Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-05-24
0outhern California as Gold
Producer.

Quite degree of attention is, OF late,
being concentrated on the mines OF
Southern California. For a long time
they have been under a thorough
eclipse. Ten years ago the Julian
mines of San Diego county attracted at
tention far and wide, and deservedly so.
A number of poor but honest prospec-
tors then made fortunes out of compara-
lively surface claims, notably the Messrs.
Lang. Coyne, Mcclellan and King. The
Bailey Brothers, also, made competen-
cies from the Ready Relief mines, also
in Banner district. These mines passed
into Eastern hands; and, on encounter
ing few discouragements, such as are
incident to mining ventures anywhere,
they were allowed to languish. We are
glad to know that the public interest in
them has lately revived, and that sub
stantial and prosperous mining district
is now about to spring up there, rivaling
if not surprising the pleasant expert
ences of ten years ago. In San Bsrnar-
dino county, seven or eight years ago,
the Holcomb valley mines enlisted some
capital and the results were disastrous.
It is quite probable that their working
was relinquished on what could hardly
be called fair trial. Nevertheless,
from the momentary abandonment OF
the Holcomb valley mines, and the
"hang FIRE" attitude of the San Diego
camp, Southern California received a
'sblack eye" from which it has but late
ly recovered. But that it has recovered,
and completely, is now apparent.
Fortunately for Southern California as
q mining section the work of develop
ment, though abandoned by outside cap
italists, has been pushed steadily for
ward by local prospectors-men whose
faith in this section could not be damp
ened. As o result, we have seen the
splendid outcome of the Calico district
and the inspiriting ''fnds" of Water
man and others. In San Diego county
we have had the marked and promising
prominence given to the Pinacate dis
trict. In Los Angeles county the Win
ston mine and its extensions are looming
up as remunerative propositions of the
near future.
We confess that it would give US
huge satisfaction if we could supple
ment the corn, wine and oil of the com-
merce of mankind in all ages of the
world-in all of which, and in much
more, Los Angeles county abounds-
with genuine minted treasure output.
If we could add to our orange groves
and vineyards liberal stream of gold
or silver, the situation, to our mind,
would be perfect. We entertain no
doubt that developments to that end are
ahead, in the immediate future.
We learn, from what we regard as ex-
cellent authority, that placer develop
ments, of great richness and magnitude,
are ahead for this county, in the Cas-
tica canon, and in its immediate neigh
borhood. We are assured, by compe-
tent expert, that there is placer gold
there in sufficient quantities to keep a
large mining camp employed for decades,
and we learn that the capital needed to
utilize this gold, which has so long lain
perdu, will be shortly forthcoming. All
this splendid region needs is the money
to bring water distance of less than
ten miles. As this camp will be dis
tinctivsly tributary to Los Angeles, our
people will watch its development with
great interest and expectancy.