The herald., 1897-06-06

over the Slate range into the Panamint
Valley is avoided. There Is not human
habitation by the Pilot Knob route, af-
ter leaving Cuddleback mill, and water
only at Blackwater, Granite Wells and
Lone Willow Springs. The only habita-
tions between Garlock and Ballarat are
Garden Station and the borax works
Garden Station Is a delightful little
oasis, where there Is q good supply of
water and the eye Is charmed by
stretch of alfalfa and an acre of decidu-
Gus fruit trees, heavily laden with green
fruit.
THE BoRAx LAKE
The borax lake covers an immense
area and looks. at distance, like gilt
tering sheet of water, white and daxxl-
ing to the eyes, aAd from depression
in the road below curious mirage-like
effect is seen. The large buildings Of the
borax works seem to be floating in water
and their inverted images are
thrown downward on the rare
fed strata Of air, producing q
weird and beautiful illusion. A vast
amount of money was spent in the erec-
tion Of the buildings. and the borax de-
posit of the dry lake was worked to
good profit until tariff was laid on the
manufacture Of borax by the last ad-
ministration. Mr.. Parkinson, with his
family, is in charge of the place, and to-
gether with a Chinese cook who has been
a faithful servant for twenty years, con-
situte the entire population Of this once
busy scene of action. An excellent water
supply Is brought from the Argus Peak
distance of nine miles, at an eleva-
tion of 6333 feet. Hot mineral water is
also piped from the contiguous springs
and the luxury of a bath here Is not to
be estimated by any mere money con-
sideration after a drive of thirty-five
miles over the hot and dusty desert.
BALLARAT
The road Is comparatively smooth
and free from sand until within a dis
tance of about eight miles from the top
OF the divide. on the Slate range. Here
the road is very heavy and extremely
tedious from the divide into the Pana-
mint valley. Ballarat and the old sta
tion of Postoff1ce Springs are on the
east side Of the valley. which stretches
north and south to the distance of Is
miles, with an average width of ten
miles. an immense dry lake, glittering
with alkali salt and borax deposits.
Postoh1ce Springs consists of one house,
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. w. w. Hickie
and son. Water Is good and abundant
and supplies the new town of Ballarat.
half mile distant. The most charitab bly,
disposed can find little to say in favor
OF Ballarat. It Is situated on a nat spot,
on the edge of the alkali sink, and two
miles from the Panamint range, which
IS entirely destitute of vegetation. The
town consists of % tents and adobe and
frame buildings, the most pretentious
being the general supply store of Stat
Ter q Co. But Ballarat, however un-
handsome now, is bound to be an i'm
portant supply point for the mining
camps and 1t Is a place of infinite Dos
sipilities, with plenty of growing room.
II one cannot conscientiously praise the
outward appearance of Ballarat. no
words could do justice to the whole-
souled residents who literally over
whelm the stranger with kindness and
attention, and your correspondent can
cheerfully attest to the unstinted hos
pitality of the people of the little town.
who number about so at present. A
postoMce will soon be established at
Ballarat. and w. X. Miller, of the
Randsburg and Mojave stage line, pro-
poses to inaugurate a weekly service
into the town in the near future. The
cost OF freight from Mojave is one and
one-Quarter cents pound. and -four
sells for $3.50 hundred. bacon II cents,
hay $50 to $40 ton. barley $50 ton, and ,
other commodities in proportion.
AN OASIS
Seven miles north OF Ballarat is
rancherie, owned by "Panamint George
and other renegade Shoshone Indians,
who settled in Inyo county 20 years ago.
There are 100 acres Of good hand. much |
Of which is under cultivation, and the !
green alfalfa patch and fruit trees are
delight to look upon. after travelling !
for so many weary miles over the bar
rem desert. Here. also, are hot salt |
springs from which the Indians supply |
the various mining camps with salt. !
xoW mesquite trees fringe tho water |