The herald., 1896-11-22

NOTWITHSTANDING the heavy decline in
gold mining in California since "the
days of 49," and the great increase in
other states the Golden State has held
its own thus far as the principal gold
producing state of the union, and from
present indications will easily outstrip
all competitors for many years to come.
Although the output of early days may
never be reached again, the Importance
Of recently discovered fields in Califor-
nit warrants the assertion that boom"
in gold mining is at hand
Randsburg gold mining district is "the
infant" that bids fair to revive the old
time interest in gold mining, and unless
all signs fail "the infant" will, ere long,
become, metaphorically speaking, a
stalwart, healthy adult.
"Ho! for Randsburg," seems to be the
cry and has been for some time past,
hence The Herald with characteristic
enterprise was the first newspaper to
send special correspondent to the new
gold mining field, with instructions to
report the actual conditions and pros
pects After a weeks thorough investi-
cation of the dAtrict and interviews
with people Of every shade of opinion,
readers of The Herald are herewith fur
nishad with an accurate presentation of
facts and figures" and general nfor-
nation that may be implicitly relied
upon.
The accompanying map gives fair
idea of the location of the town of
Randsburg, its approaches via Mojave
and Kramer, and the location of the prin-
cipal mines. Randsburg is situated fifty
two miles northeast of Mojave, by pres
ent road via Garlock formerly Cow
Wells). but a shorter road is now being
constructed, which will cut off fifteen
miles, thus making the distance fcom
Mojave thirty-seven miles. -Four or five
stages run from Mojave to Randsburg
via Garlock daily, IN about eight hours.
If the Kramer route is preferred, passen-
gers can leave Mojave at 3 o'clock in the
morning via Atlantic and Pacific rail-
road, arriving at Kramer, thirty-eight
miles distant, at o'clock, where a stage
meets the train and conveys passengers
to Randsburg. arriving there at 1890
a. M The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
company contemplate making quicker
connections via Barstow whereby pas
sengers can leave Los Angeles on the
Santa Fe railroad at 1915 "a. M, arriv-
ing at BarstoW at p. M, kramer at B,
thirty three miles from Barstow, where
half an hours stop will be made for sup
per, and stages will connect with that
train. reaching Randsburg at $3.50 p. m.
Randsburg is situated in section 35,
township 20 south, range 40 east, Mount
Diablo meridian, at an elevation of $500
feet above sea level. The townste is
situated in several gulches. principally
the Rand and Fiddlers gulches, and
in its general appearance forcibly re-
minded the writer of Calico townslte
during the first year after that mining
camp was started. The main part of the
town is situated about half way up
Rand gulch and an interSecting street
(much wider) that runs from Rand
gulch to Fiddler's gulch. Three quarters
of a mile south of the business part of
the town is Rand mountain, the high
est elevation in the vicinity, and in
which range are situated the important
Rand group of mines, and where gold
was first discovered in the district. From
the Rand mountain number of spurs
extend in different directions, COM
pletely surrounding the town except on
the north side, where low range Of
hills intersect the mountain ranges.
STAGE RIDE FROM MOJAVE.
The writer left Mojave about a.
m. in one of Guerin & Taylor's concord
stages, which have four horses the first
half of the trip and six the latter part.
as the roads are more sandy. Having
secured seau with Dave Wooley, the
driver, the writer was prepared for OBJ
servations and piled the genial Knight
of the reins" with innumerable ques-
tions, all of which elected such hearty
and intelligent response as to prove
Dave" to be a perfect encyclopedia,
on Mojave and Randsburg route at least.
The day was an ideal one for a fifty-mile
stage ride, bracing air and clear sky, q
good breeze and pleasant companions.
One of the three occupying the drivers
seat was G. T. Bosworth, an old miner
in his 18th year, who has mined in Cali
fornia, Idaho, Montana and the Black
Hills. He will be referred to under the
Randsburg mines observations, where
he rendered the writer valuable assist
ance.
The present route to Randsburg, via
Garlock, Is northeast, and the trip is one
devoid of interest except where occa-
sional landmarks are seen. Sagebrush,
cacti, yucca palms, greasewood and
chipmunks are the principal productions
on the surface of Mother Earth, but
Dame Nature unquestionably has i'm
mense stores of mineral treasure hid
beneath the surface and in many places
rot many feet below the top. We reach
ed the 16-mile eating house at 11:15 a.
M, where relays of horses are made by
several other stage lines, but we pushed
on to the 1S-mile eating house, reach
ing there at 11:45, where fresh horses
were taken and the number increased to
six. After a substantial dinner at
Jones & Cuddeback's eating house we
resumed our journey, soon reaching the
22-mile house, another eating station.
Twenty-four miles from Mojave we pass
Red Rock canyon, where the Mojave
and Keeler stage, which runs twice
week, diverges from this road oa it's
way to Keeler, 120 miles from Mojave.
KANE SPRINGS
Twenty-six miles from Mojave and