Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1892-12-09
LOST MINES.

the Pacific Coast has its "lost
mines" legends. In Nsvads, Cal
ifornia, Arizona, Colorado, Mon.
tana, Idaho everywhere hnc
stories Of lost mines. The lost
mines. whether of gold or silver
are always represented - bsinf
Immensely rich. Down in Ari1o.s
and New Mexico the lost mines ar.
usually those OF silver, while in
California and elsewhere they ar.
principally minss Of gold. Tbs
stories connected with many Of the
lost mines, - the Breyiogle, Gun
sight, Peg Log and Lost CabiD, are
too wsll-known to be repeated here.
First and last much money has
been expended in searching for one
and another OF these lost mines.
Many expeditions have boon fitted
out, and often great hardships have
been endured In not q few IN :
stances lives have been lost in those
searches.
These mines that have never
been toand are, of course, moro
numerous than those that have
been lost. In California, in almost
every mining town and camp, the
old settlers toll of places where
streams, gulchss and ravlnes we're
wonderfully rich in placer gold up
to certain point, when the "pay"
suddenly ceased. Somewhere In
the immediate vicinity doubtless
lies the old river channel whence
came the gold found below, but no
man has ever heer able to hit up
on it and it lies there to this day
awaiting accidental discovery. 1t
il one of tho mines that have never
been found.
Sometimes, on . fiat or say on
the side of hill or mountain, the
placer miner has Unexpectedly
found great quantities OF float
quartz rich in gold. In vain he
searches for the vein whence came
the quartz 1T remains one OF the
mines that have never been found.
In all parts OF California there
are to day scores Of old miners who
can toll of such places-and not
only tell OF them but also point
them out. Few Of the old-tims
miners have anything Of the dog
in-the-manger disposition; whore
they have themselves tried and
failed they are quite willing to soc
others try, and were they to sue
ceed the miner OF the old days
would heartily rejoice that he had
lived to see the problem solved.
In some instances not only
fragments Of gold Quartz are
found, but also great blocks and
boulders Of quartz filled with gold.
For . time dillgsnt search il
made for the fountain head
whence flowed the gold stream,
but one after another the pros
pectors become discouraged. At
last it is set down, not as . lost
mine, but ~ one OF tho minas
that have never been found.
In California it is not al easy
matter to find . mine traces OF
which have been discovered
in the float" ~ In many places
The bedrock il covered by several
feet OF surface soil. Thus are
hundreds of rich veins buried to
bs accidentally discovered In the
days to come; probably not . few
\ hundred years hence.
A man going from town to town
in California, and In each place
interviewing the old settlers in
regard to tho ''lost mines and
the mines that have never bosn
'ound" would accumulate material
Tor a large, interesting and useful
volume. Such a book would con-
ain many wild and thrilling Ad-
ventures and romantic and tragic
stories. 1t would also contain
much that would b. q guide to
he prospector and an incentive to
prospecting. Such a guide book
o the mines, il honestly and
written up, would doubt
-. ha tha means OF ro0urectlng