The herald., 1894-02-11
ABOUT CALICO AND VICINAGE,
Prospects of Mining Interests
Rapidly Improving.
New Mills in That NeighbOrhOod
About to Be Started Up.
Enormous Deposits OF Borax and Boz
racic Acid-Mountains of Magnetic
Iron Ors--A Canal That win
Irrigate n Large Tract.
Special correspondencs to the HrRALo.

Oi the Atlantic ana racine RAILROAD, IN
the near future will prove not only to be
one of the most valuable portions of
San Bernardino county. but OF the
whole state OF California. Within a
radius OF rs miles from Daggett as a
center, lie some OF the richest mining
properties in the world, together with
land whose productivenesa will equal, if
not surpass the best in the San Gabriel
valley.
Across the plain from Dsggett, some
seven miles to the north, rise the Calico
mountains, 30 named from the varied
colors which their slopes present. Beau
tful as their shades are to the vision of
the passing traveller, to the eye OF the
prospector they present an area of un-
told wealth. They are in reality masses
OF silver ore, interpreted with borax
groupings which have helped to fill
many an empty pocket.
The little town of Calico, mum bering
some 300 souls, nestles in can IN de-
scsnding through their slopes directly
north from Daggett. 1t is the center of
the mining interest and is
typical mining town. The mouths
OF the Silver King, Oriental, Odessa and
many other mines open near its loca-
ton, and rs they send their output
down the narrow thoroughtare called
Wall street they prove beyond doubt
their right to be designated as belong
ing TO one OF the largest silver produc-
ing localities in the state. The present
low price of silver has, however,
wrought havoc in this locality. The
King stamp MILL up to the first of the
year, WAS the only one in operation.
Since then, however, the Waterloo
stamp mill has started its 10 stamp
plant, with the result that silver
brick is shipped every three or four
days. Arrangements are being made to
put others in operation, and, taking all
things into confederation, the oatlook is
most favorable all along the line.
Away to the south of DagGett, in the
foothills of the San Bernardino noun
tains, lie the famous Ord properties, rich
in silver, copper and gold. D. NJ.
Osborn. the owner OF the claims, is now
in Dsggett, and lie making arrange
ments for the opening OF the mines.
The Pacific Coast Borax company's
mine, which lies about IL miles north
east OF Daggett, in the Calico range lis at
present the only one in the world pro-
ducing mineral from which boracic acid
ia derived in large quantities. The sup
ply of the mineral, which is taken out
in crystallized state, is apparently in
exhaustible, and the company is enabled
by judicious management to contsOl the
market price OF this commodity over the
entire globe.
Mr.. Stevens OF Calico is the owner of
another borax mine, and has recently
bonded 1t to Los Angeles drug firm for
The most wonderful find, however, OF
all these deposits OF borax was that
made by Judge James A. Owens OF Dag
gett about year ago. He was prospect
ing for silver and ran across a large de-
pcsit of mineral which was unknown to
him. Samples of it were asssyed. and
instead OF silver it proved to be borax.
The deposit is nearly two miles in length
and over 800 feeti in breadth. The min
eral is of dark brown and gray color,
smooth and soapy to the touch, and
when crumbled is finer than flour. tits
exceedingly rich in borax, so rich, in
fact, that when placed upon the market
it will make tbs Pacific Borax company
exert itself as it never has before to keep
control OF the market. The deposit is
apparently of unknown depth. A shalt
has been sunk to distance of nearly 200
feet, and it has gone down through walls
of solid borax. Judge Owens is at pres
ent merely developing the mine and is
not shipping any OF the product al
though he has had several good odfers to
do so. His intentions are TO DRIFT and
crosscut, in order, If possible, Co deter
ha w. of
placing any OF it on the market.
Twenty-Five miles southeast OF Dag
gett lies an iron deposit the like Of
which exists nowhere else in the world.
1t extends some six miles in length and
averages from two to three hundred
feet in height. 1t is, in truth, an iron
range. The ore is magnetic, and runs
from so to 70 per cent pure iron. From
it the finest Bessemer steel can be
made. This mine was discovered by
| Henry Lake, an experienced miner OF
Daggett, and is at present owned by
| himself, Judge Jas. A. Ovens and two
others. The shalt OF the Monterey
at present contains Is tons of this iron,
and the Union Iron Works at San Fran
aieco have signitied their Willingness TO
take all the ore which can be shipped
them. The great drawback is the ex-
penae OF hauling the iron from the
mines to the railroad.
Travellers who have been whirled to
the east over the Atlantic and Pasiht
tracks have recently noticed large
canal in process OF construction, which
comes into view some five miles before
Daggett is reached.
This is an irrigation enterprise started
by the Southern California Improve
ment company. The water with which
the canal will be filed ia taken from th'
MojaVe river by means Of submerged
fume 1t will be conducted elk mile
east of Daggett to spot which has beer
selected as townsite and named Min
nicola, meaning water power
The water from this canal, in addition
to being ussd for irrigation purpose
and bringing under cultivation the ricl
land at present lying desert and waste
will, when it reaches the site OF the pro
posed town. be turned into vast sni
and useful water power.
The canal ends on an eminence 10
feet high. At this spot, by the erection
Of turbine wheels, an immense waite
power 10 obtained
1t is the intention OF tine company t
produce from this water power sutfi
cient electricity to not only sL1et III
ore from this iron mine, but also t
transmit electrical power to Calico, an
there by its cheapness in comparso
with coal soon set all the idle STAN