The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-16
HEAVIER GOLD OUTPUT.
1t Has Increased Over Fifty
Per Cent in the Past Two
Months.
MANY RICH STRIKES MADE.
Prospecting Parties Are Busy
Throughout the Surrounding
Territory.

SACRAMENIO,C GAL, June 15.-Ihe old
historic mining town of Folsom, situated
on the American River, twenty-five miles
east of this city, is experiencing genuine
mining boom, and the gold output has in
creased over so per cent during the past
two months, as compared with the produc-
ton of the past few years. Prospecting
parties are busily engaged searching
throughout tbs surrounding country for
auriferous gravel deposits, and many rich
strikes have been made during the past
few weeks.
NJ. H. Burke, it is stated, is the fortunate
possessor of three of the richest claims
that have ever been worked on Rebel Hill,
within two miles of the town of Folsom.
For several years this locality was one
OF the richest old-producing regions of
the State, but of late years it has been
abandoned. Burke's find has encouraged
others to begin Investigations in the same
locality, and it is stated that numerous
shafts are being sunk throughout the dis
trict.
At Humbug Ravine, situated east of
Rebel Hill and south of Folsom, there is a
regular old-fashioned mining camp, and
men are burrowing into the earth in all
directions. This locality has always been
known to be gold producing, and in early
days small fortunes were delved
from the side ravines and hillsides,
but the miners were always COM
PEELED to battle with large quantities
of seepage wafer, which, with the primi-
tive pumping machinery at hand in those
days, made it almost an impossibility to
reach the bedrock where the maj ority
of the precious metal is found. Later in
ventions in pumping plants now make it
possible to work these diggings protitably.
At the White & Donnelly mine, situated
in the town proper, the output of gold still
continues to be on par with the amount
turned out per month since the opening of
the mine, something over a year ago,
namely, $4,000. This mine employs about
twenty men and it is the intention of the
proprietors to largely extend their opera
tons during July.
At the McCue mine prospecting has
been temporarily suspended, awaiting the
arrival of new machinery en- route from
Eastern points. Several years ago this
locality was pros pected with the aid of
crude boring plant. After drilling through
deep formation of lava deposit during
the volcanic period the debris of the
glacial period was reached, and, it is
claimed, proved marvelously rich, in places
yielding IS to the pan, but such an enor-
nous body Of water was encountered
that no attempt was made to work the
auriferous deposit.
Mr.. McCue, becoming conversant with
these facts, organized a company, procured
powerful pumping machinery and sank a
shaft to the depth of over 100 feet, but the
inflow of water becoming too great it was
found necessary to increase the pumping
plant.
Pending the arrival of the necessary
machinery, it is the intention of the COM
pany to continue prospecting with the
Beale core drill, an invention now being
introduced on the coast by Colonel Cum
mings.
1t will bore either perpendicular
hole or on the incline to fol-
low the pitch of the ledge, and its
owners guarantee to sink to the depth
of 1000 feet. When it is added that the
cost is not one-tenth that of sinking
shaft, its Importance as factor in the
mining of the future will readily be ap-
preciated. The invention was patented in
won its way in the Eastern and Southern
States to the front rank in the mining world.
1t is the simplest as we'll as the most eff
fective continuance of the kind ever de-
vised. The inventor conceived the idea
from the cutting of marble by toothless
saw with the aid of sand and water. Small
chilled steel shot of the hardest descrip-
ton is used in place of sand. These are
fed into the holes from the top. The drill
consists of different lengths of pipe, like
gas pipe, screwed together, and is kept
revolving at great speed, under pressure,
the shot becoming Embedded in the soft
iron of the pipe, and in that manner
forming a rough, rasping surface, which
wears away the hardest kind of rock.
James H. Burnham, who conducts
banking business at Folsom, states that
during the past week he purchased gold
dust, produced in the immediate vicinity.
amounting to $4S77 66, and that during
the past month over $2O, 900 in dust passed
through his hands. Jacob LYMAN, a mer-
chant, has purchased several thousand
dollars worth of dust, and other BUYERS
have handled large amounts.
Judging by all accounts, the mines of
Folsom bid fair to bring return of the
prosperous days of old, when money
flowed like water in the little community.
The miners are extremely jubilant over
their prospects. They have raised large
sum, and intend to hold general celebra.
ton on the Fourth of July in the style of
the early argonauts.