Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-05-17
HOLCOMB VALLEY.
The Mines, Old and Ncv-Interestins
Particulars Concerning the Rising
EIIOraio-Its Present status. and
Prospects for the Future.

Mr.. Goldsworthy, Deputy U. S. Sur
veyor who has just returned from
quite an extended trip through Hol-
comb valley, kindly furnishes us some
interesting points concerning that sec"
ton. Coming from n man SO thor
oughly informed upon everything
which pertains to mines and mining,
our report is especially trustworthy,
and commands the implicit confidence
of those who seek correct information
concerning this section. Holcomb
valley is now attracting much atten-
ton throughout the country, and any
correct information relating thereto
will be gladly received by our readers
at home and abroad.
Mr.. Goldsworthy, with an assistant,
left our city about one month ago, and
has spent about q week of this time in
surveying mines in the valley. He
returned by way of the Temescal
tin mines, and after stopping at that
place for few days to make some sur
veys, he arrived in the city late Thurs
day night, well worn by the fatigues
of the trip. Upon the whole, he is
well pleased with the results of the
expedition.
HOLCOMB VALLEY
Is located in the Coast Range Noun
tains, about one hundred and-rWenty
miles northeast of this place, and six
ty-five miles by wagon road or thirty
six by bridle-path from San Bernar-
dino. 1t is small valley, about eight
thousand seven hundred feet above the
sea level, varying from one and half
to one and three-quarters miles in
width, by about four in length. The
entire area included in the valley does
not probably exceed ten square miles.
Underlying this surface are the placer
deposits, and in the adjacent hills are
found the lodges of Ore-bearing rock.
There is abundance of pine timber and
good supply of water for milling and
sluicing purposes. The mines are ac-
cessible by a good wagon road running
through the mountains.
THE QUARTZ MINES
Are in granite formation, the veins
varying from six inches to six feet in
width, comprising veins bearing free
gold and iron pyrities with slight
tints of lead, copper and base metals.
AS yet, mining in this section may be
said to be at its very commencement.
Some of the mines were worked ten or
fifteen years ago, but were long since
abandoned, and it is only within the
last year that work has been resumed.
THE HoLCoMB VALLEY COMPANY
Control the principal quartz mines of
this section, under the supervision of
Capt. John Haley. They alone have
sufficient machinery for the successful
prosecution of the work at present.
This company has quartz mill which
reduces about fifteen tons of ore per
day. They have a shaft sunk to the
depth of ITO feet, all the way through
ore, with side drifts running to the
westward from the shaft and covering
a block of ore 10 feet long by 80 feet
in hight. The ledge averages from
eighteen inches to two feet in thick
ness, and pays in the neighborhood of
$40 to the ton.
SAW MILL
Is in course Of construction by the
company, and during the Summer an
other twenty-stamp mill will be built
for the reduction of ore. Under the
efficient management of Superintend-
ent Haley, the affairs of this company
TO ha IN,
dition.
THE OzIER LEDGE,
Owned by Judge Widney, Mr.. Ward
and Mrs. Ozier, is the next in promin-
ence. 1T has not yet been worked (the
survey having but recently been COM
pleted), but it gives great promise of
containing valuable ore, and is in the
hands of those who will push it to a
speedy development.
THE GREEN LEAD,
Worked by Mr.. Garvey, is also said to
show some fine specimens, and work
is carried on upon it with vigor.
THE CARTER AND HUB MINES
Are also said to promise some excel
lent results, and they are worked by
the owners in most enterprising
manner. Another twenty-stamp mill
will be built upon these premises by
the proprietors.
OTHER LEDGES.
A large number Of outside leads,
worked by various individual miners
and companies have been sunk from
three to twenty feet deep, and all
show first-rate prospects. Some of
these same mines, when worked in
former times, had as much as $4,000
to $40, 900 taken from them by arastras
"a very rude form of securing the
metal from the ore. 1t is said that
what has been done can be done again.
and if these mines, worked by such in
efficient means, yielded so well fifteen
years ago, it is beyond peradventure
now that they can be made to pay
handsomely.
THE PLACER MINES
Underlying the whole valley there
is supposed to be a gold-bearing strata
of gravel from six inches to three feet
in thickness. Only the outer edges of
the basin have been worked, where
the deposit, lying nearer the surface, is
most accessible. These more shallow
mines were also worked in former
times, together with the quartz mines,
but were also abandoned by the men
engaged upon them for more alluring
prospects in the upper country. In
some places excavations have been
made to the depth of twenty-five feet,
when bedrock is found. The pay-dirt
yields from one-half u cent to five and
six cents per pan.
THE CENTER OE THE BASIN