The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-02-03
A New EIdorado.

CHICAGO, January "a locaI
paper publishes long article TO-DAY
announcing the discovery of ricn
gold fields In the Republic of Hon
duras. 1t appears that some SIX
months ago James Rector, Mil
ligan and Col. Pat Donan, of Dako-
Ia, aud three others from Indiana,
made up pool and sent Rector and
another man-an old California pros
pector-to Honduras to examine
and report upon new placer gold
fields which was alleged to have been
found In the southwestern part of
the little republic. Ever since No
vember .here have been rumors
afioat that the alleged discovery was
confirmed, and that it had proved to
be most important one, but the
projectors of the expedition at home
would say nothing about it. Now,
however, the ban OF silence is remov-
ed, and, with the arrival of full par
ticulars both by cable and mail, and
also the receipt OF a little bag OF so
in dust, the importance of the find
is no longer concealed Already
Mr. Milligan, of Fargo, Dakota, has
gone to Honduras. Col. Donan will
follow in a few weeks, and several
other parties of Western men are
making ready TO set out for the new
Eldorado.
Mr.. Rector, who has been Oh the
ground since last summer and who
is known as a prudent and cautious
man, and one possessed of unusual
ly hard sense, writes to his friends
here that the discovery is likely to
prove as important one as any of
the great placer districts of Califor-
MIA. The new field lies in the east
ern portion of the Republic of Hon
duras, and about $50 miles from the
Atlantic coast. The placers are in
and adjacent TO the headwaters OF the |
Guayape river, which is one of the /
streams of the Rio Patuca.
a region long known for its mineral !
resources Mr. Rector and party
have explored the stream and its
yrayelly bottom for nearly fifty miles
and have found scores of places
where the gravel yields from ten to
eighty cents 10 the pan. They have
begun regular mining, however, In
place where, after much toll, they (
succeeded In turning the river from
Is native bed. Here they dug down
md are sluicing out from seven 10
Ell dollars cubic yard, a yield full {
Y equal to that OF the best placer ;
ilgglngs in California. The bed of ,
he river they have reclaimed covers
many acres In extent, and under the
avs OF the Republic they can Law
lain to 1t all. The facilities for
,iacer mining are unsurpassed. The
old which has been sent up was ex-
Iibited to few select parties in this
lty yesterday. The particles are
i all sizes, from mustard seed grains
0 nuggets as big as birds eggs. One
nugget was found valued at S115 {
rector believes that the bed of the !
tream for nearly its whole length, !
ogether with the sand and gravel
Ine UOveTuucuJ- "a -x.Vsss-s- ---- - 4 .
5 said. is very liberal to miners, let S,
hem come from where they NAV.
{ requires no citizenship to work I.
mineral land, and there is very
arge margin allowed rs to extent
# holding. Gold and silver mining
,as long been an established indus
ry in the region of the Rio Patuca,
,ut the inertness of the people, the
remoteness of the country
md the lack of adequate capital has
prevented anything ike systematic
work.
II is stated that mining men from
he West, who are at present IN
Chicago. are watching with keen
interest the Honduras developments,
md that if the news which the
Rector party has sent shall be fur
her confirmed. there will be quite a
tampede for the new regions The
country is described as healthful,
,ntire!y free from malaria, and the
ranging in the foot bills
# the mountain ranges, where the
,lacers are to be found, at from 7S' 4
% 750 the year round.