The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-09
THE NEW GOLD FIELDS.
Lower California Greatly Excited Over the
Discoveries South of San Diego.

Los ANGELES, Cal, March s.-The gold
discoveries in Lower California have
created intense excitement in every town
in the southern part of the State. The
Santa Clara district. where the crowds are
Diego and forty miles west of Ensanada.
All along the line thousands are en- route to
the scene of the excitement. At San Diego
the streets are filled with strangers outfit
ting for the mines, and with wagons and
pack mules loaded with miners outfits. An
average of 600 men day have left for the
mines for the last four days, and to-day the
number was much larger than that. Wait
ers at the hotels and restaurants have
largely left, and two-thirds of the force on
the Cuyamaca railroad are gone. The best
indication regarding the value of the mines
is that no one has returned. except to re-
plenish grub stakes" The telegraphers
have also joined the prospectOrs. Eight
hundred men were camped at Tia Juana
last night, waiting clearance from the Gus
tom-house. Ensanada is practically. de-
amendty serseu ty of pea San Diego G who we're % among
the first at the mines, arrived at Epsanada
last night. Both are enthusiastic. Fifteen
good rich lodges have already been discov-
cred and promise permanent camp. James
kerrane, of Los Angeles returned from the
camp last night. He said: There are al
ready one thousand men on the ground.
The stuff brought out is placer gold, and is
light and flaky. The valley in which the
mine was discovered has three we'll
ssasS fSm ESa tH d"a'n 1Gsfs abs bess
in separate gulches. The gulch
to the north is the one in which the greatest
find has been made. Above are to be found
groupings of slate and porphyry. A tracing
has been made of one lode i.400 feet from
the upper side of the valley into the mount
aims. At present, in the valley, forty
washers are located, only one of which Is
in operation. A great many rockers and
ground sluices are being worked. The dirt
is easily handled, and the richest returns
are had in some instances. L saw one man
who had knocked out 500 III four hours,
and he was nearly wild with JOY. But,
above all things, the prices of provisions
are simply outrageous. / paid s. for fifty
pound sack of flour. $3.50 for ten-pound
sack of oatmeal, and drinks are two bits
apiece
San Diego has about gone in body to
the gold country. -Four kilograms have
been received in this city requesting that
hotel walters be sent at once to San Diego,
as none could be had there at any price.
The guests were left to get their own meals
out of the kitchen for one entire day. Yes
the Santa Tarranta mines, and brought
with him $1,000 in gold dust, which he de-
posted in bank. Miners who came to this
city for supplies returned at once on the
evening train. They say the Mexicans who
have been long, at work at the diggings are
taking ont gold to the extent of SIS day
each. They say there is great
lack of mining implements. and
that there is crying want for
rockers. AS to the richness of the ground
there is no doubt. The Mexicans pan out
from 25 to so cents to the pan, with which
the old miners now seem TO be perfectly
content. Indeed, they wink their eyes, as
much as to say: when those buffers get
through we will have a picnic.n A Mexican
took out 81 500 in two days in a'space eight
feet square. There is no doubt as to the
richness of the placers. The only question
is, how extensive are theyi The best an
swer would seem to be found III the fact
that the oldest residents and business men
of Ensanada went to the mines several
weeks ago. and, despite the fact that mer-
chandising offers unusual inducements and
large profits, none have returned. Upward
of 500 men will leave Los Angeles for the
mines at once.