Mendocino County
History
History of Mendocino County California - Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880
MINES AND MINING.
WHILE Mendocino has not been at all a mining county, yet there has been more or less of it done from time to time ever since the county began to settle up. Gold, silver, copper, coal and petroleum have all been found in greater or less quantities, and been successfully mined. Under date of October 23, 1863, a writer in the Herald has this to say of the mines, and the outlook at that date: "The money has been appropriated and a company formed to bring water from Forsyth's creek—the main branch of the Russian river above Calpella—to Gold Gulch, one and a half miles below Calpella. The prospecting for gold, silver and copper-bearing quartz still goes on with increased interest. The indications are more flattering than those of some of the most celebrated mines in the country. So far the richest discoveries have been made in what is known as the Cold Creek district, lying northeast of Ukiah. The ledges which first attracted attention to this district are about twelve miles distant from Ukiah, on the north side of Cold creek, and are well-defined and extensive—in fact, the whole country seems to be one continuous bed of copper, some one or two of them exhibit the pure metal in the croppings, and all are exceedingly rich in the blue and green oxyds of copper. As good rock is found within five feet of the surface as is usually found at the depth of fifty or one hundred feet in other localities in this State. Mill sites are being located on Cold creek, which affords a good supply of water throughout the year, which is pure, cold and healthful. Among the best ledges in the district are the Eureka, Copper Hill, Mineral Point, Committee, Bailey, Cow Mountain, Three Lakes and Live Oak. Mendocino county will yet be one of the richest counties in the State. We have the best of soil, timber and climate. The mines are not confined to the above-named district, nor to copper only—but all around us gold, silver, copper and quicksilver are being discovered and prospected. The sound of the pick and shovel, and the roar of the exploded blasts are heard from all sides, and pack-horses, laden with camp equipages and mining tools, are an everyday sight. Near here are also the Montezuma Silver Mines, and a cinnabar lead near that." The same writer under date of July 24, 1863, says : "In Ukiah valley, at Calpella, and Hildredth's crossing on Eel river, there has been found gold in sufficient quantities to pay for working it. Also in Round valley the 'color' has been found. Near Eden valley a ledge of quartz has been discovered containing sulphurets, and claims located thereon; assays $12.00 to the ton."
Under date of May 1, 1863, the following was published in the Herald : "A party has been recently prospecting in the mountains between Round valley and Clear lake. There is said to be an exceedingly rich deposit of gold in that region, discovered a number of years ago by an unfortunate wanderer over the mountains, who, finding a rock that bore unmistakable evidence of gold, pounded it up, and extracted one-half pound of gold. But he never could find the place again, and many other ardent seekers after his lost lead have shared the same ill luck from year to year."
EEL RIVER MINING DISTRICT.—At a meeting held on the 15th of July, 1863, at Eden valley, the following resolution was passed :‑
Resolved, That this mining district shall be known as the Eel river district and shall be bounded as follows :‑
Commencing at a point where the boundary line between Humboldt and Mendocino counties intersect main Eel river; thence east along said boundary line to the summit of the Coast Range on the line of Tehama county; thence along said dividing ridge, heading the South branch of the north fork of Eel river to the head of the main South Eel river; thence down the middle of said stream to the forks; thence down the main river to the place of beginning.
The following By-Laws were adopted
ARTICLE 1. All quartz claims shall be two hundred feet on the lead, with all dips and angles.
ART. 2. All discoverers of new ledges shall be entitled to one additional claim for discovery.
ART. 3. All claims shall be designated by stakes and notice.
ART 4. All quartz claims shall be worked to the amount of $5.00, or one and a half days per month, after three months from date of location; and the owner may work to the amount of $25.00 as soon after location as the may elect, which amount of work shall exempt him from work on said claim for six months thereafter.
ART. 5. All quartz claims shall be designated by a name and in sections.
ART. 6. All claims shall be recorded within twenty days from date of location.
ART. 7. Surface and hill claims shall be one hundred feet square, and be designated by a notice and stake at each corner:
ART. 8. All ravine and gulch claims shall be one hundred feet in length, and in breadth, from bank to bank, designated by notice and stake at each end.
ART. 9. All claims shall be worked within twenty days from the time water can be had in sufficient quantities to work the same.
ART. 10. All ravine, gulch and surface claims shalt be recorded within twenty days from date of location.
ART. 11. All claims not worked according to the laws of this district, shall be forfeited and subject to relocation after three months.
ART. 12. There shall be a recorder elected, who shall hold his office for the term of one year, and until his successor is elected. Said recorder shall be entitled to one dollar for each claim recorded and located.
ART. 13. The recorder shall keep a book with all the laws of the district written therein, which shall at all times be subject to the inspection of the members of said district, and he is furthermore required to post in two or more conspicuous places in the district a copy of the laws of said district.
C. H. EBERLE, Secretary. M. M. WORMER, Chairman.
POTTER VALLEY MINING DISTRICT.--This mining district was located in September, 1863, and was bounded as follows :—
Commencing at Calpella valley and running up the road leading to Little Lake valley, north of the dividing line between Little Lake and Potter valleys, on the top of the main ridge to a point where the main trail, as now traveled between these valleys, now passes; from thence due east to the south fork of Eel river; thence up said fork to a valley called Gravelly valley; from thence south to a point that intersects the northern boundary line of Lake county; from thence west to the place of beginning.
UKIAH MINING DISTRICT.--This mining district was organized in September, 1863, for the purposes of mining and prospecting for gold, silver and copper. It was bounded as follows:
Bounded on the south by the line of the Cloverdale mining district, running parallel with the same to the coast; on the west by the coast; on the north, starting at the Noyo river, running easterly to a point on the Round valley mining district line, opposite Hildreth's house; thence, following said line of the Round valley mining district to the Cloverdale district line.
REQUA MINING DISTRICT.—At a meeting of the miners of the Requa mining district, June 26, 1865, the following boundaries were established :‑
Commencing at the house of Simpson & White; thence running easterly, following the trail to Round valley to the crossing of Eel river; thence southerly to a point easterly of the junction of the waters of Little Lake and Sherwood valleys; thence westerly to the Yreka and Cloverdale wagon road; from thence northerly, following said road to the place of beginning.
While men were searching through all the mountains in the interior of Mendocino county for gold and silver, not a few were engaged in prospecting for petroleum along the coast, and in 1865 the following districts were located :—
USAL PETROLEUM MINING DISTRICT.—This was located September 8, 1865, and was bounded as follows:
On the north by Shelter cove district; thence south along low water mark to Alviso creek; thence due east to the south fork of Eel river; thence down Eel river to the place of beginning.
GARCIA PETROLEUM DISTRICT.—This was organized sometime, in the early part of 1865, though it is not known now what were the boundary lines. The wells were located near Point Arena.
POINT ARENA PETROLEUM DISTRICT.—This district was organized early in 1865, and the wells were located in the neighborhood of Point Arena. On the 12th day of October, 1865, the land of the company was sold at sheriff's sale, hence it is inferable that the boring for oil did not prove a successful venture with this company, and as there are no wells in the county now in operation, it is to be presumed that all the other companies found that the money was passing the wrong way.
COPPER MINES.—Aside from the copper mines mentioned above in connection with the gold and silver mines, there have been claims located and worked in other portions of the county. In August, 1863, a claim was located on Dry creek—specimens from which yielded forty per cent of copper, with a large percentage of silver. The ledge was known then as the Independent. There was also a lead of copper ore struck in the vicinity of Point Arena, but nothing is known of its merits.
COAL MINES.—Although no great amount of work has been done in the way of mining for coal in Mendocino county, it has not been because there were no good mines awaiting development, but because wood is so plentiful as yet, that there could possibly be no demand for coal. In May, 1863, a vein of coal was discovered some one or two miles southwest of McDonald's place, in the southern portion of the county. It was a body of very fine coal, and even the outcroppings were pronounced by expert; to be of a superior quality. A company was organized in Healdsburg for the development of the mine, by whom all the ranches in that vicinity, which would in any way interfere with their plans, were purchased. It is not known how much work was done by this company, nor what was accomplished in the way of proving whether or not the coal of this county is first-class.
A vein from six to twelve feet in thickness was discovered in Round valley, but nothing was ever done in the way of developing the mine. It will be many years yet ere the wood is so much exhausted in Mendocino county, that coal will be in any demand as a fuel, hence it is not at all likely that these mines will be touched again for a score or more of years, unless some other metal should be found in such quantities, that coal would be in demand for smelting or furnace purposes.
At the present time (1880) there is quite an interest being manifested in the placer mines in the vicinity of Calpella, and those interested are very sanguine of ultimate success. If the gold is there, there is no reason why it should not be gotten out of the ground, for water is plentiful and easy of access. The indications are certainly good, and should the diggings prove rich, there would be a wonderful revolution in matters in Mendocino county.
Some platinum is said to exist in the black sand of the placer diggings, but probably not enough to ever pay for working.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.