The San Francisco call., 1897-11-21
NEWS FROM THE MINES.

Another extensive section OF the couaty tn at
is showing considerable activity is the 1go
and Clear Creek districts, southwest and west
OF ReIding. The Muletown and CenterVllle
districts are also actively in evidence.
A new mill has been erected on the Forbes
mine in O!d Diggings, one on the Milkmafd at
French Gulch, another by Welch & Monahan,
and still another by W. J. Hunt ON free
milling proposition near the Tower House.
There was never time in this county when
more confidence was felt in the future of the
mines than now, and the mining towns OF the
county were never in more f1ourishing and
prosperous condition.
Beginnings of Great Mining Future
in Fresno County.
Fresno County serves well to illustrate the
small amount OF mining development yet at
talued in man. mineral regions of California.
This county has promising oil resources III its
eastern part and the Sierra Nevada range,
crossing its western part, is rich in gold-be
ing veins, which have hardly been pros
pected for, let alone being developed, and 1t
has besides rich iron, copper and other de-
posits. In 1896 Fresno was credited with
mineral products amounting to only $S5 SS5,
of which $29, ,235 was for gold and $50, ,76O Tor
petr oleum. But the mining revival has
brought to Fresno County beginning Tor its
developme Mt, as is shown in the following
special correspondence:
, FRESNO, Nov. Thinning for gold is being
carried on extensively in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains situated in Fresno County, but it
is all on small scale, there being no big de-
We lopments of properties involving much cap
1tal Placer mining is particularly active,
more so than it has been for a number OF years
past. All along the principal watercourses
in the mountains the miner may De seen with
his pan washing out the yellow metal.
But gold mining in Fresno County has
never been carried below the surface to any
extent and the quartz wealth has never been
explored Efficiently 10 justify an opinion as
to what prospects might be. Capital has
never been interested in a satisfactory man
ner. At present there only one or two
small stamp-mills running.
When the spring opens 1t is believed that
there will be great activity in the Dinkey
district, where considerable excitement was
caused last summer by the discovery of some
fine prospects Many locations have been
filed there. Many fortune-seekers will also
invade the country around Mount Goddard,
where there are excellent indications.
Tie only mine OF any consequence that is
now being oIer ted is the Copper King, in the
foothills near Kings River, and people who
ought to know say that this will prove TO be
one of the richest mines California has ever
produced. There is a ledge of copper twenty
six feet in width. and the gold in it runs S26
to the ton. The ore is exceptionally rich in
copper.
This mine was discovered by Hugh Kuepper
several years ago. and about a year ago he
sold it to Los Angeles capitalists for $4,000.
They have been engaged during the past few
months in opening up the property prepara-
tory TO operation on a big scale. They are
maintaining secrecy about their work, but it
ie hat how how aof nj
as TO the result OF their inVes tment
The company has had contest over the
claim to a section of its mine, and at the hear
ing in stockton a few days ago Deputy United
States Mineral Surveyor Linderman testified
that he considered the Copper King giving
indications of becoming the greatest mine
ever developed in the State of California.
The Fresno County oil district, near Huron,
on the west side, Is developing very sat1sfac-
torily. There are now six wells flowing good
streams of petroleum. and several carloads OF
the crude Oil are being shipped out daily. Two
panies, in which Eastern capitalists are
largely interested, are boring wells, and some
big developments are expected.
The Winter Activity in the Des ert Dis
tricts Has Already Begun.
The Los Angeles Mining News gives the fol-
lowing concerning the activity in Southern
California: TIL. past week of the Miaing Ex-
change was a true reflection of the increasing
interest in the mining industry in this city.
Prospectors are pouring out on the desert
from San Bernardino and other points, and
work is going on with armies of men where
one year ago pick had not been turned to
any extent.
Randsburg. the magic city OF the desert
presses on its way, producing larger quGn-
titles of gold than ever, with occasional new
itas hat n no of
and benefit 30 the camp and investors, but of
such frequent occurrence as TO become an Oft
told tale which d Oes not bear repeating. This
fall the Virginia Dale and Acton districts are
putting on great show OF activity. New
stamp mills are going up in all directions.
and the mining business is engaging the at
tention OF men i'll all lines of commercial pur-
suits in this city.
new cyanide plant will be erected at The
Santa Rosa mine, Riverside County, at once.
A force of men is, in fact, at work ow pre-
parlng the ground for the plant. which is ex-
pected 10 be ready tor operation in few
weeks.
There is reported to be big mining craze in
the mountain region surrounding Kernviile,
and all the ground between that town and
Havilah has been staked off and located
The rush of prospectors and investors in to
Sonora, Mexico, is something remarka bic, and
1t has but Just Degun All the notels are
crowded with Americans, and boarders have
to wait their .urns at the tables. which have
to be set three or four times to accomm odate
all who come.
The Virginia Dale District viii be one of the
scenes OF activity. Nearly every day large
loads of supplies leave this city for that place,
and great results are expected this year.
Notes From the Field.
The trustees of the Los Angeles Oil Pro-
ducers' Association are considering a shut
down of the wells on account of the lack of
storage capacity and the overproduction due
to prohibitve freight rates. The daily pro-
duction is now bout 1000 barrels and the net
consumption 250O oar!es.
The Champion Mining Company has de-
clared a dividend of Is cents per share,
amounting to $4,000.
At the Gwin mine, Calaveras County, The
new shaft is down 1461 feet, and the 1900,
1900 and 400 levels are being opened up.
The vein is from 10 to 25 feet wide. The 40
stamp mill is running at Its full capacity and
rich returns are being received. A 500 horse
power air COMPRISING plant to be run by the
waste water of the mill and hoist is being in
stalled.
The various assay and refining houses of
the city report that more prospectors are pre-