The herald., 1893-01-23
The Riches Contained in the
Funeral Mountains.
A Region Full Of Precious Metals,
but Guarded by the Desert.
Some OF the Wonderful Mineral and
Other Resources of the Mys-
terfous Region Known
as Death Valley.
special correspondence of The nnnA1D.

New, the southeastern Inyo, and the
northern portion of San Bernardino
county, CAL, embracing large terri
tory lying between longitude 1l6 and
III deg. west and latitude So deg, 40
min., and 36 deg, 45 min. north is a
unknown country. Very
few men have had the courage to brave
the dangers, endurn the trials and priva-
tions necessary to go through in order
to prospect that section-many being
contented when about entering Death
valley to look across and then return,
while others attempting to cross its hot,
sandy and slkali trackess wastes have
laid down and died, overcome with heat
and thirst, whose white, glistenipg
bones lie unburied and unknown, at.
testing the perseverance and pluck OF
the pioneers, who were the advance
guard that would open up new fields for
both labor and capital.
THE FUNERAL RANGE.
Amagorsa and Black mountains, form
ing the eastern boundary of Death val
ley, have in many places never been
visited by white men and probably not
by the Indians living in the vicinity, as
they have a limited knowledge OF the
water and topography of the country,
seeming to avoid it for s me reason.
What little has been found out by the
whites in regard to the mineral wealth
is OF very fattering character. Those
who have succeeded in penetrating its
Businesses have brought out rich speci-
mems OF gold, silver, copper and lead
bearing ores and samples of borax,
soda, photographic stone and other val
liable minerals.
The great distance from which sup
plies could be obtained, the cost and
difficulty of transportation deferred
many and prevented others who were
willing to prospect the country at any
cost. Those having the means to pros
pect and equip Themselves drew back
when they found out the dangers and
risks, while those who we're willing TO
20 ahead and open ap the country could
only gaze at distance at the "eldo-
rado" which, if they could prospect,
perhaps would give them untold
wealth.
| VERY RICH GOLD ORE.
In one OF the caf1 ,us leading down
from the Funeral range to Dsath valley,
on the north eide OF the caficn, an iron
stained quartz ledge crops out for quite
| distance. Some of the groupings
show gold freely and are very rich
Never has there been any work per-
formed upon. the ledge. ,spdi. dopRtlelas
mountains some years ago in going to
Pauamint
Stopping to investigate the extent o.
the discovery WAS out OF the question,
as they had no knowledge of the coun-
trrr nx,I <L.s,
tented themselves with bringing few
samples The pieces brought in were
very rich. Before reaching water they
nearly perished from thirst and no in.
ducements could be held out after their
recovery to tempt them to recross the
valley and locate the ledge.
SILVER LEDeEs.
Many silver bearing quartz ledges
have been found by the f,at rock
wash ID down the mountain sides which
on being traced up led to veins contain
ing rich ores OF horn silver and Others
of copper-silver glance and base metal
combined with silver.
GREAT LEAD DEPOSITS.
Huge bouldera of galena aud carbon.
ate lead ores lie exposed upon the sur
face in places which upon being traced
up, lead to immense deposits OF lead
ores one in particular looks like reel
OF basaltic rock, a short distance off, on
close inspection, on account of the die
coloration by the elements bearing no
resem olauce to lead ore but upon being
broken giistens and sparkles in the sun 's
rays like huge diamonds, In the pas
the prospector has not been benefited
by his discoveries, as the lack of trans
portation and capital has prevented
working and development. From assays
some were found to go from few
ounces to nearly one hundred ounces in
silver, from trace to over $50
in gold and carrying high per centage OF
lead-thus galena giving as high as 50
per cent of lead, showing them to be
purely lead ores free from zinc and
autimonv. What great source of sup
ply would this section be for the L 8
Angeles smelter when the Salt Lake
railroad is built. Not only this but the
adjacent country to the west and east
would send their ores there for raduc-
tion, mines now idle would resume
work, many deserted mining camps
be given new life. Several mining
camps south and west OF this section
| WulCi WCIc QiSCOFCicQ ycdTb hRO uOW
have large quantities of lead ores on
their dumps that cannot be profitsbly
reduced under present circumstances, as
the scarcity of fuel prevents working
here and the transportation to railroad
being too costly to admit of shipping
with any certainty OF leaving margin
for handling. At Resting Springs mill
ing was attempted but soon abandoned.
the ore carrying too high percentage of
lead to work successfully.
BoRAx LEDGEs.
| In the foothills large veins resembling
quartz crop out boldly. To any one not
acquainted with their composition they
would be taken for barren quartz lodges,
! but are very rich in boracic acid In
the near future they will become the
source Of most of the supply OF our
commercial borax.
BUILDING STONE.
Many varieties of fine building stone
are found here, white and colored mar
bles, red and brown free stone, slate and
other stone suitable for architectural
and artistic purposes.
MINERAL PAINT.
In places where volcanic agency is
plainly discernable red and brown col
ored earthly matter has been formed,
which upon investigation might produce
an excellent article Of mineral paint.
CLAYS
a. vvh;to q tho drivan anow skou;po a