Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-25

khDIkt6E Wtta tto hh3tOEIs
An cid Iudian whom the writer knew,
and who died few years ago in Santa
Barbara county, sged, according to the
baptismal record OF Santa Barbara Mis-.
sion, los years, claimed to know where
the rich mines were located, but he full
ly believed that he would be struck
dead should he reveal it. He said that
he and other friendly Indians who
knew of it when the mouth was covered
up and the mine abandoned, it we mis-
take not on account of hostile tribes,
had taken o solemn oath never to let
any one know the place where it was To-
Gated, and that they had been assured
that treachery on their part would re.
suit in sure and sudden death. he, and
we believe all others who professed to
know any thing about its existence, were
unanimous in saying that it was on the
side of q mountain and that 1t was
tunnel. But those who professed to
know anything concerning its location
have passed away, and by many it had
become to be regarded as mere tradi-
ton; and as much time, money and
labor had been expended in searching
for it, many had come to believe its ex'
istence was mythical.
But about three weeks ago profess
sional prospector, q gentleman thorough
" conversant with the mines of Ari.
zoua, New Mexico and Colorado, tracing
the Calico ledge into this county, acci-
dentally came upon an old tunnel pene-
trating the side of mountain, which
he believes to be the lost Jesuit mine.
He roughly estimates the length to be
300 or 400 feet, with the sides "coyiied''
in various directions. This gentleman
and his partuer were attracted to the
spot by seeing cottonwood trees growing
on the side of mountain, and after
reaching the spot they found them grow
ing in the mouth of a tunnel.
Their appearance indicated that cot.
tonwood limbs had been placed on end
at the mouth Of the tunnel and covered
with earth, the dampness from within
having caused them to grow. But the
earth caved in. and, washed by the
rains of probably sixty or seventy win
ters, exposed the tunuel which had been
SO efectually concealed.
Near by were found the remains of
old smelling works, and silver brick
weighing about one pound, which the
prospector exhibited to us yesterday,
was picked up. This prospector, who
is an unusually intelligent man, first
traced the Calico ledge into Arizona,
then returning he traced it into Ventu-
ra county, and believes he has found a
ledge of mineral far more valuable than
tbs Waterman or any other mine yet
discovered in San Bernardino county.
The specimens exhibited to us indicate
rich ore, some Of them carrying free
gold, and if once developed may be a
source of immense revenue TO this coun-
ty. The ledge is an extensive one and
can easily be worked.
We are not at liberty at present to
give the location or reveal the names OF
the parties interested in this find. The
territory will be surveyed by competent
men and lines run, and as soon as all
legal matters have been adjusted and all
the discoverers secured in their rights,
it will be no longer a secret. The place
can be reached from Ventura by wagons,
and there is plenty OF water for mining
purposes.
Among the ores exhibited were gaiena,
gold, native silver, chloride and sulphu-
rets of silver, carbonates Of lead, horn
silver, etc. As we have stated, the ledge
lies in the Calico belt. between agypsum q
AMI orphyry contact, with pearl-shell
belt lying near the porphyry walls. Our
prospector first made himself familiar
with the Calico belt, which he believed
extended into this county. In the ex-
kra,,,a sartb of th,s halt 1ios fr.f a 1avo
belt; next to it brown sand.
stone is found; then comes gran.
ite. trachite, black slate, pearl shell
belt, porphy.itic material and forms
contact against gypsum. Nearly all OF
the leading minerals of the world lie In
lime and porphyry contact. Those iy.
ing in lime only are soon exhausted, but
those associated with porphyry are CO.
equal with that mineral. 1hls belt is
similar to that in which the Continental
and Grand Central of Leadville are To-
Gated, they having porphyritic footwalls.
Also the celebrated Drum. Lumnum of
Dakota Territory has the same porphyry
and lime contact; also the Tombstone
mines with strata of quartzite running
through. Thisis also true of the noted
horn silver mine of Utah, which yielded
81. 600, 600 in 1888. Comstock consoli.
dations have porphyry hanging walls.
Our informant believes Calico district Is
the safest and thinks the district he has
discovered shows more ore in sight than
any other portion OF it. The belt seems
to be Miocene, and according to this
authority indicates liberal outlook for
mineral deposits, which is not surprising
to u.s. Ventura Free Press.
INA sDRY COUNTRY"
James Porter, living five miles west
of Paso Robles, is one of the successful
fruit growers of this section. He has a
farm of gently rolling lind, somewhat
in the valley. Joining Mr.. Porter is
Joseph Tidrow, who has also fruit
ground. His farm is mountain-side
one, finely illustrating the qualities OF
our steep mountains for fruit raising.
Mr.. Tidrow has no living spring on his
farm. bur there is abundance of evil
dence of water lying close to the sur.
face. Going west OF Mr.. Tidrow three
miles we come to Mr.. Johnsons farm.
On this farm is fine large spring, near
the crest of the mountain. On top oi
the mountain is Mr.. Johnson's wheat
field. His fruit and vegetables are on
the steep mountain side, under the eye
of the spring, and four hundred feet
higher than the ground on which Paso
Robles is situated.
Going on around the circle we come
to Charles Morehouse, eleven miles west
and little south OF Paso Robles. His
orchard and farm are situated on rolling
ground. And none raise finer apples
and grapes than Mr.. Morehouse. Then
there is Mr.. Kester, seven miles west o.
Paso Robles, who is successfully rails
ing grapes on almost level upland: And
John Weare, on sections s, q, ii, hal
this year as fine apples as can be foune
nywhere.
Among the exhibit of fruit made b,
l.. d. Street, the Paso Robles real es
tate man, on the auction sale day o
| jo+, Loot week Levi Exline showed