326 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Eiver, there are also several mills in operation and meeting witli success. 

 These mills are all furnished with silver saving appliances, this metal 

 usually predominating in the bullion taken out. Besides these mills, a 

 number of arastras are being run at Wickeuberg, and a consiflerable 

 amount of bullion will be produced the present year in that quarter. 



In California there is no quartz mining being done at present at any 

 point south of Clear Creek. Two small mills were erected in Holcomb 

 Valley, thirty miles east of San Bernardino, four 3'ears ago, and run Avith 

 fair profit; but having suspended operations about the time of the Ari- 

 zona gold excitement, these have not since been resumed. At Clear 

 Creek there are now seven mills running, or about completed, some of 

 them carrj'ing twenty-five stamps, and all those in operation said to be 

 earning mone}^ for their owners. A number of other mills are now on 

 the way to that point, and the prospects that all will meet with success 

 are encouraging. In some of the outside districts about Clear Creek, 

 two or three mills are also being put up. The ledges at this place carry 

 free gold, and have been found to yield as high as one hundred dollars 

 to the ton, the rock running from thirty dollars to fifty dollars. They 

 were mostly of small size, and can be opened and worked at a moderate 

 expense, there being plenty of wood and water in the neighborhood. The 

 freights to this section, which go by "way of Los Angeles, are somewhat 

 onerous, being at the rate of one hundred and thirty dollars per ton 

 from San Francisco. A number of the heavy men of this citj^ own in 

 these mills and mines, and a good deal of capital is being invested there. 

 The product of bullion from Clear Creek will no doubt be \ery consider- 

 able the current year. These mines are in the south part of Tulare 

 County. A little to the north of them, at a settlement known as Tail- 

 holt, in the same county, a number of small quartz mills and arastras 

 have for several years been running and making good wages, reducing 

 the auriferous quartz found in that neighborhood, and which, though not 

 very abundant, is of good quality. In the vicinity of Kern Eiver there 

 are also a niimber of mills running, with good results. 



Throughout the range of districts composing the Owen's Eiver coun- 

 try, where much work was peformed and several mills were put up three 

 or four years ago, very little has been done either in this or any other 

 branch of business during the past year, though signs of activit}" are said 

 to show themselves, and by some it is anticipated that a general revival 

 of business will shortly ensue. The ledges in that region are of a 

 mixed character, gold predominating, except in the Kearsarge District, 

 where the reverse is true. Throughout the greater part of this region 

 there is a scarcity of both wood and water, which, combined with its 

 inaccessibility and general barrenness, and the unsuccessful attempts 

 heretofore made in the Avay of working the mines, will be very likely to 

 deter settlement and further immediate efforts at reopening the country 

 and resuming operations on the mines. in the Kearsarge District, 

 which, though situate on the Owen's Yalley slope of the Sierra, lies 

 quite high up in the mountains, one ledge of Avell ascertained value has 

 within the past year been found, with a number of others afibrding also 

 promise of great wealth. The leading claims are in the hands of men of 

 energy and means, who have lately taken two mills into the district, one 

 of which is already in operation, and the other in course of construction ; 

 and from well authenticated accounts there is reason to anticipate a 

 large yield of bullion from the workings of these mills. The leading 

 claim in the district has been developed b}' means of a tunnel reaching 

 it at a considerable depth beneath the surface, and from which ores have 



