The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-06
RICH MINING DEVELOPMENTS.
What Is Being Done in Some Of the
Gravel Claims Of Butte County.
Correspondence OF THE MORNING CALL

twenty-five years ago the "blue lead"
mines near Bangor attracted much atten-
ton. They were supposed to be mex
baustible beds of rich blue gravel that
would pay enormously. Shafts were sunk,
tunnels run and mines opened. The gravel
was washed, but water failed to dissolve
the hard cement The only plan was TO let
1t lie for long time exposed to the air.
when 1t would air slack or crumble to
pieces and then could be run through
sluices like ordinary gravel. This was a
slow process, and, as about that time
hydraulic mining attracted much attention.
the blue lead mines were gradually aban-
doned till not one was in operation.
Within the past year or two bed OF this
hard blue cement has been successfully
worked near Smartsville, and the owners Of
the old mines near Bangor made some
investigations. They found to work the
gravel TO advantage that IL must be first
ground up Ia an arrsstra. They accord
ingly set TO work and two or three arrastras
were constructed, gravel was extracted and
tests made.
These proved a joyful surprise. The
mines yielded greater returns than the most
sanguine bad anticip ated. Miners from diff
ferent sections began to flock 10, other
claims were opened, further tests made.
.
Lately large shafts have been sunk and tun-
neIs run so as to put number of men at
work. Steam hosting works were erected
on the Bishop mine and the arrsstras were
run by steam power. On the Catskill mine,
owned by MarysViIle capitalists a stamp
mill was erected for crushing the gravel.
These improved methods Of working the
mines showed that each miner could earn
for the owner from 81 TO So a day, while
With better facilities for handling The gravel
- L.. - T.
consequence there is now much excitement
In the Bangor region.
The companies are enlsrging their shafts
so as 70 work more men 10 advantage in
getting out gravel. Tunnels are being run
and the mines put in better shape for WORK
ing. Night shifts have been put on, and
the last two clean-ups have been very graft
flying.
1t is stated by workmen that when q
bowlder is removed the ground beneath il
fairly sparkles with gold. After short
run the CatSklll Company cleaned up $4,000,
while a four days run with limited num-
Der of men returned the Bishop Company
$780, or $3.50 day. These beds are OF
great extent, and the channel is from 300 to
900 feet wide, 80 that the mines will last
for years. Mr. Campbell, superintendent
of the Catskill mine, Informed the writer
that be was confident these mines would
continue for the next 90 years. The chan.
mel has been followed for fully six miles,
and tie graYel is so deep tnat IL Will aHoTO
81 enormous quantity of gold. 1t is be-
lieved that at least thousand miners will
be at work within six months. A number
of new companies have been organized
lately, and will begin work at once.
The gold does not lie upon the bedrock,
but Is found all through the gravel, so that
the whole bed will pay well to crush.
There Is much excitement at Bangor
Three new stage lines have been put or
within the past week from 0roville anC
Moore station, and new stores, hotels
shops. etc, are being started in The
town. 1t is predicted by those who have
examined the mines carefully that they
will prove among the most lasting and per
manent mines in the State.
0rovilIe AuU