The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-31

In the early history Of the west min
ing was conducted according to certain
fixed rules necessitated by conditions
then existing, theories which have
since been exploded and, we might
add. dense ignorance in many in
stances.
Many years age every prospector
was looking for a Comstock; and moth
ing would arrest his attention for a
minute unless it was rich, free milling
quartz or high grade silver ores that
were entirely free from base substances
such as lead, zinc or anthony; and in
their search for the precious metals
they found and completely ignored
large deposits of silver-lead ores carry
ing gold, or quartz rich in the yellow
metal, but associated with copper, or
both lead and silver.
Time, however, has changed condi-
tiens; theories have been abandoned
or improved upon, and now, with
facilities for the treatment of all
classes and characters of ore, these
long-neglected deposits of the precious
metals, which at first were considered
as valueless have come TO the front
as the greatest and most permanent
producers OF the present day; but their
development, in many instances, led to
Che abandonment of many a noted
camp that in its palmiest day was
''the observed of all observers"
And yet these camps were not eX-
hausted of their treasures, by any
means. AS a general thing they were
surface producers; and still they were
but barely prOspected, although they
have many millions to their credit;
and it is largely due to the fact without
doubt, that the ore is rich and near to
the surface, that these old camps are
now receiving more than usual atten-
tion from mining men and proSpectors.
Nevada can boast of many of these
rich but deserted camps, but lack of
transportation facilities, and the de-
gradaIion of The white metal to the
level Of a commodity and subject to
fiuctuation in value as if it were so
much corn, wheat pork Gr potatoes,
will for a time interfere with their
resurrection; but in Utah, with rail-
roads reaching out into every direc-
ton, the situation is slightly changed,
and it is becoming more and more ap-
parent every day that in the old and
deserted camps of the state our people
may look for enjoyable surprises in
Tie way VI llCW wealth. liOQuCtiS-
The old camps of Utah viii yet be
fneard from, and i'll a most substantial
manner.
Beaver county is full of these old dis
tricts, and the day is not far distant
when the old producing mines in Star,
Bradshaw, San Francisco and Lincoln
districts will be cleaned out, revealing
the wealth of high grade mineral that
the generous hand of nature has stored
there so bounteously.
The revival of interest in old and
abandoned mines near Silver City and
Diamond is an example OF the activity
that will soon be noticed in nearly all
of the old camps throughout the state.
Alta is also coming in for its share
of recognition-and the merits of the
camp cannot be disputed; and as
chronicled in these columns a few days
ago. the new lesseeS of old mines in
Little Cottonwood canyon had but to
20 a depth of four inches before I'M
covering a body of high grade carbon
ate ore. in the extraction of which they
will make big money within a short
time. and it is safe to predict that this
old camp, with its many millions paid
Sn dividends. will in the near future re-
neat its former record.
Big Cottonwood canyon is also once
again invaded by mining men and in
vestors; and the same can be said of
American Fork canyon, Ophir, Stock
ton. West Tintlc and a number of dis
tricts in Gold Mountain and Ohio min
ing districts.
All of the camps mentioned have
been what is termed as poor mans
camps; and with the depression in the
metal markets. the cry Of hard times
and the panicky feeling prevalent in
nloneyed circles, it is a good sign to
see mining men of experience but with
light purses turning their attention TO
these rich surface producers; and there
is every reason to believe that success
will crown their efforts in this direc-
Sion.