Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-24
TUESDAY, MARCH "a. 1891.
is 1T rRuEp

Legends have been floating about Los
Angeles for generation as to the exist
ence near here of three mines OF mar
vellous richness discovered accidentally
by wayfarers across the great California
desert. who could not remain and work
them because of lack of tools and food,
and who could never rediscover the
spot whore their treasures lay. Dozens
of prospectors have from time to time
lost their lives in vain attempts to redis-
cover these mines, until the impression
has become very general that the stor-
les are myths, and that those who first
told them ought to rank with Ananias as
the champion liars of all time. But the
San Francisco Chronicle last Satur-
day published an article to the
effect that one of them, the Brey-
fogle mine, has been rediscov-
cred by a miner from Idaho, named
George Montgomery. Here is the pith
of the story as told in the Chronicle:
Montgomery made discovery early
in January which bears every indication
of being the long sought Breyfogle mine.
One ledge located by Montgomery is
eight feet wide, and has been traced by
its outcroppings for distance of 5000
feet In the decomposed surface rock
the gold is found almost like plums in a
pudding. Pieces of quartz picked out
are from quarter to half bright yellow
gold, while, with a hand mortar, the
lucky discoverer pounded out in short
time yeast powder can full of nuggets
of various sizes. All along the ledge
free gold is found in quantities that
astonish the oldest prospectors, and
whichsseem scarcely credible.
Montgomery packed up as large a
quantity OF the richest specimens as he
could carry and made his way across the
desert to Daggett, the nearest railroad
point, 100 miles away. From there he
came to San Francisco, where he is get
ting tools. supplies, etc., to open the
mines. He will return at the earliest
practicable moment, put up small mill
and 60 to work getting out ore.
To the question whether he was look
ing for capital or "a purchaser Mr..
Montgomery returns an emphatic mega
tive. The mines, he says, are the rich
est he ever saw, and be is satisfied that
he can realize fortune by working
them. On one claim taken up by Mont
gomery cross-cut has been pushed for
twenty feet across the vein without
striking the hanging wall, and it is free
milling ore all the way.
There is plenty of mesquit wood for
fuel in the valley within three or four
miles of the undiscovered camp,
while in the mountains fifteen miles
kc x,,l,,nt, oFNrl nj, Il
ance of timbering material. Water can
valley, while at Ash Meadows, fifteen.
miles away, are streams which could be
utilized for power.
The camp has been named Montgom-
cry in honor of its discoverer, and a
meeting has been called for April
lst to organize mining district
under the laws governing such
cases. 1t is emphatically what is
known as "poor mans camp" The
ore is of character that can be readily
worked with hand mortar or arastra,
while there is almost certainty of the
existence of rich placer deposits.
The nearest railroad point to the Pah
rump valley is Daggett, on the Atlantic
and Pacific railroad. From that point
it requires four days to make the jour
ney OF l60 miles in a northeasterly di-
rection. There is good road, and
water at frequent intervals. Feed, how
ever, must be carried for animals, and
no one should for moment think OF
undertaking the journey on foot. A
party numbering several well-known
mining men from this city is now en-
route, having left early last week. In
cluded in the number are Mesers. Muir
ray, Grant, William Irvine, Brydon, Cal
lahan, Mcdonald and others. From the
specimens shown and other corrobora-
tory details they are confident that the
discoveries will turn out we'll.
If this story proves to be true it is of
the greatest imaginable Importance.
And why should it not prove true ?
There are all the evidences present to
establish its truth. There are the speci-
mems, the sight of which has induced
practical miners to go out and locate
claims.
This Death Valley region is less
known, even here, to the world than
Central Africa since Stanley has lec-
tured. 1t is only the other day that a
very rich strike was made in the Car
Donate mine, near Calico, owned by
Los Angeles men. The Colorado car
donates are about the richest ores
known to miners, and this is the first
strike made in them in this section. 1t
is absolutely new development. Why
should there not be others?
All the region between Daggett and
Salt Lake is exceedingly rich in
deposits of many kinds. Iron
and coal abound. 1t is probably
the most inviting field in the
country today for enterprise. All that
is now lacking to stimulate enterprise
there on large scale is railroad con-
Meeting Los Angeles with the City OF the
Saints. It is much shorter by that
route to Chicago than by any existing
line. 1t will not be long in any event
until the road is built by some one, and
if this Chronicle story proves to be true,
work will begin before one can turn
around twice. The people who build
that road will have about the best bit of
property in the country.