The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-17

MEAOT since the first rays Of sunshine
TMH illuminated the way of the illus
A1Af trious Pathfinder over the sandy
wastes and dragged mountains of South
ern California have the sunny slopes of
the volcanic peaks and verdant mesas
given cause for such invasion and great
excitement as at present exists in the
new mining camp of Randsburg. When
en- route from the ancient and honorable
pueblo of Los Angeles. TO the historic
mission on the bay of Monterey General
Fremont was unquestonably the first of
all prospectors to cross the golden reefs OF
Randsburg, lying as it does within a pass
twelve miles due north from a historic
landmark known as "Fremont's Peak" at
the base of which the Pathfinder de-
veloped upon the edge of dry lake-by
sinking a we'll a few feet in depth-an
abundance of pure, sparkling water, which
has since served TO quench the thirst OF
many 4 poor traveller crossing the track
less sands
Randsburg is the latest link in Califor-
MAS golden chain, and will undoubtedly
prove the loadstone OF the mining world.
Crowded vehicles, cayalcades OF freight
teams, prospeCtors' outfits, ETC., from the
the historic burro, speck the long lines OF
wagon-roads leading from the railway sta
tions TO this golden oasis OF the Molaye
Desert, where city Of over 1000 lnhaoi-
tants has been built up in an incredibly
short period, and its progress IS only Inn
tied by the supply OF material, because OF
the slow process of freighting by team.
The camp is crowded with prospectors,
nd NiY11r1
perts from South Africa 10 the Caribous
and the Comstock to the Atlantic. The
man from Cripple Creek no longer en-
thralls the attention of the mine-owner.
The ulstered and booted Britisher M axes
hardly a ripple in the serenity of the
camp, and the South African expert is
more Familiarity called by his given name.
The magic growth of the camp seems TO
be justified by the wonderful development
of rich finds from the hammer tap on the
surface to the continuous rich and pay
rock from the grass roots down, and bids
fair to surpass any camp discovered in
late years as it is situated centrally in
collaborating zone many miles in length
and as broad as the eve can reach. No
where has success attended the efforts OF
the poor prospector greater than in the
district OF Randsburg. Over $3.50 600 has
been extracted from the mines OF this
camp by the original locatOrs within
period OF six months, and it is safe to say
that al the present date there has not been
to exceed $1,000 of outside capital ex pended
in the development Il minin- properly
and in every case the expenditure Of LABOR
or money has met with sure and hand
some returns While the reputation
this camp has been founded upon its
wonderful high-grade properly, with ore
running in value from hundreds to thou
sands of dollars per ton, still the great
future OF the camp lies in the value Of its
low grade ore which like q network tray-
erses the surrounding country for miles
in extent and awaits only the advent OF
the practical miner and moaeyed operator
to yield its golden store.
Mining al the present time is being car
ried on in the most pr mitive style; whips
whims and windlasses can be seen on
the mountainside for miles around, but
not single power hoist is visible in the
camp. Most of the producing mines arc
found in the contact, porphyry ana mica
sChist and porphyry and syenite. Great
lodges OF quartz. ordinarily styled as bull
Lodges" are found tTaversing the district
in all directions. differing from the lodges
of like character found in Northern Cali
fornia in that they are all more or less
mineraIized and not infrequently carry
gold of extreme tineness that would pay
in more favored districts where wood and
water are plentiful The dyke movements
are clearly defined throughout the district
and a careful study of the condition of
mines now being operated in relation to
formations there observed makes he work
of the intelligent operator and prospector
almost a certainty.
The Rand Mining Company controls a
group of eight mines upon what is known
as the mother lode OF the Randsbu7g dis
trict, and under the management of c. a.
Burcham is fast becoming a noted
property. The Olympus, Trilby, Rand