The San Francisco call., 1895-08-02

ton. On the surface, when the mine was
first opened, the sulphurets were decom-
posed largely and the ore was practically
free-milling.
The owners, Falkner & Bell of San
Francisco, built mill on the Merced and
hauled the ore seven miles working the
mine profitably until their mill was de-
stroyed by freshet. They sold the mine
to A. III. Brooks for $4,000 cash. Mr..
Brooks at the time was taking rich
pockets out of the Blue Lead, and the
Doss laid idle for a long time. Finally it
was examined by the expert of an English
syndicate and bonded for $780, but the
expert was drowned while crossing the
Tuolumne in freshet and the bond
lapsed, although a forfeit of $1,000 had been
put up. Then the mine was leased to
different parties on different terms, all of
whom tried to gouge out the richest ore
with the least amount of work. Finally
Mr.. Brooks died and the mine was left to
be quarreled over by eleven heirs in two
families.
All attempts to act harmoniously failed,
although several parties were anxious to
bond the mine for large amount. But to
detail all the ups and downs of this mine
would require a volume; and, as w. ID.
Stuart, representing capitalists of Plqua,
Ohio, has finally bonded the various inter-
ests and gone to work in systematic
manner on the mine, we may expect great
things from its development. The deep
est shaft is only about 10 feet and the
vein is at its best at that depth. With the
immense amount of ore in sight and the
Unlimited power in the Merced River for
electricity close at hand, it ought to be-
come one of the great producers OF the
State.
In the vicinity of Hunters Valley new
mine is being opened, and flve-stamp
mill is being erected. Then, coming to
the line of the Fremont grant, / find every
thing quiet, until within a few miles OF
the town of Mariposa, where L find the
road blocked with teams hauling mach1n-
cry to the Whitlock mines-the Spencer,
Farmers Hope and others-all located
within few miles of the town. The Whit
lock was owned in the early sixties by
Sullivan, eastman and Dimond, AMI
machinery and inexperienced men caused
a failure. On account of Mrs. Sullivan's
death the property was offered for sale. 1t
was offered to Senator Perkins, Daniel
Hays and E. Newhall for 10000. They
declined to purchase, and man
from New York took it at that price,
afterward selling at a big profit to
English mining firm known as the Sierra
Buttes and Plumas Eureka Company.
This company, with plenty of capital and
experienced men, has gone to work In
way that indicates how little doubt they
have of the outcome. Where, but short
time ago, only the melancholy evidences
of deserted mine greeted the visitor, is
now bustling little town of thirty houses,
including church and hotel A forty
stamp mill is being built, and Judging
from the ore in sight, a half million would
not tempt the present owners.
The Farmers Hope has a fve-stamp
sampling-mill in operation, and contem-
plates adding a twenty-stamp mill this fall.
The prospecting going on in this mine is
constantly developing new resources OF ore
and proving the value of the mine. AT
least half dozen other mines in the i'm
mediate vicinity are at work night and
day pushing on development work, and
most of them expect to begin on their
stampmills before the rains of winter set
in. A few miles beyond the town of Mari
posa Mr.. Snyder has abandoned his saw
mill, which has been in operation for years,
and taken hold of an old mine long lying
idle. He has been familiar with the mine
ever since its location, and is willing to
risk his all on It's being producer. He
will have ten-stamp mill III operation
next winter.
w. s. Chapman has secured control of
the Vanderbilt claims, opened and owned
by the late A. M. Starr. he is reOpenlng
the mines and putting in repair all the fine
machinery erected by the late owners, in
Guiding a ten-stamp mill, to which he will
add ten stamps more soon. There are I'M
mense reserves of ore in these mines, and
the writer knows of Mr.. Starr refusing
$50, 900 for the property.
I must not forget to say that the old
town of Mariposa is not dead. 1t was only
sleeping but has awakened, and is doing
as only old mining towns know how to do.
When a stranger arrives it doesn't require
an assayer to assure the inhabitants that he
is or is not an old miner. They soon pan
him out, and if he shows even good sui
phurets the keys are at once turned over
to him, and he owns the town.
Mariposa is fairly started on a new
career of prosperity and happiness. Many
of the old, dilapidated buildings are being
rebuilt and trimmed up as if for Mayday
festival, and you can see the bright spark
of hope kindling in old eyes that have
been blinking contentedly in the mountain
sunshine for twenty years. When mine
posts can't accommodate all the strangers
from Salt Lake, New York, Boston, San
Francisco and elsewhere they know that
the mines are not played out, but that the
money bags of the coast and elsewhere
don't find anything to invest in that will
pay such interest as gold quartz will pay.
They are beginning to enjoy the fact that
all things come to those who wait.
But | am only about half through with
my trip and experiences, and with whole
some fear of the ruthless editorial scissors
| will reserve the rest for another time.
OrD MrNrp