The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1882-08-05
FROM THE GAP.
STAMPEDE GAP, July PC, 1852.

SrANpEDE GAP, July 20, 1882.
ASH seat myself to write this letter on
the highest pinnacle of Stampede Hill,
beneath the friendly shelter of noun
tain pine, with Lake Valley almost at
my very feet, and the cool breezes from
the White River range of mountains try
ing to make one forget that it is mid
summer, can afford to pity the poor
toilers Of the valley, and even the young
Washers of Bullionville who are nightly
smiled upon by the lassies across the
way. But it is seldom that we treat our
silves to the luxury of letter writing, or
in contemplation Of the beauties of ma
ture, while hunting over the hills
for the precious metal; but when
evening draws nigh and with it our al
allowance of bacon, beans and sorghum,
we are happy in the forgetfulness of the
days labor, and retire early in the arms
of Morpheus to dream Of the girl we left
behind us in Panaca, rich bonanzas, and
other nice things too numerous to men-
ton under the pressure of two pairs of
blankets with nary varmint to disturb
our peaceful slumbers. Think of this,
you musquets little valleyites, and weep.
The climate here is delightful during the
L., Il, ,INa.I 10,
the prospector being the scarcity of
water, which has to be hauled from High
land, distant some three miles, | have
been here now some three weeks, and
although my efforts, so far, have not
been crowned with success, | am still
firmly convinced, after an examination of
some of the most promising claims, that
the near future is full of promise for this
section; what the district needs most is
the incoming Of some enterprising min
ing men; ones who believe in the legiti-
mate branch of the business, and are
ready to back their belief with their
means, and not those who go on the
bonding racket and pass themselves off
as experts, when, in fact, the only thing
that they are really expert at is in swim
ding everybody with whom they may
have any dealings, and in the long run
bringing ruin to the property or camp
they may have associated themselves
with. Among the most prominent mines
that / visited siace my arrival was the
Anderson, Magnolia and Mexican, situ-
ated close to Highland. The Anderson
claim is very promising one, sample
patches Of the ore having sold in Salt
Lake City and Phoebe at the rate of a half
a dollar pound. The owner contents
himself, however, by taking out just
enough ore to cover his expenses and the
simple wants OF his household, The
Magnolia, is on the same lead and in the
writer's opinion is the better one of the
two, as the ledge is larger and better de-
fined and carries the same high-grade
character OF ore. 1t is owned by Anthony
McMahon, of Bullionville, who has Sc
cured patent on the property. The
about one-half mile from the above men,
tened claims 1t was formerly owned
by men Of the nationality from whom it
derived its name. The parties, however,
forfeited their ownership by failing to do
the necessary work that the laws require
to be dene yearly ON each claim. 1t is
now owned by Messrs. Williams and Nc
Mahon, who consider it one OF the best OF
their prospects.
There is not much going on at STAN
pede Gap just now. Old man Thomas
has some very fine ore on the dump of
his Comet mine, which he says assays
200 ounces per ton. Messrs. Mont.
gomery, Waters and Rice are the owners
Of the June Bug. 1t was located last
summer and certainly is worth pros
pecting, as it contains q fine grade of
galena ore; but as the owners are poor
men it is at present-with the exception
Of few feet-in the same state as when
discovered. There is, beyond doubt, a
large ledge of carbonate ore hidden in
Stampede Hill. We are led to believe
thus from the fact that several thousand
dollar pockets of that class of ore has
been found at the base Of the hill. The
natural inference is that they have slid
from the mother lode. Some OF the iron
that is now being extracted from the hill,
for the furnace at Bullionville, contains
as high as 20 per cent lead and several
ounces in silver. A tunnel 600 feet long
would undermine the hill and would un,
doubtedly tap the ledge. The cost
would be trifiing as the amount of iron
taken out-which is worth S. per ton or
the dump-would 60 long way toward:
defraying the expenses. More anon.
F3. 4Ef j. C. H.