Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-20
SOUTHERN MINES.
New Mining Interests in Southern Cali
fornia sketchad.

S0UfHfRH MINES.
New MIXING Interests il Southern Cali
fornia sketched.
One of the most noticeable changes II
the business outlook of Southern Califor
MIA has been the steady and hopeful de-
velopment Of its mining interests. When
John Muir took walk through the San
Gabriel range, some three years ago. he
called it miners country, and reported
it as the most difficult mountaineering he
had ever attempted. During the following
year he made careful comparison OF the
geological conditions of this section with
those of Nevada and Utah, which, when
published, will form valuable contribu-
ton to the comparative geology of the
Pacific slope. From my windows follow
the line of the range from Santa Monica
to San Bernardino, the richly forested foun-
tain of untold wealth in orchards and
vineyards. Nearly the whole of the
Sierra Madre is bare, rocky rampant, re-
lieved onlyAby patches of chaparral; yet
without doubt holding in its forbidding
CANYONS the fortunes of the future. 1t is
full of springs, and'there is still consider
able supply of timber within reach OF the
wagon trails. Placer gold has been found
in the San Gabriel canyon, and several
valuable deposits of ore have been worked
within the limits of Los Angeles county.
As intend TO make Silverado the subject
of special letter, I will not stop to de-
scribe it here. The northwestern part OF
San Bernardino county is one vast mass OF
broken
VOLCANIC RANGES,
One hundred miles long by as many in
width, and SO destitute OF any other kind
of natural wealth than the precious metals
that no permanent mining settlement has
ever been made. Here the Armagcsa.
Potosi and other mines much talked of ten
years ago, have sustained feeble life under
difficulties. They are no doubt
capable of profitable development; SOME
lately -resurrected miaes are now yielding
rich returns. The subterranean forces
which once lifted the n-beds, or later
dropped the plains below the present sea-
level, as in the great Death valley, are not
yet quieted. Cones of extinct volcanoes,
hot mud-springs and sulphur deposits in.
dictate more recent volcanic action than in
the more northern counties. The southern
and southeastern portions Of our State pre-
sent the most interesting scientific prob
lens at every turn. The peaks OF Inyo,
clad in perpetual snow, almost overlook
the Amarg n Sartarus, where the January
is 90. There is no water for
man or beast, though the surface is scanned
by ancient freshets, and terrible water
spouts sometimes furrow tie banks. The
people who could be content to settle down
in the gold gravels of the Telescope Dis
trict, would colonize "Hades itself
NEW MINING DISTRICTS.
But the new mining districts Of San
Bernardino county are neither difficult of
access nor uninviting for human habitation.
Within thirty-fve miles of San Bernardino
enc may drive for whole day under the
shade of pines, where water IS abundant,
and where the Mornons found pay dirt in
1862. The Temescal tin mines are within
forty miles of that great fruit garden
which ten years hence will send millions of
tons of canned fruits to all parts of the
world. | hear that the mining capitalist
surnamed the Lucky, and other operators,
have large claims in the Bear valley res ion.
Auriferous gravel and placer gold was
discovered over thirty years ago on Lyttle
creek, within two hours drive of San Ber-
nardino, and all along the Cajon Pass are
old marks CT the pick and shovel, made by
the wandering jews OF the mining indus
L. 1T ~, 20 h
probable result had the Mormons made
their New Jerusalem in the San Bernardino
valley, as they were fortunately prevented
from doing Very probably, had this c.
CURED, the Southern Pacific would have
been the only iron roadway across the con-
tinent. Likely enough these noun aims
would ere this have been honey
combed Ike Davidson, and Mexico. Nor
mon civilization stamped itself intellectually
upon the fairest portion OF Gods country.
As it is, we are thankful that the blossom
ing of the Mohave desert is confided to
other hands. That this letter may be more
specific than general in its interest, let me
tell what know of the newly developed
SILVER MOUNTAIN MINING DISTRICT,
In San Bernardino county. We will take
a covered wagon from Los Angeles, and
with good pair Of horses one days drive
will take US to Cocomungo, where we will
camp for the night. Our second camp
may be within the limits OF the district,
III. we viii take the Cajon Pass more
ieisurely, and reserve our visit to the
mines for the third day. The Silver
Mountain mines are. about ifty miles north
east OF c ton, nearly on tie direct line
of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, and
Q miles south Of heCottonwood station On
the cid San Bernardino road. The Mohave
river, taking horse shoe bend, nearly en-
circles the nest of mines on the west and
south. A year ago the solitude was uu-
broken from the river to the timber line,
which we see come twenty five miles off.
Since thin tho Orc Grande, Side Winder,
Garfield, Poginto, Orc Elmo and Buena
Vista have been surveyed and located, and
a two stamp mil erected, in which
the ores of the Orc Grande are
reduced. The company, consisting
Of DR.. Conger, Messrs. Markham and
Hallock, of Pasadena, and several we'll
known Los Augelenos, went quietly to
work, secured titles to all these mines,
constructed dam across the Mohave,
built ditch Il, $50 feet long, with 900
feet OF tuning, obtained all the wood they
wanted on the low bottom lands OF the
river, set up their mill and crushers, and
have now one Of the most promising mir
ing properties in the State, which the rail-
roads will bring almost to. their DOOR.
The Orc Grande is six or seven miles from
the mill the teams delivering ore to the
mine return loaded with water and tim
ber Tho air is pure and bracing, the al
titude being about 800 feet above sea
level. There is a good boarding house,
store, school house and a number of
dwelling houses already built, and as the
other mines are developed series OF min
ing villages will dot the plain. l have
taken the Orc Grande as representative
case, without prejudice to other equally
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
OF treasure in the desert. Forty miles
from the Orc Grande is very rich silver
mine owned by Waterman, whose health
resort on Bernardino is well known to
MANY of your readers. On Providence