The San Francisco call., 1897-04-25

aoiS al every way, nave just dS IoB uiai
and permanent ore bodies as those farther
south. but the geological conditions are
somewhat different, and unless we apply
the term mother lode to the whole min
eral belt the length of the State we should
limit it in some way, and, in so doing,
that given is the original and only natural
one.
The miner in Siskiyou need not worry
about the mother lode. We know there
are good mines there and if his happens
to be one of them, or if, on the contrary,
it happens to be poor one, it is not going
to h elp him any to have it on the mother
lode. To be sure, in making a sale abroad
where the real character of the mineral
belt of California is not known and only
the mother lode has been heard of it may
make some difference where the mine is
situated but this Will not always be the
case. When the foreign investor finds
| that he can be cheated in buying mines
situated on the mother lode, as he can
elsewhere, the mere name will cease 10
have any direct money value.
1t is coming to be realized that Califor-
MAS wealth in gold is even gre ater than
has been supposed. The mineral belt
stretches the whole length of the State,
although apparently cut off by some of
the larger valleys. 1t is probable: that
with the exception of the gold bearing
quartz veins at Bodie and few other
minor localities the deposits belong to
, about the same period of naturalization.
They are. hence, all genetically related,
having many characteristics in common.
The recent important discoveries of gold
the Mojave desert, taken together with
our wider knowledge of its occurrence and
distribution, impress upon us the fact that
there is no immed late danger of California
reaching its maximum production and
then declining. As the richer and more
easily worked deposits known at present
become exhausted there is still certainty
that others will be found to take their
places, while the ever growing i'm prove
ment in the methods of mining and in the
extraction of gold from low-grade ores
makes 1t possible to work the immense
bodies of low-grade quartz which are
known to exist. Gold is not so rare as we
sometimes think it is. Careful examina-
tion has shown that ii is present in very
small quantities in most all rocks and in
sea water. In these conditions it is prob
ably forever inaccessible.
1t Is very probable that as the globe
cooled down from its original liquid con-
dition to form the solid rocks this metal
was nowhere concentrated in the form in
which it Is found to-day but dissent
mated, as l have before said. Ages of
CONFUSION followed the primary cooling,
change succeeded change. periods of quiet
now OF volcanic outburst with the sinking
and uplifting OF great ranges of noun
tains. The history OF our State is in no
way peculiar. It's mountains form but a
part Of the great Cordilleran system run
ming the whole length of the western
coasts OF North and South America.
Minerals are found The whole length of
these mountains, one in excess here, an
other there. The country embraced by
California Is but a small part of this great
stretch OF mineral bearing mountains. 1t
would sometimes appear from the pres
ent-day knowledge OF the earth that the
great gold deposits had been found, and
that the total production might lessen in
few years. We must learn, however,
from the recent discoveries in Alaska that
many possibilities yet exist where per-
haps we least expect them.
Much has been said about the depth to
which the gold ores of California extend.
The question arises in every new camp as
1t has in Randsburg, Do the veins go
DOWN. What reason have we to doubt
that they go down? There is but one i'm
| portant district in the State where they
have seemed to give out, and there the
| conditions are very peculiar. The veins
certainly go down. and if rich on the sur
face there Is n reason to suppose that on
! the average they will be poorer in dep; h
! as far as they can be opened. The pros
! pector who has toiied miles over the hot
| desert and at last uncovered little vein
/ of good ore should not deceive himself
with the thought that it will certainly
! grow better with depth. 1t may do so,
and again it may not. Experience only
will show.
Although the life of the prospector is
hard one, ne is also free man and can
come and go as he pleases, and, although
money is needed for the successful work
ing of many great discoveries. vet he need
not generally go hungry. Good prospects
are always in demand. The great trou BILE
generally is that with the thought Of the
possible wealth buried below he is apt to
demand several tunes what the would be
investor is warranted in paying.
Great as is the mother lode with its un.
ties for new discoveries at the present time
are greater in other and less known parts
of the State. These other regions are
coming to the front, AID in time the ques-
ton will not be asked with such earnest
ness about any particular mine, is it on
the mother lode. but what is it on its own
merits? We can give the que proportion
OF attention to the mother lode which 1T
4 Il H. IA
and favorable situation cannot be eaualed
in the world but at the same time realize
that it is composed of innumerable veins
each having character OF its own-some
being good and some poor, as in other
districts. The success of mining there
with the frequently occurring low.grade
ores it is most closely connected with the
skill and care shown by those in charge
THE CATS OF SIENA,