PEÑON BLANCO.-The Peñon Blanco mine, 6,000 feet long, two miles northward from Coulterville, takes in nearly the whole of the prominent Peñon Blanco hill. It is being explored by a tunnel which, entering the hill on the south side, strikes the lode 175 feet from the mouth and 100 feet below the croppings. Another tunnel entering the hill on the northwest side is in 285 feet, but has not reached the vein. Two shafts are also being sunk 2,000 feet apart. The south shaft is 25 feet deep in a pay chimney, which yields rock four feet in thickness, averaging $10 per ton. The horizontal length of this chimney is not ascertained, but open cuts on the croppings 200 feet distant are in the same kind of rock, and probably in the same chimney. The north shaft has not struck the vein, but the croppings near this shaft contain about two feet of rock that yields $12 per ton. The first application for a patent under the act of 1866 was made for this mine.

SECTION IV.

TUOLUMNE COUNTY.

Tuolumne county extends from the Stanislaus river on the north to the divide between the Tuolumne and Mercede on the south, and from the summit of the Sierra to the low foot hills near the plains. Nearly all the mines and population are in the western half of the county, below the level of 2,000 feet above the sea. The placer mines have nearly all been quite shallow, and they are now exhausted in many places. There never have been any large and profitable hydraulic claims in the county, although there are some gravel ridges above Big Oak Flat, and others near Cherokee that may prove valuable for hydraulic mining. One of the chief mining features is table mountain, which follows the Stanislaus river from Columbia to Knight's Ferry, and covers a rich auriferous channel that is worked through tunnels.

This mountain has yielded about $2,000,000, but at a cost of $3,000,000 Another remarkable feature of the county is the limestone belt, which crosses the country, through Garrote No. 2, Kincaid Flat, Shaw's Flat, Springfield, and Columbia. This limestone, instead of having a smooth solid surface, appears to be broken into water-worn boulders, and rich auriferous gravel is found down to a great depth in the narrow crevices between them. In this county, too, the mother lode is more strongly marked; more distinctly traceable for a considerable distance, and worked in more mines than in any other county. Columbia is notable for having produced more large nuggets than any other district in the State, and also for the high fineness of its dust. Bald mountain, near Sonora, has had an unsurpassed cluster of rich pocket lodes, and the Soulsby district has some of the richest granite mines of the State. The county has further extensive and valuable beds of plumbago and some fine white marble suitable for statuary, but its extent is not yet proved.

Much work is being done in prospecting quartz veins, but the advance in lode mining is not equivalent to the decline in placers, and the county has lost about 200 voters annually for six or eight years.

The State and county taxes together are $4 88 on every hundred dollars, or nearly five per cent., and in addition to that there is in Sonora a city tax of one per cent.

The placer mining portion of the county is in a district of hills, neither very high nor very steep, and consequently it is pretty well suited, so far as grade is concerned, for roads and for tillage; but the soil is not strong and water is dear. Grain does not yield large crops, ard the supply of fruit far exceeds the home demand, but transportation is so dear that it cannot be taken away fresh with a profit. Large quantities are dried, and in 1866 300 tons of dried peaches.

were shipped from Tuolumne. Casks and freight are so dear that wine making yields no profit, and the brandy tax prevents the conversion of the grapes into brandy, and many of the vineyards and orchards are not cultivated, and no new vineyards are being planted. The general appearance of the ranches does not indicate prosperity.*

During the first half of 1867 not less than a thousand Chinamen left the county, more than 300 having gone from Columbia and vicinity, and as many more from Chinese Camp.

According to observations made by Doctor Snell in the rainy season of 1861-262, 121 inches of rain fell at Sonora; in that of 1864-'65, 20 inches; in that of 1865-66, 35 inches; and in that of 1866-67, 50 inches.

The following mean thermometrical observations are also taken from his books, the degrees being Fahrenheit's:

COLUMBIA.-Columbia, situated where the Table Mountain channel crossed the limestone belt, and where the volcanic material had been deroded, having the rich auriferous deposit near the surface, was for a long time the largest and the busiest town in the southern mines. The site was in a beautiful vale, and the town was built up in very neat style, but the placers of the vicinity are approaching exhaustion, business has declined, and many of the lots have been mined out, leaving the large limestone boulders lying naked, barren and cheerless. As the population has declined, houses have lost their value, and dwellings can be. purchased for one-tenth their cost. In many cases miners have purchased houses, even brick stores, for the purpose of tearing them down and washing away the dirt of the lots; and this system is still in progress, continually reducing the number of houses, and the area of soil and level ground suitable for occupation. Most of the rich placer claims are in a basin, which has never been drained, and consequently there is a large mass of auriferous dirt that may be worked in the future if drainage is supplied. The Stanislaus river is two miles off, and by starting from a ravine that puts into the river a tunnel could be run 400 feet under the town with the length of a mile and a half. The expense, however, would be very great, and the profit uncertain, so nobody speaks seriously of the project. At the deeper claims in Columbia, the dirt is hoisted from the bottom to a dump box placed so high that there is fall enough from it to carry away the refuse dirt

*NOTE.-Referring to the advantages to be derived from the construction of the proposed Stockton and Copperopolis railroad, and the impetus that would be given to the industry of the interior counties by this enterprise, Mr. William S. Watson, the intelligent engineer,

says:

The proposed road will not touch Tuolumne county, but for all practical purposes will command its trade and travel, Copperopolis being 15 miles from Sonora, and from Knight's Ferry it is about two miles to the west line of the county. The sectional area of Tuolumne is 1,430 square miles. The character of the country is of course mountainous, forming spurs of the main ridges of the Sierra Nevada, descending into the valley to the west. The population in 1860 was 16,229; assessed valuation in 1865, $1,536,258. The present freights are principally up, amounting to 6,000 tons per year, chiefly supplies; estimated freights to Big Oak Flat, Chinese Camp, Don Pedro's Bar, and the Garrotes, 950; total up freights through Tuolumne county, 6,950 tons; and of down freights, consisting of building materials, lumber, and ores, not less than 1,320; total, 8,270 tons."

through sluices. The water is thrown upon the dirt in these dump boxes through hydraulic pipes, a style of washing used in very few places in the State.

From 1853 to 1857 Columbia shipped $100,000 weekly; now the shipment is from $40,000 to $50,000 per month, and there is a steady decrease. The following are the principal claims in the Columbia basin:

The Columbia Boys' claim, 500 by 100 feet, has been worked regularly since 1850. Previous to 1853 it paid $20 per day; from 1853 to 1857 $7 50 per day, and since 1857 $3 per day. The dirt is hoisted by a wooden wheel. Five men are employed in the claim now.

The Tiger claim, 400 by 130 feet, was opened in 1849, but did not pay much for the first six years. Between 1855 and 1858, however, it was very profitable, and from 1863 to 1865 it paid still better than before. In 1863 the yield was from $100 to $600 per week to the man. It has not been paying expenses for the last two years. An iron wheel is used for hoisting. In the bottom of this claim is a hole leading into a subterranean channel which has its outlet below Jamestown, eight miles distant. On one occasion 2,500 inches of water ran down the hole for weeks; and the same water escaped at the outlet, where the stream was governed as to its size and color by the supply at Columbia. A similar hole is found in a claim at Knapp's ranch. Men have climbed down 150 feet, and gone 100 feet further with ropes to the bottom, where there is a stream 4 feet wide and 12 feet deep, with a slow current and clear water, no matter how muddy the streams may be on the surface. It is supposed that the outlet is at Springfield or Gold Springs.

The Cascade claim, 300 by 150 feet, has paid well for short periods, but has not yielded more on an average than $2 50 per day to the man. Five men are employed, and a hydraulic wheel is used for hoisting.

The McInroe claim, 300 by 100 feet, paid well in early days, but does not yield more than $2 50 per day now to the man. Three men are employed in the claim. The hoisting is done by a whim.

The Burns claim, 400 by 200 feet, paid $10 per day to the hand from 1853 to 1857, and averaged $100 per month to the hand since 1857. Five men are employed, and an overshot wheel is used for hoisting.

The Main claim, 300 by 200 feet, has paid high at times, but does not yield more than $2 per day to the six men employed. The hoisting is done by an iron hydraulic wheel.

The Millington claim, 300 by 100 feet, washes in a ground sluice, and has paid $20 per week over expenses. Four men are employed.

KNAPP'S RANCH.-Adjoining Columbia on the east is Knapp's ranch, of which about five acres have been washed, yielding $40,000 per acre or $200,000 in all. The bed rock here is limestone, but the boulders are large, and the miners can wash between them much more conveniently than among the smaller boulders of Columbia.

The following claims are on Knapp's ranch:

The Sullivan claim, 200 by 100 feet, is fifty feet deep, and is worked by a hydraulic stream thrown against the bank. Two men work the claim, and they make together about $5 per day.

hydrau

The Peabody and Arnold claim, 200 by 100 feet, is also worked by a lic stream against the bank, which is 50 feet high. No men are engaged in it, and they have at times got very good pay.

The German claim, 200 by 100 feet, has paid tolerably well.

The Grant claim, 200 by 100 feet, commenced working only a short time since. The Hunt claim, 500 by 500 feet, is remarkably rich. It paid $25,000 in one It employs six men, hoists by hydraulic wheel, and washes in a dump

summer.

box. The Dutch Bill claim, 200 by 100 feet, was opened in 1860, and has at times.

paid $1,000 per month. It yields $3 per day each now to two men. is washed on the ground.

SAWMILL FLAT.-The following claims are at Sawmill Flat :

The dirt

The Foley claim, 200 feet square, was opened in 1850, and has never paid more than moderate wages. Four men are employed, and there is a hydraulic wheel for hoisting.

The Dryden claim, 400 by 100 feet, washes in a ground sluice and pays well. It has lately yielded $2,500 to the man in a season. Five men are employed SHAW'S FLAT.—Shaw's Flat and Springfield are on the limestone belt, bu the deposit of gravel was shallow, and it has nearly all been washed away. At Springfield there are two large springs from which the town took its name; and to these miners brought the dirt in carts in 1850 and 1851, and washed out from $10 to $20 per day. As many as 150 carts were running at one time. There were single cart-loads that paid as much as $1,000. The ground was covered with a heavy growth of large pine timber, which has now all disappeared, and little remains save the rugged limestone. Springfield at one time had 600 voters, and now it has not one-tenth of that number.

At Sawmill Flat, near Columbia, the dirt is hoisted by wheel into a dump box and there washed. The diggings here will last for a long time. At Brown's Flat they wash in the same manner.

At Yankee Hill there are some rich hydraulic claims.

SONORA.-Sonora is situated on the slate, just below the limestone, and was wonderfully rich in early days, but is now nearly exhausted. The gold shipped. nearly all came from placers previous to 1858; now it is about equally divided between quartz and placers. The amount shipped in May, 1865, was $80,000; in June, $84,000; in July, $95,000; in August, $102,000; in September, $91,000. BIG OAK FLAT.-Big Oak Flat is on a granite bed rock, and the gravel on it was from 2 to 20 feet deep. Ditch water was not brought in until 1859, and in the next year it saw its best days. It is now pretty well worked out.

KINCAID FLAT.-Kincaid Flat, four miles east-southeast of Sonora, 150 feet above the level of Sullivan's creek, on the limestone belt, was formerly a basin of 200 acres; but it has been worked continuously since 1850. The deepest workings are 75 feet below the original surface, but the bottom has not yet been reached on account of the abundance of water and lack of drainage. The richest pay has been found near the water-level. One claim 50 feet square paid $100,000, and it is estimated that the total yield of the flat has not been less than $2,000,000. There is a considerable area of rich ground that cannot be washed until some artificial drainage is supplied, and it has been estimated that by making an open cut 500 feet long and a tunnel 1,000 feet, at a total cost of $12,000, 75 acres might be worked. In addition to the cutting of the tunnel, the flume would be expensive, and a company has been formed with a capital stock of $30,000 to undertake the work.

JAMESTOWN.-Jamestown, on the bank of Wood's creek, was built up by rich and shallow placers in its neighborhood; but these are now nearly exhausted, and the town has become a little village. It is, however, situated near the northern lode, and it will, probably, with the development of quartz mining, recover its prosperity.

OTHER TOWNS.-Algerine, a mile and a half north of the Tuolumne river, and west of the main limestone belt, once had 800 voters, but is now reduced to a few score, the placers on which it depended being nearly exhausted.

Cherokee and Somerville, about eight miles east of Sonora, are on the granite and they depend mainly on quartz mines for their support.

Chinese Camp and Montezuma are placer mining towns near the western border of the county.

TABLE MOUNTAIN.—One of the most remarkable features of Tuolumne county is Table mountain, which attracts attention from remote distances by its

black, bare, level surface, extending across the landscape like a gigantic wall. Examined closely, it appears to be a mountain capped with basalt, a quarter of a mile wide and 40 miles long. It poured out of a volcano near Silver mountain, in Alpine county, and took the same general course as the present Stanislaus river, which has cut across it in various places. There is a fork in the basaltic stream, 14 miles above Columbia. The average height above the adjacent ground in Tuolumne county is from 500 to 800 feet on the northern side, and from 200 to 500 on the southern. The adjacent earth has been washed away to a greater depth near the line of the mountain along its northern base, and for that reason nearly all the tunnels run in on the northern side.

The main strata of the mountain, commencing at the top, are: basalt, which is in most places 140 feet deep; under that is a stratum of volcanic sand 100 feet; then pipe clay and sand, 50 feet; then coarse gravel, 20 feet; then pay gravel, 5 feet; then bed rock. These strata vary greatly in thickness, however, in different places; there are spots where the pipe clay is 100 feet deep; but the above figures are given as an average.

The pay gravel is found in two places; there are really two channels, and whether they were the beds of two different streams or two beds of the same stream, occupied at different times, is not clearly determined, although the latter supposition is the more probable. The channels are not found under the middle of the mountain at every point; there are places where one of the channels is not covered by the basalt at all, and the other is only under the edge of it.* In a claim near Whimtown a tree standing erect 100 feet high was found in the pipe clay, and it looked as if it had never been moved from the position in which it grew; but it was all charred, though the basalt was a hundred yards distant.

Table mountain has been an unfortunate locality for miners. It is estimated that at least $1,000,000 more have been put into the mountain, counting the regular wages, than were ever taken out. Nine-tenths of the miners who undertook to work claims there were the losers. There was enough gold to pay well, but the miners did not know how to get it. They worked in companies, and many of the members were shirks and idlers. They had no experience in this kind of mining, and did not know how to manage so as to do the most execution with the least labor. They guessed at the level of the channel, and started their tunnels too high, so that they could not drain their ground, and either had great expenses for pumping or had to cut new tunnels. The old channel, when first discovered, was extremely rich, and it was presumed that the possession of a claim anywhere on the mountain was equivalent to a fortune; so no economy was used. Two companies side by side might have united to cut one tunnel, but, instead of that, each made its run. But the outsiders who did not get claims when the mountain was first taken up, in claims 300 feet in length, running across the channel, held a meeting and resolved that those claims were too

* Mr. J. Arthur Phillips says, in his recent work on the mining and metallurgy of gold and silver: "The summit of this elevation is occupied by a thick bed of basalt, of a very dark color and great density of texture, which is occasionally distinctly columnar, and appears to have been poured out in one continuous flow. This, in the neighborhood of Sonora, is from 140 to 150 feet in thickness, and its width near the entrance of the Buckeye tunnel is about 1,700 feet. Beneath this capping of basaltic lava is a heavy deposit of detrital matter distinctly stratified in almost horizontal beds, but with a slight inclination from either side side towards the centre of the mass. These sedimentary beds chiefly consist of a rather finegrained sandstone, which rapidly disintegrates on exposure to the atmosphere. Interstratified with this sandstone, and more particularly in the proximate vicinity of the bed-rock, are clays and fine argillaceous shales, frequently nearly white and often beautifully laminated. With these are associated beds made up of coarse grain, strongly cohering together, forming the cement of the mines; and at the bottom is found the pay gravel, exactly like that seen in the bed of an ordinary river. The entire thickness of this detrital mass at its greatest depth is at least two hundred feet. This thickness, however, diminishes towards the extremities of the deposit, where the edges of the basin formed by the rim-rock gradually rise." (Pp. 43, 44.)