed with brown sulphnrets, whieh hold great quan= tities of free gold; it is also streaked with lines ol rihbon rock. ‘The wall rock is talcosa slate, and the hanging wall in places shows greenstone. ‘The quartz of the Rose ledge Is of difierent character, of a reddish cast, containing hright sulphurets and, streaked witlt verdigris. This is the best paying of all. While speaking of the ledges, I lorgot to state that they inereasein both richnessand estent as they descend. ‘Two mills of twelve stamps each are in eonstant operation, making rubs averaging sixty days. No amalgamating pans are used, copper plates and blankets tale theit icg ranges at an elevation of ahout 11,000 feet The distance from Downievilla — On or near these ledges three: tive drifts and chamhers intersecting the ledges. total length of 3,300 feet, hesides many unTha a westerly directicn 200 feet in length, with a '