The San Francisco call., 1896-10-10
It WANT THE
MAR|POSA GRAN 7
The Exploration Company
of London Is Look
ing This Way.
Hamilton Smith Coming to Cali
fornia 10 Buy the
Property.
MANY MILLIONS IN THE DEAL.
Mining Men Are Deeply Interested
in II, as 1t Means a Great
Boom for California.
MANY MILLIONS IN THE DEAL.

Mining circles are all in furry over
the prospective visit to San Francisco of
Hamilton Smith, the celebrated mining
engineer and manager. The coming of
Mr.. Smith involves a deal which may
reach $40, 600, coo, and that is the chief rea-
son for the unusual interest evinced in his
present movements.
He is expected to arrive in this City
about November /, coming direct from
London to investigate the Mariposa min
ing grant of $4,000 acres, with visw to
purchasing it for the Exploration Com
pany of London, Eng, of which he is the
head managing director.
The Exploration Company is by far the
weaithiest and greatest syndicate engaged
in mining in any part of the world. 1t is
known to be backed by the Rothschilds
with unlimited resources, and its opera
tions are conducted on such a colossal
scale that even princes of finance are
astounded at its magnitude. 1t has many
millions OF pounds sterling invested in
South Africa, where Its business far ex-
ceeds that OF any similar concern. Be-
sides, the company has heavy invest
ments in West Australia, New Zealand
and the Pacific Coast. Quite recently it
The company owns the Alaska Treadwell
mine, with 240 stamps; the Alaska Mexi-
can, with 120 stamps, and the Alaska
Unite ID also the Oneida mine in Amador
County and the Lucky Boy in Oregon.
Quite recently the well-known California
mining man, Thomas Mein, who has as
sociated himself with the Exploration
Com pany, returned to California. He
came here und instructions to hunt for
mining interests and to examine the
syndicate's properties. 1t is believed that
he investigated the Mariposa grant, and
advice to the home Office in Lon don
has resulted in favorable consideration
of the proposition, since Hamilton Smith
has been directed to come out here for a
personal inspection.
The Mariposa grant comprises A, 900
acres in the heart of Mariposa County. 1t
came originally from the Mexican Govern
ment in the form OF grant to General
Fremont, and subsequently 1t has come
into possession of Senator Jones, Alvinza
Hayward, the Hobart estate and J. w.
Mackay, who paid something like So 600, :
600 Tor the property. a large number of
mines were worked on 1t once, but they
have been shut down while still paying
handsomely. And now these broad acres
of gold and silver ores are about to pass
into the hands of the English syndicate.
The fact that the company intends pur-
chasing the property has been admitted to
mining men by a co-worker of Mr.. Smith.
1t is regarded of so much significance, the
Mining and Scientific Press will say in its
issue appearing to-day:
The absorbing news of the week is the we'll
au uthentlcated report that the Mariposa grant
has been definitely offered to the Exploration
Company Nimited) of London. This is the cor
DO alton that fathered the South African gold
fields, the Coolgardie mines of West Australia
and the g;eat dividend-paying properties of
Charters Towers in Queensland and intro
duced them to the British investing public.
Senator John p Jones is ow on his way from
the East to meet Hamilt ton Smith, the English
expert, at San Francisco and escort him over
the grant. During the past year many mining
experts have visited the grant and made re-
ports, but 1t is reserved for Hamilton Smith,
the highest salaried official of the Explorati on
Company, to make the final report.
The Las Mariposas grant comprises about
A 600 acres on the direct line of the mother
lode, and right in the heart of the mineral
belt The title 10 the property Is derived un-
der an old Spanish grant. and was acquired
by Colonel Fremont for song. After floating
around the plains in the San Joaquin, Colonel
Fremont finally located his grant in the Sier-
ras and cast anchor at Bear Valley. After
spasmodic speculation, during which, as a
sort of variety show, many actors made their
bow, the grant settled down to policy of
masterly inactivity. The Prin ceton, Mount
Ophir Pine Tree, Josephine and numerous