The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-12

recently put in extensive plants and are
now making preparations for their lmme-
date operation. 1t is not exactly boom,
as this expressive word is generally used
and understood, but rather a gradual
growth, covering period of several years
and the result OF careful investigation.
It was bound to come-so say the old
| miners in fond anticipation of living over
again the scenes and events of the dead
days of a golden past. OF course, it will
not be Just the same. They can no longer
set their sluice-boxes in the very streets of
the town and clean up at dusk 500
to a man. This sort of mining in Cali
fornia is a thing of the past, but La
Porte remembers the old days with great
deal of veneration, and will hail with de-
light anything that bids fair to open up a
half-developed section known to be rich in
free gold deposits.
Some idea of the importance of this
place as mining center may be gathered
| from the fact that the territory included
| within radius of twenty miles has pro-
| duced and shipped S155, 600 worth of
gold bullion since 1850. The greater part
of this was taken out prior to 1870 and con-
stituted the cream of one of the richest
sections of the State.
| In those days the cream of deposit was
all that men bothered their heads about,
and when many fortunes had been gath
cred here the operators folded their tents
and stole away to pastures new, where the
yellow treasure could be had in greater
quantity and with less exertion.
Then it was that La Porte went to sleep.
The town went rapidly down to almost
nothing. Only few of the old-timers re-
NAMED 10 watch the deep ravines and
shallow river beds, that they knew were
rich enough to yield hundred fortunes
more when modern methods should be
introduced. In those days the place was
known as Rabbit Creek, and for years these
sturdy men, who had seen the camp grow
from collection of cabins to fiourishing
town, and then go back to nothing,
watched under the snow-capped SUBMITS
of Pilot Peak and Bald Mountain and for
the dawn of new time. They knew it
would come as well as they knew that the
day of the old rocker had gone.
La Porte, so named for gentleman
from Indiana who came and mined and
went away, touched by the magic wand OF
capital has awakened from the lethargy OF
her long repose, stretched herself comfort
ably and is now prepared for work.
Several years ago A. w. Rugg, the we'll
known mining engineer of Oakland, who
has had extensive experience all over the
Pacific Coast, happened to drop in here to
report on piece of mining property. A
careful inspection of the surrounding
| \ Is
bilities and he set about the organization
of schemes for its development. 1t was
slow work. Capital was shy of section
whose isolation was nearly complete,
whose transportation facilities were limit.
ed and whose prospects were generally
supposed to have been pretty well ex-
hausted in the rush of the old time. Men
whose knowledge of mining property in
California is usually set down as extensive
and accurate shook their heads when the
possibilities of investment were pointed
out and answered laconically: Its of nc
use; that country has been worked out"
But Mr.. Rugg would not give up, and
about year ago he succeeded in organic
ing the Middle Feather River Gold Mining
| Company. The company is now prepar-
ing to put up an extensive plant on the
| Feather River at the base of Pilot Peak
where number of rich bars are to be
worked out. The machinery has already
been ordered. and operations will COM
mence at once with large force of men.
From the time of the organization oi
this company, dates the first of half a
dozen other projects. all OF which seem te
be in fair way for successful consum-
nation.
A short time since the Gold Bar CONSOLE
dated Mining Company was organized
with large capital for operation here.
This company has headquarters in San
Francisco, with ]. N. Patterson president
J. II. Pave, vice-president; E. C. Godfrey