23. BUHR STONE. "This rock abounds on the Pitt River in large quantities, and also on to the north of Goose Lake. Its admirable adaptation to milling, requires no comment. The value of this rock cannot be too highly esteemed in this State, where the prospective is so flattering of its becoming a grain growing country, equaled by few on the Atlantic slope. The heavy expenses that are now incurred, and the future wants of the State in this particular, will be obviated, and our dependent condition on foreign imports destroyed. These rocks have as yet attracted little notice, but the rapidly increasing wants of the State will ere long bring them into requisition,”—Dr. Trask, 1853. The manufacture of lime different parts of the State. 24. LIME. engages the attention of numerous persons in The kilns of El Dorado and Santa Cruz manufacture a large quantity annually; number of barrels, estimated at sixty thousand. V.-CANALS AND DITCHES.* There are five thousand seven hundred and twenty-six miles of artificial water courses, for mining purposes, constructed in this State, at a cost of thirteen million five hundred and seventy-five thousand four hundred dollars. In addition to the length here stated, there are numerous subsidiary branches, the aggregate length of which, is estimated at over one thousand miles, and several hundred miles of new ditches in the course of construction. There is no class of enterprise which is more essential to the development of the resources of California, than the construction of such works as will secure to the mining population, throughout the year, an adequate supply of water, to aid them in their operations. There are thousands of miles of rich mineral land in this State, now lying almost valueless for the greater part of the year, which could, with the aid of enterprise and capital judiciously expended, be made valuable for mining purposes, and thereby secure an abundant return. The Mariposa district is a forcible illustration of this. It is estimated that a revenue of ten millions of dollars could be derived annually in this district, from the sale of water. The progress already made in the construction of these works has been, with but few exceptions, accomplished by the miners themselves, and it is to be desired that a subject so intimately connected with the progress of the State, will no longer escape the attention of those capitalists who are qualified, both from experience and ability, to aid in so important a matter. * In this list of canals, etc., no reference is made to various enterprises organized for the purpose of furnishing particular cities or towns of the State with a supply of water, viz: The Bensley Water Works and the Mountain Lake Co. of San Francisto; the Sacramento, Marysville and Oroville Water Works, etc. Capital employed, estimated, at $750,000. For a description of these Works, see the county (Part VII,) in which each is located.-[ED. + Mariposa Gazette. TABLE Of Water Ditches and Canals throughout the State, with the Owner or Company's Name, the Source of Water, the Length, and the Cost or Value of Each. NOTE. (a) Cost of Construction; (b) Assessed Value; (c) Capital Stock; (d) Unfinished. Dry Creek... El Dorado. 18 Mokelumne, N. F. Cosumnes Water Co. Cosumnes, S. F 22 Harmon & Co. 66 Independence Killham's Upper.. 66 Lower. 4 20 10 3 2,000 Duell & Co... Lancha Plana. Mokelumne River. 5,000 J. W. Palmer & Co 2,500 Fry & Co....... 2,000 Samuel Loree.... 1,000 * Aggregate length in the County, 531 miles; cost of construction, $880,400. The County Assessor reports Number of ditches, 32; length, 475 miles; assessed value, $280,600.-[ED. + When the ditches now in the course of construction are completed, there will not be short of 400 miles in the county. Length completed, main trunks, 150 miles; branches, 150-total 300.-[Ed. 24 * The returns of the Assessor for 1858 exhibit the number of ditches at 49; aggregate length, 720 miles; cost of construction, $991,100; capacity, 12,019 inches; number included in the returns received at the office of the Register, 54; aggregate length, 550 miles; cost of construction, $1,600,000.—[ED. |