The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24

close study of an industry which. happily
for the coast, was in its prime before Mr..
Townsend mounted the ladder of his liter
airy success and scattered his writings into
the hands of his old acquaintance. It
may startle his numerous friends and for
mer associates to know that he is interest
ing himself in quiet way in getting a
bond on the Royal mine, located a mile
and half from Copperopolis, Calayeras
County. 1t is true that in the midst of his
book labors he found time to renew the
dormant passion for mines and mining
that sleeps in the bosom of all who have
stepped across the Sierra Nevadas and ex-
perlenced the delights of seeing and feel
ing gold. Mr.. Townsend is not alone in this
venture, as Harry Gillig belongs to the
combination. While the latter has been
sailing the high seas and skirting the
shores of France, Spain and England in
his private yacht, well populated with his
friends, he, too, has longed to hear the
pound of the stampmill, the roar of the
batteries and read the report from the as
sayer. The old fever appeared to settle
upon them simultaneously, and within a
short time will probably be able to record
III baiC I1lLluR LnaL
will line the pockets of the writer and the
traveller with something more substantial
than press notices and guidebooks. The
Royal mine IS situated in the western
division of the mother lode of California,
and will probably be disposed of for many
thousa nds of dollars. Mr.. Townsend con-
fesses that he and his associate are very
near settlement with New York syndi-
cate, after which they will turn their
attention to more stupendous deals, all of
which will be made on California proper
ties. Just how much they expect and to
whom the property will go | was unable to
| ascertain, but the merry twinkle in Mr..
Townsend's eye and his perspiring excite
ment indicate that he is nearer than he is
willing to admit.
Speaking of mines recalls q rumor that
is at present finding plenty of ears in Wall
street. Spectator said to me recentiy ::
Il regard California as the head of the
gold-mining countries of the world. 1t is
better equipped with undeveloped mines
and hmitless Lodges and gravel deposits
to keep up its remarkable average in it's
annual output than any of the other Sec
| tons classed among the leading mineral
| localities in the market to-day. Cool
gardie, South Africa, Cri pple Creek and
others, through having been recently
pushed to the front, have attracted con-
siderable capital, but California, without
booming, without capital other than that
extracted from the earth, has annually
poured into the lap of commerce its mil
lions OF gold. The output for the year
closing July last was $15, 800, 900, but the
output this year, yet unrecorded by STA
tlsticians and mining reports, will be in
the neighborhood Of $4,000. 900. There
are mines in California to-day owned by
private individuals that are paying mil
lions of dollars in dividen yet have
never been on the stock market. Take for
instance Hayward d Lanes mine. the
Utica. Its product is enormous and the
lode is still developing. Capital all over
this country is seeking good gold prop
critics. Naturally it is quick 10 observe the
promised Ell Doradoes that have sprung
| up in the different parts of the world. 1t
is true that many transactions have re-
suited ben eficially for investors, but on
the other hand there have been many fail
ures. The camps that have started and
sent Wall street bowling into the breach
have quietly dwindled away and buyers
| are still returning to the substantial deals