, 1891-08-08
PICK AND SHOVEL.
A s1Leader" Correspondent Takes
Them into the Mountains
in Carbon County.

rough and barren country, ~treeless and
fruitless, showing evidence of the nightly
volcanic commissions of nature and the
careless and long continued wash OF large
bodies OF water, possibly at one time an
inland sea.
Probably no country promises less to
the superficial observer nor yields more to
a close and analytical examination than
Carbon county. From astonishment, at
first, how stock thieves and people live in
such a country, you begin to wonder why
cities are not built and railroads more
numerous ere now.
Thinking a few days in the mountains
would furnish rest and pleasure after a
long season of hard work, and having a
desire to prospect with pick and shovel,
four of us started on a iaunt over the
range mountains lying west of Saratoga.
Prospecting tools, guns, ammunition and a
supply of provisions being secured we
moved out early on the morning of the
18th. Nothing occurred for the first few
miles to relieve the monotony of the jour
ney but we soon entered the foot hills. No
sooner there than a little way from the
road a large buck antelope was seen as
he raised his head from the green grass
and gazed at US. 1t was the first game
and the best marksman must bring it
down. That one buck might be good.
Two shots tailed to DO the work and away
he bounded with rapid strides and a
broad. swinging gait. His course would
take him around 4 large knoll just in our
front so we whipped up our horses and
pushed ahead. Two of us d%ismounting,
we ran up the hill to where We thought
he would cross. Just as we came to the
top from one side. he came from the
other. Seeing the team and not us he
halted. There he stood, not more than
twenty PAGES away and full broadside
toward us. Our marksman thought sure
he would now retrieve his doubtful and
solled reputation as a crack shot. Taking
deliberate aim he fired. The smoke
rolled away and so did the antelope.
Chagrin and disappointment was there
and as a result four more wild shots were
sent after hun, but to no effect.
Considerable game both large and
small can be seen as you ride over these
mountain roads. After a few more ex-
c%ursions after other game we finally ar
rived at Jones & Williams mining cabin
in the Bridger district. For a long time
these mines have been worked, but owing
to peculiarities of Mr.. Heather. a partner
in the mines. very little has been said
about them. These mines are located in
a mineral belt that can be easily traced
for miles by surface indications. The first
mine is the Meteor. Here, after digging
numerous prospect holes and cutting the
lead in several places, they have put 10 a
tunnel fourteen feet long. At the end of
the tunnel the vein is about twenty inches
and in a solid formation. The ore is rich
in copper and silver, assaying something
like $50 per ton. About a mile and a
halt north of this mine and in the same
belt is the Alma. Between the two are
several prospect holes, but no considera-
BILE amount of developing has been done;
yet enough has been done to show it a
continuation of the same mineral belt.
For a long time water in the Alma shaft
prevented development work, but a short
time since pumps and machinery were put
in and work continued. On the surface
the lead showed only a two inch vein. but
this has gradually wldened until at forty
five feet it measures three feet in width.
They are now taking out a very superior
quality of lead bearing ore. 1t is excep-
~tionally valuable as there is always a
scarcity ofthis character of ore for huxing
and special Inducements are offered by
mill owners for the same. In many IN
instances no charge Is made on the bullion
extracted and Shippers get practically the
full value of the lead.
With lead at four cents per pound, 1t
will run s46.64 per ton, $5l. 04 in gold
and silver, or a total OF $97. 6S per ton. 1t
was only intended to do a little tiukering
and developing at present. but so superior
and rich is this ore that probably it will be
worked and shipped as fast as taken out.
This may bring a smelter to Saratoga,
but if that should be delayed the owners
will probably put up a water jacket OF
their W and furnish matter to outside
smeltcrs.
The rich development of this and Sena-
tor Chatterton's miner gives celebrity to
the west range and reduces to a certainty
the future of Saratoga. Many an old
miner has explained, Two good mines at
Gold Hill settles the fate of the valley"
We o. have two silver mines and both
independent of Gold Hill.
The opportunities for prospectors in this
district are excellent. 1t needs only work
and perseverance along this same belt to
find leads equally rich. 1t is now dem.
onstrated that the same belt extends over
the mountains and comes out in the
Savory country. b. NJ. p.
stIII ut Large.
Sheriff Malcolm Campbell returned