Author: Crawford, Ellison Lassel [1833 - 1895] - Editor & Publisher
Title: The GEM. Vol 2. No. 5. Georgetown, Cal. Jan, 10 1873
Description: Georgetown: , 1873. 1st Printing. Now housed in a clear archival mylar sleeve. Single sheet, printed both sides, 3 columns per page. Mostly adverts & quips. 8-3/8" x 6-1/16". Age-toning. Fold-lines. A Very Good copy of this rare survivor. Georgetown is a small town in El Dorado County, California, the northeasternmost town in the California Mother Lode. Founded August 7, 1849, and named for George Phipps, the town was nicknamed "Growlersburg" due to the heavy, gold-laden quartz rocks that "growled" in the miners' pants as they walked around town. The hub of an immensely rich gold mining area, Georgetown had a population of about 3000 from 1854 to 1856. As a gold rush camp, the community outlasted many other towns, because the gold found nearby was solid primary deposits, as opposed to placer deposits. Gold production continued until after the turn of the 20th century. The Gem newspaper was founded by E L Crawford in 1872, with the first paper issued April 12th. "The GEM is published every Friday for gratuitous distribution" [lead paragraph, column 2]. The paper lasted for 5 years, until the last issue appeared April 6, 1877. Cf. Giffen, p. 37. Crawford was a civic minded individual, who served in a number of different such capacities, including Assistant Clerk of the Legislature from 1869 to 1870 and 1879 to 1880; also Minute Clerk of the Constitutional Convention in 1880. He was Mining Recorder of Georgetown District from 1883 to 1887 and again from 1889 until his death in 1895. He was Deputy Assessor of El Dorado County 16 years, Notary Public for 30 years, Justice of the Peace of Georgetown from 1883 to 1889 and 1890 until his death. [OAC] OCLC shows just a handful of institutional holdings, generally just an odd issue.

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