The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-26

moving the red ocher. General Reuger,
commanding the Division of the Pacific.
has been informed of the depreciation
going on and has taken steps to prevent a
further continuance of it.
The rock rises abruptly out of the water
TO height of about 200 feet, and con aims
an area OF a trifle over seven acres. 1t Is
only necessary to run a scow schooner up
10 the rock bow on, make fast throw out
plank and load on the rock. The rock is
easily mined and is taken Immediately
abOad the vessel in wheelbarrows.
This is not The first time that mining op-
eratlOnS have been stopped by the author
tiles, and, in fact, there has been a large
amount of material removed at intervals
during the las. thirty years.
Moiate Island was Withdrawn from en-
try by the Land DEPARTMENT in 1853 but
Notwithstanding this Captain Selm Wood
worth, at that time naval officer, aid
claim to It, and in 1865 contract was en-
Tered into with Eastern parties to get out
manganese. also p esent in large quantities
on this rock. for shipment TO England.
Manganesels there used In the manufa cture
OF chlorine gas, used for bleaching pur-
poses; and about this time there was a
corner in the SIMPLY and the shipment
made from Red Rock was for the purpose
of breaking the corner.
y tunnel 200 feet in length was run into
lI6 toCh anu dUOut 1OUU tOuS dltOgeIUer re-
moved. Later OH 1t was found that the
RED earth was more valuable material
than the manganese, and considerable mas
been mined from time to tin and used in
the manufacture OF mineral paint Yellow
ocher ana other 0chers also exist there, as
well as large quantities of jasper, which Is
most valuable in making superior quail
ity OF concrete, there being no rock that
can excel II for the best class of work.
The easy access to and valuable charac-
ter of the material has naturally lead
various parties 10 nine the quarry, and as
1t generally takes the Government mon b
or more to get through the necessary red
tape SO that any action can be taken, they
nave always been enabled to get all the
material they needed before being stopped.
Up to 1883 The island was simply like any
ordinary Government land, but on Octo-
Der q, 1855, 1t was made a military reser-
walton, subject to the same control as the
Preside, Alcatraz Island, etc.
But as the Government had no partiru-
lar use for the island, very little attention
has been paid TO it by the military, and no
actual possession of it has been effected
Except AT the time of the manganese min
Ing in 1865 aud 1866. when the miners lived
on it in cabins, the island bas had no in
habitants. In fact. there is very little
chance for habltation. There are only
steep bluffs on all sides, with a narrow
strip OF beach and small grassy patch at
the top, on which are some struggling
bushes.
A few fishermen, who come out from
Sheep Island and cast their nets in the in
tervening water and Occa sionally land at
Red Rock, or lie under its protecting
bluffs. are about the only visitors, though
thousands pass within haiiing distance
every day. Near it rise the peculiar rock S
called The Chickens" and a little further
on is the Brothers. on one of which is
located lighthouse.
Among the many stories that are told
| concerning Red Rock, is one To the effect
that certain contractor obtained reQul-
sition Tor fifty pounds Of ground red ocher
for use at the navy-yard. By manipulation
he interpreted the order as fifty tons, and
straghtWay mined am ground up that
amount. Tic loaded II on schooner and
took 1t up To the nnvy-yard, where the
Government official refused to accept it.
This did not deter him from dumping it
on the wharf. however. and he finally got
paid for the entire lot at $40 per ton
From the accessibility of The mine and
the small percentage Of waste material,
the rock Is a valuable piece of property,
and in private hands would be n verita BILE
bonanza. The Government makes no use
of the property, in fact has no use for it,
other than to retain 1t as q part of the de-
Tense of the harbor. Under the present
methods the rock is being gradually cut
away, the Government Is receiving no
benefit and is frequently put to trouble
and expense to stop the operations of the
miners. The present mining has been
going on some time. schooner load being
removed about every other day.