Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-19
YoUNr's RANCH, MAsE p. O.,
NyE COUNTY, NEVADA,
Da.a har Ok 1901

10UNT's RANCH, MASE L. o..
NYE COUNTY, NEVADA, :
December %. 1891. |
Nature prepared and supplied the plat
with very large babbling spring OF
fine water and an extensive grass
meadow, that the weary, careworn en-
igrant from the far east might rest and !
feast his beast. But with sorrow the |
graveyard has marked this spot. The
battle OF the Mexicans, the battle of the
renowned Kit Carson and OF General
Fremont with the savage Piute Indians,
caused many to rest and sleep forever
Still later, the hardy miner discovered
gold and silver, copper, lead, iron,
borax, etc., and the mining district is
known as Resting Springs. The most
persistently energetic and unyielding
mine operator that came to the camp
was J. B. Osburn, now Of Daggett.
In Resting Springs mining district Mr..
Osburn is the owner of twenty mines, or
10000 lineal feet by 600 feet wide of
rich mineral land. 1t is magnificent
property, of great value, and from five
developed an output of 800 tons OF ore
per day is a moderate estimate. 1t
is safe to say that the property can be
made to produce $50, 900 tons annually.
Upon the premises there are a 10.stamp
mill and two furnaces, having capacity
of twenty five and thirty-fv tons per
day. In passing through the long tun-
nels and deep shafts and about the mill
and smelters, viewing the tremendous
outlay OF money, there recur to my mind
the once busy, buzzing, schreeching
kissing steam whistles, and ringing OF
hammers and steel, engines and
blowers and rattling stamps. But
today it is as quiet as the hush OF
death, and the question arises, Why is
it thus?
EXPENSIVE WAGON TRANSPORTATION.
The simple problem is the bump of
expense. 1t is a patent fact, too simple
and transparently clear to the minds of
mining men to hesitate moment in
conclusion.
1t is truthful reality not to be con-
tradicted that there are millions OF ore
and millions of dollars in it. 1t was
wagon Transportation, the enormous ex-
pense OF mining machinery, timbers,
coke, charcoal, ETC., that blocked the
wheels of successful progress and the
profitable working of these mines The
latter item, charcoal, was drawn ninety
miles, at acost OF nearly 81 bushel.
Freight to and from the property cost
from $50 to S100 per ton.
At the time Mr.. OsbuIn was operating
his mines, the transportation was made
On Immense wagons, having seven feet
Nj " hnnlo obnd NIT a;.r ,,t,
tires, and drawn by eighteen to twenty
four mules, and the last effort to over
come the expense of $50 to 500 per ton
freight was the invention and expert
ment of a steam wagon at cost of
SAC, 900. The thing was failure.
1t dug hole in the sand and stopped,
and SO did the operations upon all the
mines OF Resting Springs. If the ex-
pense OF wagon transportation could be
converted the mine owners as profit,
which many of them would bear, it
would be but short time till this
country would be heralded as Lead
vile or Butte City, and would lead TO
the developing OF hundreds of the lower
grade mines in the various districts ex-
tending over and through an extent of
ecIntry OF $50 to 400 miles
4H-a private and conservative manner,
Mr.. A. g. Campbell of Good Springs
district expressed the opinion that his
property exceeded the value OF any cor
poration or personal property of Lead
vile or the state OF California. 1t is a
lamented matter deserving most sincere
consideration, that we have country
vastly rich in its resources lying, as it
were, at the threshold of Los Angeles
and Salt Lake cities that is compara-
lively worthless from the want of a rail
way connection OF $50 miles.
BoRAx.
One OF the most important commod-
tiles of this couutry is borax. There
are thousands of acres of borax lands in
Death valley, Inyo county, CAL, and
Nye and Lincoln counties, Nevada. But
at this time it is far from railroad trans-
portation, and quite expensive to op-
crate with profit to the investor. Mr..
w. L. Coleman, for his superior
financial and general ssbusiness quail
ifcations, is familiarly known to all
business men from London to San Fran
cisco. MIR. Coleman's attention being
directed to the borax fields, and investl-
CATIONS and estimates having been made
oil the terrible obstacles to be overcome,
Notwithstanding established borax works
at Furnace creek, Death valley, and
Borax on the Armagosa river. Such
korax works as none but millionaire
was able or could bear. The works
have been in operation for many years,
and notwithstanding the enormous ex-
pense, principally transportation,
we can but conclude that
under his systematic management
that Mr.. Coleman has made large sums
OF money. His works at the two points
mentioned are situated about 100 miles
from Mojave station on the Southern
Pacific railroad, and over a hard road,
the borax and supplies must be trans
ported by means of the powerful broad
tire wagons, such az Mr. Osburn used
with sixteen TO twenty-four mules at
tarhed 10 each wagon, in all probability
costing four to five cents per pound or
$50 to 800 per ton. The annual ship
ment from this only borax operation in
the county is approximated to be 3,50O
tons. And from the wide expanse OF
borax land we can only surmise the
immense shipments when the county
has been ventilated with railroads.
THE MONTGOMERY MINES.
The noted Montgomery mine of which
scribblers have had much to cay in times
mast. is situated in the western end OF