The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-14
RANDSBURG'S BOOM.
AuSH TO THE oolDFleLDs m THE
MoHAvE DESERT.


Sand waste Last summer.
There has not been such general and
Intense interest in any new gold min.
ing field in the southwest for more than
20 years Ms there is throughout Califor.
MIA and Arizona today in the lodges OF
gold bearing rock that are developing al
Randsburg. Eleven years ago all the
miners in this region were excited over
the newly found gold quartz mines in
Harqua Hala mountains in northwest
ern Arizona and along the Colorado
river. Several thousand men of all ages
and classes then quit shops. stores.
offices and homes TO rush across the
pountry to Harqua Hala. only to fnd
shat the few valuable mines had been
located before they had heard Of the
6nd. The stampede to Tombstone in
1873 10 famous in the annals Of Amori-
can gold mining. But In spontaneity
and intense eagerness there has never
been such q rush of men and youths to
new diggings in this region as that to
Randsburg in the last few months.
Four months ago the region was
known by fewer than 800 people. Today
one may 20 where he will in California
and Arizona. and the one topic he will
hear under discussion is the prospect at
Randsburg. the possibility Of still fur
ther finds Of rich lodges in that region.
the value Of ore that has been taken
from the mines and the chances there
arc at Randsburg for old experienced
miners or for novioea The railroad bill.
boards at all stations hang heavy with
circulars and bills Of information about
the new mines. The local newspapers
publish columns Of the latest news re-
gsrding the development Of the gold
hedges and Of the growth Of the camp.
Every letter from Randsburg is read
and reread several times and passed
from hand to hand. Sample chunks of
gold speckled ore from Randsburg are
exhibited in the windows Of jewelry
stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles
and other large towns in California.
There has never been euch a study Of
maps Of the desert region Of the Golden
State before, and the dullest schoolboy
in California now oan locate Randsburg
IN the Mohave desert without seconds
thought. In the hotels. on the streets,
along the country roads and ON the
railroad cars one hears Randsburg men,
toned score Of times day. and every
one knows well the stories Of how this
or that man, who was poor waiter,
or hard up bartender, or discouraged
teamster in Kern or Los Angeles county
six months ago, is now selling rock
from mine at Randsburg at the rate
Of $500 or more day. Mining pros
pectors have come from as far away as
Butte City, Mon, and Guatemala to try
their luck in the new field. while hun
dreds more have parted with the pro.
verbal shirts on their backs to get mon.
ey to carry them to Mohave Station,
whence, laden with shovels, picks and
cooking utensils, they tramp 80 miles
to Randsburg.
The new gold mining town was named
from the Rand group of mines. which
were named by the original finders Of
gold quartz thereabout after the Rand
of South Africa. The town is situated.
according to the United States survey
lines, in section 85, township 20 south,
range 40 east, Mount Diablo meridian.
at an elevation Of 1900 feet above sea
level. In less exact language. one would
say that Randsburg lies 50 miles north
west of the Southern Pacific and the
Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe railroad
station of Mohave, on the Mohave desert.
The only way Of getting to and from
the town is by stage from Mohave or
from another railroad station, Kramer,
In the same region. but hundreds Of
poor men, consumed with anxiety to get
to the new diggings with all speed, have
walked the 80 miles across the desert
sands from the nearest railroad point.
Every day adds to the population Of
Randsburg. All the stages arrive crowd
cd with eager men, and there are few
departures. In November some l,700
men dropped their daily pursuits, left
homes and shops and went to Randsburg.
In December the number was inoreas-
cd by 2,l0O, and the indications arc
that ere January passes fully 2,500
more men and youths will have gone to
AnC HcW uininB tOWAs "A tAO ChtASAhS
reports Of the finds Of moro gold bear
ing ledges continue and the dazzling
sales Of mining properties keep up, it is
more than probable that Randsburg
will have apopulation Of 2. 900 or 5000
men and few hundred women before
next April. A large number of the old
time miners in southern California and
Arizona believe that another Tom bstone
has been found, and all are sure that IL
sufficient water for mining purposes
can be found and developed Randsburg
will be second Cripple Creek
No other mining town in southern
California has grown so fast as Rands-
burg. The news Of the wealth Of the
Rand mines went abroad last Septem.
ber, when in one week the returns from
the smelter in San Francisco, where the
gold ore was shipped from Randsburg,
amounted 10 t28, 500. and from Sept.
II to Sept 20 ran up to e37 $50. This
was from two mines that were just be-