The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26

OF the California Miners Association, to take
place October Is III this city, and there is
quite a revival OF interest. There is every
promise now that the coming meeting will be
as successful and encouraging as any that
have preceded it, and that the money which
is badly needed in the treasury viii be found.
With the official call for the meeting, which
went out few days ago, there went a letter
signed by President ]. H. Netf and Secretary
Julian sonn ag, stating forcibly the important
work ahead OF the association and the neces-
slty Tor money to carry on the work. Since
then steps tor the election OF delegates have
been held in the several counties IN which
associations exist, and there is every indica-
ton that the miners generally will be as loyal
and appreciative this year as ever. Siskiyou
and Ell Dorado counties have chosen delegates
and other counties will follow. The San Fran
cisco County Association will meet for .the
purpose in the rooms of the Chamber of Conl-
merce on the afternoon of October d.
The San Francisco Association has member
ship OF about 250 and includes many men and
| firms who have large interest in the mining
industry. The city has given hearty and valu-
able support TO the association. While in the
county associations of the interior dues are
| but 81 Il year, rs per ceut going 10 the State
association, the local organization has fixed
the dues at 80 per year, and q number OF busi-
| ness and manufacturing firms interested in
the industry voluntarily subscribe $50
year to the support OF the association. At the
| annual meeting strong effort to put a liberal
amount of money in the treasury will be
made.
j. II. Neff is the unanimous choice for presi-
dent and will be reelected, as will Secretary
Julian Sonntag of long experience and much
executive ability. Vice-Presdent S. X. Thorn
ton announces that he will not be a cand date
for reelection.
During the next session of Congress another
effort TO pass the mineral lands bill will be
made, and as the miners ieel that they nave
friends in Secretary Bliss and Land Commits
sioner Hermann they are confident of success
this time Another effort to secure the crea-
tion of department OF mines and a Cabinet
officer representing the industry will also be
made.
There is gratifying prospect that Southern
California Will be represented at the annual
meeting, and that it will add strength to the
association in the future. Efforts are now
being made to organize an association in Los
Angeles County. While Southern California
has only indirect LGterest in the question
OF b. ydraulic m ming which was the origin of
the association the scope OF its work is now
SO broad that the southern part OF the State
should feel much interest in it as any other
region and is likely to do so.
The revision OF the Federal mining laws,
which is now being considered by a national
committee in session at Denver, and which
will be an impor tant subject before the Cali
fornia association, will receive fresh impetus
the annual meeting OF the Washington
Miners Association which will convene a
Spokane October z. committee on this sub
ject will b. appointed. Thus the prospect that
radical and needed changes in the Federal
mining law; will be accomplished at the next
meeting of Congress rapidly grows brighter
as cooperation from the different mining
States and Territories increases.
conference was to have been held yester-
d in this civy by representatives of the Cali
fornia Miners Association and the Anti
Debris Association on the matter of harmoni-
Gus cooperation in securing large Congress
sional appropriations for the improvement of
the rivers OF the Sacrament to and San Joaquin
valleys for the mutual benefit of the miners
and valley people. AT the suggestion OF
Robert T. Devlin OF Sacramento the confer
ence WAS postponed until after the publication
of the report of the United States engineers,
who have been long preparing compreheu-
sive and permanent plan for the improvement
of these rivers. 1t is expected that this report
will be at hand in a few weeks. There now
seems to be nothing in the way of complete
agreement between the mining and valley in
terests on this subject, and the result Will be
that larger appropriations will be secured,
part of them going to the improvement of the
navigable portions of the streams and part
to the construction of additional dams for the
restraining of debris and the further resusci-
tatton of hydraulic mining.
The Banner mine in Nevada County is one
of the many old mines that are being re-
opened. 1t was located in 1860.
During the first SIX months of this year the
ore production of Colorado was double that of
the corresponding period of last year. Owing
to the recent great increase in the amount of
low grade ore being worked in that State the
increase in the value was but % per cent.
An increase in mining activity amounting
TO a small boom has struck the eastern part of
Amador County. One recent strike was that
of three-foot ledge of 800 ore.
State Senator E. ". Chapman has just COM
menced operations on the Three Stars quartz
claim in the Ophir district, Placer County.
This section has retrograded somewhat in the
last few years, for two reasons. First the
surface-ground, which proved such bonanza
in the fifties has been completely worked out
and. second, there has been no capital avail
able for large development Mr.. Chapman is
a firm believer in deep mining and intends to
soon D ace the Three Stars in the same class
as the Hathaway. owned by Colgate, the soap
king, and the Gold Blossom, owned by Hon.
c. F. Reed. These two mines have become
very prominentas dividend payers during the
past year.
John W. Mackay, who arrived in san Fran
cisco September 13 from the East is expected
to spend large part of his time while on the
coast at his Allison Ranch mine, near Grass
Valley, Nevada County.
Eastern capital seems to have taken quite
fancy to the Greenwood district, FL Dorado
County, and some earnes' prospecting is being
done. Among the new claims opening up
the Moore mine, owned by st. Louis men, and
the Ohio, the property of Q. I. aud Charles
Johnson of Chicago
Report has 1t that the Eureka gravel mine
at Forest Hill at the head of which is Felix
Chappellet of Oakland has struck the chan
nel The tunuel is nearly 200 feet below the
bedrock, thus making 1T convenient and cheap
working by means of upraises. The Eureka,
when it gets under full sway, will be the big
gest drift gravel mine in the country, having
nine miles OF channel ahead. The II idden
Treas ure Company, located near the Eureka,
with its addition of the Dam claim has over
three miles OF channel, all showing richer
gravel tnan did the old Hidden Treasure. Mr.
Chappeet also controls from eight to ten
miles of ground in his Bear River claim. This
mine consists of river tailings, worked by the
aid of hydraulic elevator, and 1000 feet of
flume and 1900 feet OF pipe have just been