The herald., 1894-01-01

eOutn OF G0ler canon, anu are tne laSt
places on earth where an experienced
prospector would have hunted for gold.
There ia nothing on the surface to indi-
cate the existence of the precious metal.
The low, smooth hills are all covered
with debris OF recent formation, the
earth is reddish, there lie not a sign OF
gravel. and, besides an occasional water
worn howder, the rocks are small and
angular, of a porphyritic, slaty or lime
stone nature.
Yet by conservative estimates, $780, 900
in gold has been taken out of the Ben
son and Read gulches during the past
year. The Benson gulch comes first, as
nearest to Mojave. Near its mouth
Campbell and Kennedy, two experienced
miners, have sunk a shaft l07 feet deep,
reaching bedrock at that point. The
wash matter, which shall here be called
gravel. since every one in the camp 80
terms it, prospects, in gold from the sur-
face to the bottom-not enough to pay
by dry washing, but If water could be
had handsome returns would be real
lied. They are now drifting across the
gulch in order to strike the pay channel,
thing which seems fairly within reach,
for this channel, wherever found further
up the gulch, has paid Handsomely.
They are miners and understand their
business. Consequently, the work is
done in good shape. The gravel"
stands in place well without timbering,
and but one set of timbers has thus far
been put in the shaft, which has cost
about So foot to sink it to its present
depth. The bedrock they have found
looks like serpentine, and yet appears to
be Of lime nature.
Next comes the claim of Meachsm &
Yager, which is worked by an open cut
IL to 16 feet wide and nowhere deeper
than 10 feet to bedrock. This claim is
paying well. Willard's claim follows.
Here two dry washers are used, and the
open cuts are about the same width and
equally good results being obtained.
Benson Brothers workings are next
in order, and like condition of affairs
claim has already yielded $4,000.
ously and carefully worked. Reeds
gulch is the next north. Nearest it's
mouth is the claim OF johnson & Hagge,
where a SO-foot shaft has been sunk and
the channel found. Six men are en-
ployed, and 1t is stated that the yield
by drifting is about half an ounce Of gold
to the man per day.
The Groves & Reed claim is next.
Here the ground is worked by an open
cut, 16 feet to bedrock at the lowest
point to the gulch and about IL feet in
width. In going up the gulch the wash
gradually becomes shallower. The
owners are convinced that not enough
~ haa 70 "a ho
diggings here as elswhere, the only
effort having been to find the lowest
point in the bedrock and then work a
few feet on each side. These diggings
are yielding about half an ounce Of gold
per day to the man.
Near the head OF this claim the 5619
ounce gold nugget was found which
will be exhibited at the midwinter
feet deep and the nugget lay about
four inches above bedrock, in sort
OF bowl-shaped nest. w. @. N.
Miller, who was working In the open
cut, struck the nugget with his pick. 1t
was go large that he could not be con-
vinced that it was gold until he lifted
it. When he turned it over to the own
ers, lone of them," as Miller said,
But Mr.. Miller is not q very tall man.
Right beside where this nugget lay 121a
ounces more of gold were taken out.
Benson brothers own a claim a little
higher up, on the right fork from this
gulch, which is said to be the richest
one in the camp.
Above Goler, high Up in the mount
aims, is a very steep gulch, 1850 feet
long, owned by McAfee, Moore, Shrop-
shire and Groves. 1t is not worked over
feet in width, and the bedrock is from
l to feet below the surface. Here
were recently found two nuggets, one
weighing about three and half ounces,
and the other eight and half ounces.
There was not over foot Of wash cover
ing them.
The Red Rock claims are upon the
western and the Goler upon the eastern
slope of the same mountain chain, and
have little resemblance to each other
The foothills in the Goler district are
covered with wash, and it is stated that
all OF it prospects little in gold
enough, If water could be obtained, tc
make a magnificent hydraulic gold field
The gulches, 80 far as prospected, have
channels that pay handsomely. But
there is no room now here for pros
pectors.
The whole country for miles around
is covered with location notices. Corner
and center monuments and the like are
as plenty as greasewood bushes, o,
almost 80. Every one who has beer
upon the ground, after recording fol
himself, seems to have built lot o.
monuments in memory OF his wife't
relations, and in this wise the whole
country has been ''gobbled up" Most
OF the locations from local standpoint
are valueess, but prospector who
comes along willing to pu. hard, honest
work upon claim Is not going to pros
pect where some one else has posted 9
location notice. Why should he7 L
he strike it rich some one will chow ur
and try to claim it or seek TO be bought
off, and If he finds that the claim il
worthless he has proved that fact at hit
expense for the benefit of another man
There would be splendid show fol
many an idle miner to make 81 day
and upward, with the chance ever before
him OF striking it rich. If this whole
sale location in Job lots had not beer
practiced. But these districts can nevel
have much popularity, for the reason
that the entire supply OF water in thu
country, good, brackieh and bad, is euf
ficlent for only comparatively few.
Eighteen miles beyond Goler, in the
same northeasterly course. new dis
covery has been made by the Var
Slsicks. A rush has been made to it
and numeroue eouare miles of dasart q r,