Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-27
THE RACE FOR WEALTH.
Reported Gold Discoveries
in the Liebre.
THE MATTER INVESTIGATED.
The Rumors Prove to be Greatly
Exaggerated-Placer Claims
at Castaca.

During the past few weeks rumors have
been circulated about the city that rich
placer mines had been struck in the
vicinity Of the Sierra and Tejon ranches,
and with q view to investigating the
matter HERALD reporter was des-
patched to the points indicated, on Sat-
urday last. The scribe arrived at
Lancaster, in the Antelope Valley, about
midnight, and at daybreak next morn
was spinning away behind fast team
driven by that most popular Of valley
whips" Mr.. Clayton Gillebrand, and
cracking jokes with Mr.. Sheridan Of the
Tribune, who was bound on q similar
errand. The wind was blowing hurri-
cane at the start but it Stacked up con-
siderably as the day wore on, and, taken
altogether, the weather experienced may
be described as very pleasant. Mayu.
ards was reached about o O'Clock, and
after rest OF few minutes, the scribe
found himself being driven into the low
buttes which bound the western end Of
the great Antelope valley. Cow Springs,
q pleasant camping place with willow
trees, casting an inviting shade to the
weary traveller, next hove in view, and
here pause was made to quafT the pure.
cold, limpid stream which came bubbling
up from its earthen reservoir and went
gaily dancing down to the thirsty soil
that encompassed it about. It was late
in the evening ere the Gallon was sighted
in which is situated the Liebre ranch
house, and after drive up prettily
located defile the barking Of two large
dogs brought number Of Mexicars
to the scene. and the scribe re-
ceived welcome which betokened
well for his after-treatment. As good
luck would have it, Mr.. H. NJ. Pogsou,
General Beale's major-domo, was about
the ranch, and he extended cordial
welcome to his visitors, who were coon
seated with their legs under tafle
which was covered with tempting vianda
Of profuse variety. The subject of the
mines was brought up during this repast,
and Mr.. Pogson proved to be quite an
authority on the matter. He said that 1t
had long been known that silver existed
in the mountains; in fact, several claims
had been operated for many years, some
Of them, however, paying very heavy
dividends to their proprietors. As for
the placer diggings, he said that none Of
any Importance had been found on the
ranch, though 1t was quite evident
that gold existed in more or less
quantities throughout the eastern section
Of the country. An Englishman named
Captain Moore, assisted by Mr.. Colby,
were at work on the hill, opposite the
ranch house, and had found good mineral
though they had not succeeded in lo-
eating well-defned ledge. The speci-
mems they sent in to the assayer's Office
showed indications Of tin and zinc, and
proved to contain about IA per cent. Of
the former article, which is, however,
not worth working, as 35 per cent. Of tin
must be obtained ere any profits can be
made.
Several OF the rodeos corroborated Mr..
Pogson's remarks, so 1t was evident that
''the great discovery" was as usual very
much exaggerated, and the scribe retired
to comfortable had that had been
prepared for him by Sr. Del Vale. ;oref
man OF the ranch, and decided TO pursue
his quest for the treasure-fields no fur
ther. The next day was passed amid the
pleasant dales and verdant hills of the
Liebre and Tejon Ranches, and here the
scribe discovered that party of pros
pectors was encamped about eight miles
west Of Germans Ltation. Two holes are
down about eighty feet, and some very
good ore has been turned out, Welding.
it is said, about $40 to the ton. Several
other prospects have been made in the
same vicinity, and those interested ar
pear 10 be very sanguine about their
discoveries. Prospecting, however, has
been going on for a number OF years
in these mountains, and lower down
the country there are several thriving
mining camps in existence, the most
prominent being on the Mntah ranch.
the upper Piru cafion, Castaca cafion.
San Francisquito, Joe Dye creek, Alamo
Mountain and the Cuyamas. The Cas-
taca Gallon is probably the richest Of
these fields and number OF miners have
poured into these during the past few
months. The Honda Hy draulic Mining
Company has purchased section
of railroad land there and is
having a canal cut from Eliza
beth Lake to Charley's Gallon, q
distance of about thirteen miles, SO as to
the better expedite their work. The
placer claims in that vicinity are said to
be very rich, and it is reported that the
wash is turning out $4 or s. worth OF gold
per man per day. Experts and cid miners
are not inclined, however, to grow very
excited over this place, as its location
has been krown ior many years, in fact
General Beale says that claims were be-
ing worked there before the Suffer Greek
discovery by Marshall in '4S.