Evening journal., 1889-03-15
1T IS NOT AN Ell DORADO.
Deluded Miners Returning from
Santa Clara.
SCHEME FOR LAND SPECULATION.

Adventures Skinned OF Their Possessions.
Many Instances OF Privatlon and suf-
fering = Outrageous Duties Imposed.
Engiishmen Engineering the swindIe.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, March 15.-The excite
ment over the report Of the new FL Dorado
near Tia Juana continues, although conserva-
tive people are, and have been for several
days, somewhat skeptieal as to the genuine
ness Of the find. As the hours pass on the
latter opinion grows stronger. Many miners
who started when the first news Of the dis
covery Of gold in extraordinary quantities
was brought north, and who were delayed
and charged exorbitant duties ON every ar
ticle they had in their possession before they
were permitted to cross the border and pro
ceed 70 the gulches, are returning sick, sore,
penniless and disgusted.
Almost all Of them came back with
theory. This theory is that the whole exc ite-
ment was brought about by an adroitly en-
gineered plan, which was the product Of the
brains Of the agents in California Of the In
ternational company, composed almost en-
tirely of English capitalists who some time
ago bought up the land, and who desired to
rid themselves Of what was proving a white
elephant
This theory finds plenty Of supporters in
this city. Yet, in spite Of the discournging
reports, people are constantly leaving for the
scene in parties Of all sizes. No ono comes
back denying thnt there is gold in the gulches
near Ensenada, but every one who has been
there declares that there is not the slightest
chance Of getting it out unless the effort is
made by big company with a big capital,
and even then they say there won't be any
too much money made out Of it.
Instances of priyation and suffering are
many. OF course the country filled up with
gamblers and dsreputable people Of ali kinds
directly after the discovery was reported
The adventurous ones who first arrived of
course believed that all they had to do was
10 dig a hole in the ground and pick IN
money. Believing that, they proceeded to
spend what money they brought with them
in dissipation and debauchery, with the re-
suit that they were soon without the barest
necessities Of life, not easy to obtain under
the most favorable circumstances in the
desolate country.
The Mexican government has a big force of
military at Santo Clara. They are there to
keep order, but they don't succeed very well.
The scenes are the same as those that have
characterized every new mining camp for
years There are Just as many fights. inst as
much shooting ard just as much general
cussedness as there ever was The tonob
people who go there take the guns away from
the soldiers and crack them over the hend
with the butts if they protest,
A man named PerAlns an experienced
miner and a man Of observation. came in
from the mines. He said he had spent three
days IN prospecting. He declared that he
was quite positive that there was no gold in
paying quantities there for any individual
miner at the end Of the first day. But he
tried little longer He took out about S25
in the three days. That was just enough to
cover the charge the Mexicans make for per-
mission to travel from Ensenada to the mines
1t cost him 500 in duties to get across the
border. So he is out Just So besides the
discomforts and hardships OF the trip. From
talks he had with people there he is inclined
to the belief that the International company,
while openly protesting to desire to buy up
the mines, is secretly unloading the land to
newcomers
The already outrageous duties are growing
worse The duty ON wagons a week ago was
$40 a wheel. Now il is SIS. On flour the
duty has risen from eighty cents pound to
Sl.25, and now, instead Of charging a duty on
a whole harness, its various parts are charged,
the aggregate being 80 per cent. higher than
before In fact, that is where great portion
Of the money goes
The newspaper dispatches are contradic.
tory. It is openly charged here that a mum
ber of the correspondents have been subsidized
by the land owners, and such is the state Of
mind now that reports from notoriously
trustworthy man would be looked upon with
IA.