The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-03
Riches From
Grubstukes.


POMONA, Cal, April 27.-The scope
and intent Of the law Of grubstakes
among miners on the Pacific coast
have probably never been SO thorough
ly discussed among lawyers and miners
in California as in the last few months
There have been several knOtty cases
in the state courts to determine how far
grubstake goes, and what grub
stake Is, where there Is no contract
or stipulation, verbal or otherwise, be-
tween the mining prospector and his
grubstaker. One of the cases IL that
of George Abrams, of Los Angeles,
against the Berigo Mining company,
Of San Bernardino county. Mr.. Abrams
claims that he boarded and fed a pros
pector, Henry M. Biggs, who found and
located the Berigo mine, and that the
board was considered grubstake. The
mining company and Biggs claim that
the board was paid for by stable work
by the proprietor several months after
it was provided. Mr.. Abrams claims
a one-third interest in the Berigo mine,
and he has won his case In the Su
perior court. One-third Of the Berigo
mine Is said to be worth at least $780,
600. Naturally the mining company
is defending the suit vigorously, and
has employed some very able lawyers
who ridicule the plaintiffs claims un-
der the grubstake law.
In all the mining regions of the West
there are men constantly investing in
grubstakes for poor and trusty pros
pectors. Hundreds Of bankers, profess
sioHal men, and merchants all over the
West have for years laid aside at pc
RODS a certain sum Of money from
their earnings to provide for the grub
stakes Of men who have given assur-
ances that pay ore may be found In a
certain canon or mountain range. 1t is
not uncommon to see in the local news
papers of California and the territories
a paid item to the effect that $50 and
So grubstakes reliable and competent
mining prospectors.'
A grubstake nowadays commonly
means food, a few mining tools. and
lot of dynamite sticks or candles for
blasting in racks where precious metal
is suspected. The average mining pros
pector is a hard-up, visionary, good
natured, philosophic soul, who has en-
dured much and pursued long in hi;
following Of the beckonings of fortune
over burning desert wastes, among
lonely and barren mountains, among
desolate crags and peaks, and through
desolate canons and gulches. He has
been dead sure scores Of times that he
has found rock that was going to be
his fortune stroke, and has been disap-
pointed each time. He is just as GER
tain as ever that he is at last looking
in the right field for the right sort of
rock. A little more grubstaking, ana
he will soon find ledge Of gold ore
that will make him and his friend rich
beyond the dreams of avarice. His
food consists of bushel or so of beans,
a chunk of salt pork, jerked beef,
crackers, sugar and coffee. He can
shoot game almost anywhere in the
mining region, and he therefore wants
gun powder and shot. The expense
of a grubstake is from $40 to $13 a
month If the prospector makes his
grubstaking partner believe that the
chances Of finding a golden ledge are
uncommonly bright, and that the dan
gers Of finding and locating the mining
are considerable, there may be an eX-
ira grubstake as pack donkey or two,
and the promise of several hundred or
thousand dollars down as a bonus when
the mine is found and assayed. Some
times two prospectors may work over
range of mountains together sea-
son, both being grubstaked by mali
at home In case a mine is located,
the grubstaker and the prospectors
have each third of the property Not
one grubstake agreement in hundred
is written. The common law of the
Western mining regions is so strong
and there is a certain sense OF honor
among professional prospectors and
mining men regarding the contract for
grubstakes, that it is a discourteous
suspicion to suggest that the terms be
put on paper. The late Gen. Fuller, OF
Los Angeles, who was in mining AMI
grubstaking for forty years, said that
he never knew Of more than half a
dozen written grubstake agreements
The principal men who grubstake
prospectors have themselves been min
Ing prospectors and know at glance
'.live'' rock from dead" and have
ideas of their own as to where pros
pectors may have some chance Of find
ing hidden wealth. Richard Grid, who
made a fortune of two millions Of. dol
lars in the Tombstone mines in South
the great beet sugar industry at Chino,
Cal, recently told the writer that he
had spent from $4,000 to $4,000 year
for a long time in grubstaking men
in the Sierras and Rockies and IN Low
er California. He considered it the
best kind of investment. He got
third interest in a silver mine In Chi
1884 and sold it for $4,000. He is in
Mexico at this writing looking over
copper mine that a prospector, whom
he had been grubstaking during sew
eral years, finally located. 1t is be-
lieved that Mr. Grid will get some
thing like $4,000 out Of that property.
That will pay handsomely for many
The late United States Senator George
Hearst, of California, made the search
for new mines more of wholesale
business than any one else. He made
all his fortune of $4,000, 900 in gold and
silver mines. In the last ten years OF
his life he kept as many as hfty men
prospecting in the Sierras and Rockies
all the way from vancouver b. ~
to Sonora. Mexico. He had an &C
countant in San Francisco, who was
employed to keep q record Of the grub
stake moneys-and outfits sent to the
prospectors here and there on the
coast. He required statements to be
made to him by each prospector at
stated periods concerning the work
that was being done, and what might
be found in his particular field. The
senator employed men to go and look
into the prospects and assay the rock
when a report came to the San Fran
cisco Office that favorable lodges had
been discovered. When particularly
good report came. he occasionally went
himself to see what the prospector had
uncovered Some Of his more trust