USA > California > Napa County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 7
USA > California > Lake County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 7
USA > California > Sonoma County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 7
USA > California > Mendocino County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 7
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NEWSPAPERS.
was a small sheet of four columns to the page, and one-fourth the size of the Alta California, with two of its pages constantly filled with dead advertisements. The subscription list up to 1857 did not con- tain the names of twenty paying subscribers, and its advertisements were mostly such as were required by law to be published. It paid nothing because it was worth nothing.
The office was in a rickety old shanty about eighteen feet square, next below the American Hotel on Main street. It was neither ceiled, plastered nor papered, and the floor was of rough lumber, through which were cracks an inch wide. In the roof was a large hole, apparently left for a flue or chimney, through which the rain descended in torrents. There were no windows, except a couple of sashes nailed directly to the wall. It was with great difficulty in win- ter (even when wood was obtainable) that the place could be kept warm enough to work in, and it often happened that wood could not be had at any price, in consequence of the horrible condition of the roads. In the winter of 1856-7, the publisher paid $5 for as much as filled the box of a buggy. It was hauled less than 20 rods, and the seller got "stalled" on Main street, buggy and horse sinking in the mud, and it cost in "treats" more than the cost of the wood to pry the team out and place it upon terra firma. The editorial lodg- ing room was in the garret. An iron camp-bedstead and a few blan- kets comprised its entire furniture.
THE PIONEER PRESS.
The material of the office was on a level with the building in which it was contained. It consisted, all told, of a Washington Press (foolscap size), with platen 14 by 17 inches, on which the paper was printed a page at a time, and a small font of second-hand minion and another of long-primer. There was no jobbing material what- ever. The press is now in possession of the Sonoma Pioneers. It was brought to San Francisco from Mexico at the close of the war, and taken by Mr. Cox to Sonoma, where it was used some three years in printing the Sonoma Bulletin. He then removed it to Val- lejo, and in the Fall of 1855, in connection with Dr. E. B. Eaton, published for a few weeks the Vallejo Bulletin. In June, 1856, he
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NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
brought it to Napa, where the Reporter was printed upon it (a page at a time) until February, 1857, when a new press and material were purchased by Montgomery & Cox, and the office removed to the corner of Main and Third streets, where Hartson's brick building now stands. On the 6th of September, 1858, Mr. Cox left the Reporter, and in the division of the material the old press fell to his share, and was used for three months by Cox and Farrell in publish- ing the Napa Semi- Weekly Sun. Shortly after, Mr. Cox removed his office to Healdsburg, and used the same press in printing the Healds- burg Review. Thence the press went to Lakeport, Lake county, and did service in printing one or two small political papers, each of which died a natural death. Probably its labors are now at an end, as in the hands of the Pioneer Association it will be kept as a relic of the olden times. The writer has earned many a thousand dollars and performed many a hard day's work upon it in the days of high prices, when very common cards and bill-heads were $3 per 100, and small sheet handbills $30 per 100.
The Reporter could hardly be called an established newspaper un- til Montgomery & Cox, in February, 1857, purchased new material, enlarged the paper, and began to publish it regularly on the appoint- ed day. From that time, through all the changes of proprietorship, it has never failed to appear punctually. The office began from that time to be a paying institution, and to command a respectable sub- scription and influence. For two years the paper took no part in politics; but finally, when the great split occurred in the Democratic on the Kansas question, became the advocate of the principles of Stephen A. Douglas.
Mr. Montgomery, in connection with M. D. Brownson, A. M. Parry and J. I. Horrell, continued to publish the paper down to Oc- tober, 1863, when the establishment passed into the hands of Miner & Higgins, and finally into the hands of Lank Higgins alone. The political character of the paper was changed, and it became a vehe- ment opponent of Lincoln's Administration. In the winter of 1870 it was sold to W. F. Henning, who still continued it as a Democratic organ. In October, 1871, R. T. Montgomery purchased the estab- lishment. Soon after C. A. Menefee became a partner, and in Aug. 1872, purchased the whole establishment. Shortly after a half in-
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NEWSPAPERS.
terest was sold to A. A. R. Utting, and the paper is still published by these gentlemen under the firm of C. A. Menefee & Co. From the date of Mr. Montgomery's purchase great additions have been made to the material of the office, and it has gradually grown up from a small beginning to be one of the most complete in the country. The Reporter is now published as an independent paper, and is in a flourishing condition. In November, 1872, it was enlarged, and printed on a new Taylor & Co.'s cylinder press. An engine has since been purchased, and all the machinery of the establishment is now run by steam power.
THE NAPA REGISTER.
The Napa Register was started by Horrell & Strong, August 10th, 1863. On the 14th of November following, Mr. Strong died sud- denly of apoplexy, and on the same day R. T. Montgomery took the editorial charge of the Register, which he retained until January Ist, 1864, when Mr. Horrell sold a half interest to Mr. N. E. White. Mr. Montgomery still continued to contribute to its columns, and at the end of a month purchased Mr. Horrell's interest. The paper was continued by Montgomery & White until January Ist, 1866, when Mr. White purchased the establishment. On the first of May following, Mr. Montgomery became sole proprietor, and so continued down to October 23d, 1869, excepting only a period of six months ending July Ist, 1868, during which Mr. White was publisher and proprietor. October 23d, 1869, the establishment was sold by Mr. Montgomery to R. D. Hopkins & Co., who some months afterwards sold a half interest to G. M. Francis, the firm becoming Hopkins & Francis. In the winter of 1872, Mr. Hopkins sold out his interest to G. W. Henning, one of the present publishers. The Register has an excellent office, and has always been a successful newspaper. In politics it has always been an advocate of the principles of the Repub- lican party.
In 1858 the Napa City Herald first made its appearance. It was owned by a joint stock company comprising the most influential
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NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
Democrats in the county. It was a strong advocate of the measures of Buchanan's Administration, and of the Southern view of the slav- ery question. J. D. Lillard, Esq., a young lawyer from Kentucky, was its first editor, and was succeeded by Wm. H. Towns and Thos. J. Tucker. The paper, however, proved unsuccessful, and stopped within a few months. The establishment soon after came into the hands of Farrell & Higgins (Frank Farrell and J. Wallace Higgins), and a new paper of the same character appeared in 1859, under the head of the Napa Times. This paper also died in a few months for lack of support. The office shortly afterwards was purchased by Montgomery & Brownson of the Reporter.
July 20th, 1861, Alexander Montgomery commenced the publica- tion of the Napa Echo, which violently opposed the Administration of President Lincoln and every measure taken to subdue the Southern rebellion. Its circulation and patronage were limited, and in a pe- cuniary point of view it was never successful. Still it kept on until April, 1865, when it suspended publication on the morning of the announcement of Mr. Lincoln's assassination.
DAILY PAPERS.
The Napa Daily Advertiser appeared September 22, 1866, but was suspended after a few issues, as it was found that the undertaking would not pay. It was edited and published by R. T. Montgomery.
The Napa Daily Reporter was published in 1866 by Higgins & Leach, and after a few months by Higgins & Gregg, when it was discontinued for lack of support.
In the Spring of 1870, W. J. Bowman commenced another paper styled the Napa Daily Gasette, which was only published about three months.
· In December, 1872, the first number of the Daily Register ap- peared. It is published by Messrs. Francis & Henning, and the same matter used in making up their weekly edition.
It will be seen that since 1856 Napa City has had no less than nine newspapers-only three of which survive. It cannot be doubted, whatever their imperfections may have been, that each has contribu-
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NEWSPAPERS.
ted something to the welfare and advancement of the county. The Reporter and Register, having been longest in the field, have unques- tionably earned the thanks of the people of Napa.
The Calistoga Tribune was first issued June 15, 1871, by Thomas McGeorge, and takes a respectable rank among the local papers of the State.
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NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
CALISTOGA SPRINGS, LOOKING WEST.
CHAPTER VII.
MINES AND MINERAL PRODUCTIONS.
Our little county enjoys most of the luxuries afforded by other parts of the State, but in some of them she has shared only to an infinitesimal extent. While Washoe, Gold Bluff, Kern River, and other kindred localities have supped full of enormous "strikes" and astonishing developments, Napa, being only a "cow county," dropped behind in the general current of excitement, and was ner- er, but once, aroused from her customary impassivity as to the enor- mous mineral resources of this region. However, the good old county could not altogether escape.
In the Winter of 1858-9 there arose an excitement really worthy of the "good times" in the mineral districts. All at once, no-
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MINES AND MINERAL PRODUCTIONS.
body could very well tell why, a grand silver excitement arose, which permeated the whole community. It was found by various parties that the mountains on the East side of the valley were full of the ores of silver, of untold, because unknown richness. Si- multaneous with this grand discovery, every unemployed man from Soscol to Calistoga turned prospector. Blankets and bacon, beans and hard bread rose to a premium, and the hills were lighted up at night with hundreds of camp-fires. Hammers and picks were in great demand, and there is ocular evidence even to this day that not a bowlder or projecting rock escaped the notice of the prospectors. There was silver in Washoe, why not in Napa? It was a question of probabilities which were bound soon to harden into certainties. Indeed, it was only a short time before silver prospects were pos- sessed of a defined value. Claims were opened, companies formed. and stock issued on the most liberal scale. Everything wore the couleur de rose. As usual, upon similar occasions, there was great strife about claims. Some were "jumped " on the ground of some informality twice in twenty-four hours. Heavy prices were paid for " choice " ground, and it is quite safe to say that our mountain sides and summits have never since borne such an enormous valua- tion. It seemed as though the whole community had been bitten by the mining tarantula. One man, whose name we withhold, in his perambulations in the profound cañons about Mount St. Helena, in company with his son, discovered a ledge of solid silver. As neither had brought either blankets or "grub," the old gentleman concluded to stand guard over the precious discovery during the night, armed with a shot-gun, while the son went down into the valley for those indispensable supplies. When the morning broke, the old man was still at his post, shot-gun in hand, but tired, sleepy and hungry. The son, laden with food and other inner comforts, "toiled up the sloping steep " with the de quoi manger strapped to his back, and both father and son sat down in the gray of the morn- ing, by a hastily lighted fire, to discuss their rude breakfast and the limitless wealth before them. It would not do to leave such an enormous property unguarded. It would be "jumped" in ten minutes. So the shot-gun was transferred to the son, while the father, with an old pair of saddle-bags stuffed to repletion with " sil-
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NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
ver," descended the mountain. His mule soon brought him to Napa, the denizens of which town he was shortly to astonish with his great discovery. He walked up into the Reporter office, sad- dle-bags in hand, opened the fastenings with an exultant smile but a trembling hand, when out fell some brilliant specimens of iron pyrites. Alas, that it should be told, but such was the scope and extent of his great silver discovery. But the opinions of the un- skilled were of no value. A regular assayer would, of course, tell a different story. And, we suppose, on the principle that the "supply always equals the demand," there were discovered in San Francisco large numbers of "assay offices," at which, for the moderate price of $15, a certificate of quantitative analysis of anything from a brick-bat to a lump of obsidian could be had, showing silver anywhere between $20 and $500 per ton ! We were shown numbers of these certificates, and probably gave them all the credence to which they were entitled. There were a few individuals here who had understood from the beginning the character of the whole excitement. One of these, G. N. C., was the recipient of a sample of a very dark pulverized ore of some- thing, and, being fond of a joke, dissolved a two-bit piece in nitric acid, and added the resultant to the powdered ore. When the assayer's certificate got back, there was an enormous excite- ment. The specimen forwarded had yielded $428 to the ton ! Of course, when the joke had been duly enjoyed, the secret was revealed, to the great disgust of the lucky proprietors.
Judge S., formerly Sheriff of the county, had been up the valley on business in the muddiest part of the winter, and on his way back met a chap on his way to the "mines." "Have you been to the mines?" said the fellow. "Yes," answered the Sheriff, "but every- thing is pretty nearly taken up-at least, all the best claims." "But d-n it," said the would-be proprietor, "isn't there anything left ?" "Oh, yes," returned the Sheriff, "you might, perhaps, get in on some outside claim." Without waiting to make any reply, the fellow clapped spurs to his Rosinante, headed up the valley, and, as the Sheriff declared, "in less than two minutes you couldn't sce him for the mud he raised.
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MINES AND MINERAL PRODUCTIONS.
The excitement lasted for several weeks, and grew better and better. Scores of men laden with specimens thronged the hotels and saloons, and nothing was talked of but "big strikes" and "as- tounding developments." A local assay office was started, for the miners could not wait the slow process of sending to San Fran- cisco. It is probable that this local assayer, Mr. Frank McMahon, a very honest and capable man (since engaged about the Knox- ville mines), did more than any one man towards pricking the great bubbles of the time. His assays were far less favorable than the imported article, and it came to pass that his customers were dissatisfied with the results of his experiments. Finally, as these threw a shadow of doubt over the value of the argentive discove- ries, some of the heavy operators concluded to consult some of the most skillful and well-known assayists of the city-men whose de- cisions were beyond the reach of suspicion, and whose reputation was above cavil or doubt. Several specimens, considered to be of the highest value, were forwarded. The general disgust of claim owners may be conceived when the formal certificates of assay were returned. Most specimens contained no silver af all, and the very best only "a trace." Nothing of value had been discovered. - Thereupon ensued a sudden hegira of prospectors to the valley. The millionaires of to-day left their rude camps in the mountains, and, with ragged breeches and boots out at the toes, subsided at once into despondency and less exciting employments. The hotel and saloon keepers, saying nothing of the editors, proceeded to disencumber their premises of accumulated tons of specimens of all kinds of "shiny rocks" to be found within an area of thirty miles square-making quite a contribution to the paving material of the streets of Napa City. Thus subsided the great mining ex- citement. The result was that a few were a little poorer, but many hundreds a great deal wiser than they hoped to be.
Thus far no mines have been worked in this county, except those of cinnabar. Some discoveries of copper and iron have been made, but so far as tested, nothing of practical value has been developed. Indications of coal have been found in several localities, but it is still a matter of doubt whether any true coal veins exist in the coun- ty. Geologically considered, the prospect must be regarded as un-
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NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
favorable. Of gold we have none, and it is quite doubtful whether we have any ore of silver worth working. From explorations thus far it is probable that quicksilver will be, for a long time to come, the only metal found in Napa that can be profitably obtained. The principal ore of this metal, cinnabar, is very widely diffused in the mountains on both sides of the valley of Napa, and numerous " claims " have been recorded. Many companies have been incor- porated for working them, and several have proved successful.
It is now established beyond doubt that Napa County possesses vast mineral wealth, but it is confined to this one mineral, cin- nabar. There appears to be a wide belt of country rich in this ore, extending along the whole Northwestern, Northern, and Northeastern sections of the county. New discoveries have been made in the mountains West of St. Helena, and in the North- ern part of the county towards the Geysers, and the surface or e is flattering as that of any of the mines already developed. We can but look upon the mineral resources of the county as only awaiting development to be one among our chief sources of wealth.
In order to give an idea of the progress thus far made, we give the following list of incorporated Quicksilver Companies, together with a sketch of the condition and prospects of each, up to the present time.
Quicksilver Mining Companies organized under the Act of April, 1853, to form corporations for certain purposes.
PHOENIX MINING COMPANY.
Location, Pope Valley. Certificate filed November 15th, 1861. Term of existence 50 years. Names of original Trustees, C. B. Sharp, A. H. Botts, John Waterson, John Newman, J. A. Butler. Capital Stock, $19,200. Shares 192 of $100 each. . Original loca- tors, John Newman, R. P. Tucker, F. B. Gilmore, J. A. Butler, J. H. Waterson, J. W. Tucker, Wm. H. James, James Lefferts, M. J. Church, G. W. Morris, A. H. Butts, S. A. Morris, G. W. Ames- bury, C. B. Sharp, Jacob Ellsbury, C. H. Holmes, E. Boukofsky. Capital stock increased January 13th, 1868, to $955,000. Most of
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MINES AND MINERAL PRODUCTIONS.
the stock of this Company is now held in Napa City. More exten- sive excavations have been made in this mine than any other in the Pope Valley district, and it has yielded a much larger amount of metal.
The following particulars concerning the Phoenix Mine have been kindly furnished by George Fellows, Esq., Superintendent. The communication of Mr. Fellows is dated December, 1872 :
The Phoenix Mine is situated on the side of a steep mountain sloping to the Northeast. It is twelve hundred feet in breadth, and includes the main portion of a well defined mineral belt, commenc- ing at an altitude of four hundred feet above the valley, and extend- ing back four thousand feet to the top of the mountain. The ore is in true fissure veins, running diagonally through the belt, and crossing the mountain in a Southeast and Northwest direction.
The first discovery of cinnabar was made in September, 1861, by John Newman. A Company was organized soon after and some prospecting done, when a considerable quantity of ore was found scattered over the surface of the ground at the extreme lower end of the claim, having apparently broken off and rolled down from the numerous ledges above.
Some time in the Winter of 1862, the mine was leased to James Hamilton, who worked it for about one year, but failed to make it pay, (as tradition has it), through bad management and inexperience in mining. After the Hamilton Company suspended operations there was no more work done at the mine for three years, and most of the owners disposed of their interests at a low price. In the Summer of 1867 work was again resumed, and in the Spring of 1868 a new bench of retorts was put up, the work being carried on under the management of Daniel Patten, but again without meeting with financial success, and during the succeeding Winter work was wholly suspended. In the Spring of 1870, having been appointed Superintendent of the mine, I commenced work the 12th of April, with six men. In May following, three of the old retorts were fixed up, and we commenced reducing ore. Working altogether in the mine and at the retorts only sixteen men during April, May, and June, and producing sufficient quicksilver, (sold at the market price) to put $10,000 in the treasury of the Company over all expenses.
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NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
In August a new bench of six retorts was put up, together with a crushing mill for breaking the ore, and a circular saw for cutting the wood. A steam boiler was put up at the mouth of the tunnel, a steam pump put into the mine and a steam engine attached to the boiler on the outside for driving the crushing mill at the retorts. Commenced reducing ore again the first of September, run until January, 1871, and closed down for the Winter, having produced during the season 960 flasks, or 73, 440 pounds of quicksilver, which amounted to $50,673.
Continued to work eight men in the mine during the Winter, and commenced reducing ore again the first of April, 1871, and run un- til the last of October, when we stopped and commenced building furnace. Worked twenty-five men during the Summer, and pro- duced 764 flasks of quicksilver, or 58, 446 pounds, which amounted to $40, 326. Commenced erecting furnace October, 1871, and com- pleted it January, 1872, but did not get it to working right until the first of July. Have kept forty-five men employed this Summer, and have produced up to the present time, October 1st, 670 flasks, or 51,255 pounds. We are now making 60 flasks a week. Since April, 1870, there has been a double shaft put down 150 feet, and 2, 200 feet of tunneling down, besides taking out the ore that has supplied the reduction works. The richest ore worked this season has been taken from the lower level, and there is now a sufficient quantity cut to keep the furnace running for two years.
The improvements consist of one furnace of the Knox & Osborn patent, capable of reducing 600 tons of ore a month, costing, with fixtures, some $30,000 ; building over furnace, 30x30 feet square, and 40 feet high ; building over condensers, 65 feet long by 30 feet wide, and 16 feet high ; wood house 120 feet long by 30 feet wide and 16 feet high ; draw shed 30 feet long by 16 feet wide and 14 feet high ; one large house for assorted ore 110 feet long by 30 feet wide, and 14 feet high ; two sorting sheds, each 60 feet long by 30 feet wide, 12 feet high ; boiler house and blacksmith shop 45 feet long by 32 feet wide, 12 feet high; wood shed adjoining boiler house 80 feet long by 30 feet wide and 14 feet high ; boarding house and office, main building, 32 feet long by 18 feet wide, two stories ; L part for dining room, 60 feet long by 16 feet wide, one
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MINES AND MINERAL PRODUCTIONS.
story ; L part for kitchen and store-room 50 feet long by 16 feet wide, one story ; two lodging houses each 30 feet long by IS feet wide, one story ; one lodging house 36 feet long by 22 feet wide, one story ; one house for reading room 24 by 24 feet square, one story ; 5 family houses 22 by 24 feet one story ; one barn 40 by: 50 feet. There are a number of miners' cabins interspersed among the other buildings, which, together with the family houses along the side of the mountain, give the place an appearance of a small town.
The machinery consists of one 25-horse power boiler set in stone masonry, with a Blake pump for feeding ; one 12-horse power hoist- ing engine at the top of the shaft in main tunnel ; one No. 8 steam pump in shaft capable of throwing 30,000 gallons of water an hour ; also No. 6 steam pump in shop to use in sinking air shaft ; one I 2-horse power engine with boiler set in brick masonry, for driving blower and soot pan at the furnace.
What has been done in opening the mine so far, can only be called prospecting, although the working has about paid for all the improvements, besides some dividends to the stock-holders.
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