The San Francisco call., 1897-10-16
OPENING THE
MARIPOSA GRANT
Bratnober's Hurried Trip
to London to Perfect
the Plans.
The Old Trenor Park Mines to
Be Cleared and New Ones
Developed.
An English Exploration Company to
Invest Vast Sums in the Klon-
dixie Gold Fields.

The intelligence that at last the great
Mariposa grant is TO be energetically and
scientifically developed is confirmed by
Henry Bratnober, who, about six months
ago, acquired Alvinza Hayward's one
eighth interest for $l66, ,666 66 in cash, on
valuation of s1,00o,00O for the whole
property. Bratnober lett this city for
London last Tuesday evening, after d hur-
ried trip 10 Klondike. Notwithstand ng
Bratnober publicly expressed his lack OF
faith in the Alaska plscers, yet TO his in
Inmates he contided MS belief that not
only was the richness of the K ondike
pIacers greater than he anticipated, but
that, in his opinion, they would ultimately
prove 10 he the greatest gold deposits ever
disc Covered, California and Australia not
excepted. The hurried trip TO London
was undertake al the request of the home
managers of the London Exploration
Com pany, OF whic ch Bratnoter is the
local represe ntaiiye. 1t is understood
that vast projects Of Alaskan development
Will be undertaken by the Exploration
Company as soon as report can be re-
ceived. 1t is also said that arrangements
for Bratnober's return 10 klondike will
be made in London and that he will be
OhShch Ol hn4IIiiilcN
The arrangement with the Joneses, who
control a hail interest in the Mariposa
grant, Whereby the property should be
exclusively developed, was concluded be-
fore Bra nober acqu rel his sixth in
terest. John w. Mcckay ana the Hobart
estate, who each own an equal in crest,
have a all times been willing and anx.
lous 10 contribute their shsre OF the
amount required to open up the grant,
but Senator Jones has held back owing
II is said, 10 lack of both capital ami
time, but now that the London Explora.
tlon Company, which is II real owner Of
the interest purchased by Bratnober, and
which is anxious and willing to supply
ali The cal al required, the Senator has
combined his interests with them, and
the work will be inauguraIed as soon as
BTatnobe returns from abroad.
The plan 10 be pursued has already
been decided upon. dam across the
MeTced River, one mile above the oil
Benton and Bullion smelters and in close
contl- uity to the Josephine, Pine Tree,
Oso and Princess mines. which were ue-
veloped to a depth OF from 700 TO 1900 feet
during the period when they were uper-
ated by Trenor W. Park, who extracted a
large fortune from these mines. For
years all work ceased. ano the mines have
fallen into decay. With the dam 5000
horsepower will be developed, which viii!
he utilized first in clearing the mines OF
accumulated debris and then in opening
new ones. An electric railway 10 con-
meet with The Southern Pacific and Val
ley railroads either at Merced or a point
south OF that city is i'll contem pl alton,
and when completed the grant will be
thrown open for settlers. There are over
A 900 acres in the grant, one half capable
Of navigation and suitable for iruit-erow-
ing and as rich as any portion of the San
Joaquin Valley.
Faith in The riches yet undeveloped
from the mines of Mariposa County is an
article Oi belief among mining men. Tne
very richest part of the Mother Lode is
thought TO be within the boundaries OF
the grant.