Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-02
SILVER MINES CLOSING.
THE RESULT OF DEPRECIATION OF
WHITE METAL.
Member of the State Geolog-
ical Survey.

A HERALD representative interviewed
Mr.. W. II. Stombs of the state geologi-
cal survey at the Hollenbeck last even
ing and learned something of the effect
of the present depreciation in the price
of silver. Ordinarily the individual
does not feel personally the direct effect
of national legislation, and cares little
about it, except from partisan stand
point, but the rapid decline in the
price of silver is having direct and
disastrous effect on one of the princi pal
industries of Southern California, that
OF silver mining. For years past Calico
mining district has been the foremost
producer of the white metal in Califor-
mia, bat the great depreciation in silver
has resulted in the closing of the great.
eet silver producer in the state, the
Waterloo mine.
This bonanza was discovered
the Waterloo company to such an ex-
tent as to earn the reputation of being
the greatest silver mine in California.
one OF sixty stamps, have been continu-
Ousiy ~ Woih CiuohlHS thO oioo VI ehO
great Waterloo properties. Over two
are mined and shipped from the vast
mills at Daggett. These operations gave
employ ment to upwards OF $50 men.
The ores, though very free, were low
grade, and in the large amount of ma
terial handled laid the secret OF profit
oe ,.1xya~
however, has resulted in the closing
down Of mines and mills, and today Cal
| leo and Daggett, both of which towns were
recovering from the ravages of fire, are
stagnant and almost deserted. The
miners have left for other and more
prosperous camps, and those who re-
main are looking forward to brighter
day, or are seeking means to migrate to
other parts. 1t has been a great blow
to the silver mining industry of the
state, and every one interested in min
| ing, looks forward anxiously to a rise
in the price of silver.
Of the other mines of Calico, those of
the Silver King company are working,
and a large number of miners are
"chloriding' the richer pockets, for
which the Calico district has always
Uccu ldiuOuos tuo pTlC6 VI
silver again 60 above 80 cents. doubtless
the mines now lying idle will resume
operations.
Not only is the effect of low-priced
silver felt in Calico, but in every other
silver mining district in the state. A
great many men are leaving for South
ern Nevada, or have scattered out over
the desert on prospecting trips, and
there is little doubt that some of these
men, forced by necessity to abandon
what they considered permanent posi-
tions will find other mines, and theshnal
result may be more satisfactory than
any had hoped for. Almost every
mountain on the desert contains mineral
deposits, and many of them have proven
valuable. Several rich finds have recently
been made and are being developed.
Cottonwood Springs is attracting
considerable attention. Los Angeles
capitalists are interested in promis
ing mines near Dandy, on the Santa IL
road, and near hex station, a few miles
north of The Needles, one of the mos
promising gold mines in the state il
being developed. High grade copper
ore is being mined in the Yorba dis
trict and shipped to Swansea, Wales.
! There is very pronounced interest
being taken in mining, and should sill
yer again take an upward turn, the in
dustry is likely to assume the proper
| tiona of boom.