The San Francisco call., 1896-10-02
Editor EdeIsten of Los Angeles
Tells of Untold Wealth in
the Hills.
AHEAD OF AFRICA AND ALASKA
Interesting Report of an Expert Metal
1urgist, Who Has Just Ira.
versed the Field.

of the best-informed men in the State on
the condition of mining throughout South
ern California. The following description
of the condition of mining enterprises
was prepared by Mr.. Edelsten expressly
for THE CALL:
Mining in Southern California, South
ern Nevada and, in fact, through the
Southwest is going through the same pro-
cess of progress as has been the case with
other mining sections, possibly less fa-
vored in mineral resources. but more ac-
cessible. All the desert region, compris-
ing portion OF the seven southern coun-
ties of California and Nevada, together
with Western Arizona and Lower Califor-
mia, was looked over in way fifteen years
ago, but at that time silver and lead min
ing were more attractive TO both the capi-
talist and the prospector than low-grade
gold mines, and in the early eighties it
was not safe to go too far away from a
settlement on account of the Apaches,
who resented any intrusion within hun
dreds of miles of their reservations. They
had way OF disposing of the hardy pros
pector which did not make farther inves-
tigation In that particular locality very
attractive to others.
There were mahy other disadvantages
in the early days such as high transporta-
tion by wagon, scarcity OF fuel and water,
high price of LABOR and living and igno-
rance of processes to work the rebellious
ores. All these difficulties have disap-
peared now, the mining districts are con-
nected with the outside world by rail
roads, the discovery of oil i'll large quan-
titles in Southern California has solved
the fuel question, and water has been dis
covered in nearly all localities where in
telligent search has been made for it.
either by piping from springs or rivers or
by sinking. Labor and provisions are as
reasonable now in the Southwest as in
any other mining districts. The many
new processes that have within the last
ten years been discovered make it possible
to work ores with profit. The gasoline
engine has been great factor in the de-
velopment of the desert mines, as it re-
quires but little fuel and no boiler or
large supply of water for steam.
The bullion product of California in
1895 was SIS, 1884, 600 gold and $599, 600
silver. OF the $599,0O produced in silver
$456, ,955 81 was obtained in five counties in
Southern California. lnyo County pro-
duced $1S8, ,329 %, Kern $46, 064 %, River
side $2550, San Bernardno $2I9, ,410 30 and
San Diego County $500. Much of the
silver produced occurred as a by-product
in gold ores that would not pay to work
for the silver value alone.
tits not generally known tn at Califor-
but silver at 65 cents per ounce is not very
stimulating to the industry. In 1880 Cali
fornia produced ST. .l50, 887 in silver; in
1883. 81, 400 600; In 1884, So, ,000 600; in 1885,
$500, 600. These figures show conclu-
sively that it is the low price of silver
alone that keeps the production down.
There are, also, many silver mines which
contain gold, from which the gold could
be extracted if the silver could be taken
out without a loss, but the gold value is
not sufficient to warrant the expense of
opening them up. San Francisco has long
been known as mining center, and [ was
lately told by prominent mining broker
that it was still comparatively easy to
trade in Comstock stocks, although most
of the value in the ores of the Comstock
mines is silver.
The wonderful growth of mining in the
Southwest has proved great benefit to
Los Angeles, and there is now located in
that city a mining and stock exchange
that would be q credit to much older
and more important mining center.
Mining in the past has often been con-
sidered by the more conservative business
man something to deal in lightly and not
let the outside world know even the small
amount dealt in. Many business men in
the East, however, derive large revenues
from their holdings in the mines, yet they
keep the matter very quiet because they
commercial world. This fact makes it
very difficult to obtain reliable data about
the amounts invested in mines for those
who have good-paying mines are satisfied
and have nothing to gain by enlightening
the general public concerning their invest
ments, while those who have made un-
profitable speculations use every means in
their power to keep the matter quiet. |
have investigated the matter of mining
investments in Southern California, Ari-
zona and Mexico very thoroughly and
give some figures that may be of interest.
In Los Angeles County there are up
ward of 500 people engaged in mining
with capital of over So, 900, 600 invested in
the county and other places. Los Angeles
County has eight mills at work, Kern
County % mills and over 300 working
miners, Riverside County 80 mills and
100 miners, San Bernardino 35 mills and
1900 miners San Diego 20 mills and 1000
miners. The Golden Cross mill in San
Diego County has a 140-stamp mill which
is the second largest in the State. South
ern California alone is very busy mining
country with more than 125 mills of 900
stamp capacity and about 5000 miners
working for wages, while the number en-
gagged in mining both for wages and other
wise is about $500. The capital invested in
the mines of Southern California is es-
timated to be over SIS, 500, 600. From this
that right at home the mining industry is
one of considerable magnitude and full of
activity.
In Arizona, whose trade is ali tributary
to this coast, the extent and richness of
the mining country is very great. Mo-
have County is the leader in rhe produc-
ton OF gold and silver, while Yavapai, the
next county. is fast coming to the front.
The Congress mine, one of the largest gold
producers in the Southwest, is located IN
Yavapai County. The great copper COM
panies-Je Jerome. Big Bug, Bundle Bee,
Crown King, Tip Top and Yarnell, all
great mineral-producing camps-are also
in Yavapai County. Yuma County,
which adjoins san Diego County on the
east, contains many good mining uis-
tricts, among them Tyson's, Harrisburg.
Ehrenburg and Harqua Hala, the great
mine which was sold for million and a
quarter. and the Fortuna mine, which was
sold as a prospect for $50, 900. PInal, Co.
chise. Graham, Apache and Coconino are
other rich counties of Arizona which are
producing large wealth and give promise
of much Iaore in the extensive prospect
ing going on.
In the republic OF Mexico the mining
possibilities are on scale weIl-nigh incon-
ceivable. The States of Sonora, Sinaloa.
Chihuahua, Durango and Baja California