The herald., 1895-09-24

the mining world TO thu desert region OF
Southern California. as our hotels and
transportation companies can attest. AS
my friend, a would-be classic scholar and
philosopher. would say, this would be
desired desideratum," did not the aw-
full awakening to the i'm position on their
credulity, which the capitalist and the
prospector experience, at the end OF their
tiresome and expensive Journey, cause
them, naturally enough, to resort to eX-
aegeration in the other direction to get
even with those who were responsible for
the humpug pcrpetrsted on them.
For every capitalist or prospector who
has been led by such glowing misrepre-
sensations to make the tiresome and ex-
pensive trip to the desert only to make
the humilisting discovery that he was to
be WORKED for sucker" a thousand
are going to be warned to stay away from
region that will be sincerely represent
ed as producti of nothing but cactus,
horned toads and healthy prevaricatIon.
And so a region. vast in extent and of
great resources, not the least OF which are
the precious metals. remains dry scab
on the fair bosom Of Mother Nature, for
there is rich land there, irrigable by
pumping plants that would soon be Gull
tivated by tens OF thousands of prosper
Gus farmers and fruit growers, were the
inducement held out to them OF profit
able home market, which would result
dustry. For this wrong to an interesting
region, destined to play an important
part in the building Of the metropolis of
the great southwest, the hum BILE prospec-
tor, who. though he may be over-san-
guine,is usually honest, Is not responsible.
The guilt lies at the mouth Of the min
ing promoter" whose real knowledge of
mining is confined to technical terms
and phrases, and whose prospectus
glitters with veins and cross-veIns of ore
assaying from the hundreds into the tens
OF thousands.
From extensive explorations into that
fascinating region, from the Mexican line
affirm that there is great mineral wealth
there ana that there are thousands of
prospects there, that, under judIcious
management, would become paying
mines; but he who visits the mining
districts of the desert basIng his expec-
tations OF success on the gross exaggera-
tions frequently flashed over the country
tation OF 'syndicates, whose paid up
capital is conceit, that, under their elo-
quence the shrewdest capitalist becomes
a sucker" is doomed to disappont-
ment. There is q great deal OF $40 ore
there; there is less Of ore that assays $50,
and still less that reaches $50 and $40,
but the vein that outside of pocket
assays into the hundreds and tens OF
thousands, is almost as great variety
as the mining syndicate representative
who will tell the truth. The desert pre-
varicator has evoluted from the boomer
who pictured safely mooring at the foot
of First street in the placid (subterrane-
an) stream of the Los Angeles river.
No one doubts the sincerity of the press
of Los Angeles end Southern California
in their efforts at attracting attention of
capital to the fact of the great rssuorces
of the desert, but instead of giving circu-
lation to sIch unreasonable exaggeration
at the instigation of unconscionable
schemers, which are bound to react
against the development of that region,
the better way would be to interest the
chant ers of commerce OF the different
cities directly interested in the publish
ing of facts regarding Its resources, which
could be done without great expense, by
sending q practical miner and capable
assayer with bright journalist to exam
inc and report on the prospects and
mines in the various districts, which re-
port would be published as fast as made
in the mining journals of this country
and Europe and compiled into pamphlet
form for free distribution bv the differ
ent cham bers interested, whose stamp of
approval would be guaranty Of truth
full representation. Very respectfully,
MALCOLM MATHESON.
Analysis by government authorities