Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-07

The town derived it's name from White
Oaks springs, about three miles from its
location and so-called because of numer.
ons springs of clear water surrounded by
clumps of white oak trees.
| GEOGRAPHICALLY CONSIDERED.
The White Oaks region is on the great
F., divide between the Rio Grande and the
Rio Pecos, in round numbers 500 miles
south of Denver; 157 miles so1th of Las
| Vegas; 14S miles north of Ell Paso, and
eighty to 100 miles east of the Rio Grande
! valley.
In September, 1879, the famous Home
stake mine was discovered by miner
| named Wilson, and who was grubstaked
by the late John E. Wilson. Soon after
the discovery he sold out his interest to
Jack Winters and disappeared. The ore
in the Homestake proved to be very rich,
some specimens assaying as high as
$350,O00 to the ton.
In the early spring of 1880 the st.
Louis Globe Democrat published an arti-
ole concerning White Oaks that attracted
considerable attention, and by April of
that year there was big boom, in conse-
quence of which, Baxter mountain on
which was located the Homestake was
soon covered with claims.
THE PRINCIPAL MINES.
The producing mines of the White Oaks
region are now gold entirely. The Old
Abe mine is probably the best paying
property. The ore is all low grade and
is strictly free milling. There is not a
true fissure vein in the country. This is
due to severe volcanic eruption which
occurred in ages past. The country is
much broken and consequently the min
eral is pockety, but of sufficient richness
to keep men constantly at work. The
Little Mack is the second discovery made
in the camp. A man named Allen was
the discoverer. This mine has produced
some of the finest wire gold specimens in
existence. The property has been tied
for this fact 1T would to-day be one of the
richest producers in White Oaks.
The Old Abe was first opened in Decem-
Der, 1890. The company which owns the
Old Abe consists of several we'll known
men. Hon. j. Y. Hewitt is president, Mr..
VIM. Watson, vice president, and Mr.. M.
W. Hoyle, manager. The company also
owns portion of the White Oaks and R.
E.. Lee lodes. The mine is good paying
property. During ten months of the year
'92 it produced $296,S1771, which amount
was from 11,064 tons of ore. A twenty
stamp mill is kept pounding away night
and day, sufficient water being obtained
from the mine to run it. The shaft is
down about 600 feet and there are over
1000 feet of levels in the mine. The
property has been opened up in very
workman-like manner, the hoisting ma
chinery being operated by a sixty horse
power engine. The vein has been lost
several times, owing to its broken con-
dition, but the ore is of sufficient richness
to justify working until it is again found.
THE HoMEsTAKE.
The Honlestake, or better known n
the South Homestake, is one of the
pioneer discoveries of the camp. It is
owned by the White Oaks Mining COM
pany and is under the management of
Mr.. e. w. Parker, to whom the writer il
under obligations for courtesies shown.
For long while it was the only pro-
ducing mine in the camp. Like the rest
of the mines the ore is free milling and
is reduced by 2Ostamp mill. The water
for working the mill is piped from the
White Oaks springs distance of three
miles. The company also owns coal
mine which furnishes all the fuel required
for the mill as we'll as that used by the
town. glimpse into the assaying de-
department of the mill may we'll be re-
garded treat. Stored away in cases are
specimens of wire gold which in them
selves are worth a small fortune.
THE LADY aoD1vA.
On Baxter mountain just above the
Old Abe stands the shaft house of the
Lady Godiva. The vein of this property
is about the best defined of any in the
camp. 1t is exceedingly rich gold quartz.
The average value of the ore is $26 per
ton and the cost of working about $s
per ton, including all expenses. The
lowest ore ever worked was $13 per ton
and the highest $50 per ton. Large
DOulos vi OEo nave Ucou OlOCAeu Oub, tHt
pay streak being from one to four feet
wide. The mine is In admirable condi-
tion and is destined to add hundreds of
thousands of dollars to the output of the
camp. The shaft is down about 600 feet
THE NORTH HoMEsrAKE.
The North Homestake is the won der of
the camp. Water may be struck at low
depth in almost any portion of the camp,
yet this mine is down LOGO feet and not
drop Of water has as yet besn struck
It has been worked since 1880; is one of
the richest properties in the region and
was up to short time ago owned by
James NJ. Sigafus, a New York million
aire. The mine was allowed to remain
idle for some time by Mr.. Sgafus on ac-
count of litigation. Mr.. Sigafus is rich
enough to stand the loss cons equent up
on shutting 1t down and therefore closed
it to keep out of litigation. Its princi-
| pal present owner, Col. J. W. Yankee, was
attracted to the property through curl
osity. He was told of the great depth OF