The herald., 1897-04-02
MINERS AT RANDSBURG
THEY FIND OTHER WORK THAN
BUILDING HOUSES
Much Prospecting Is Going on and
Many Good Strikes Are Re-
ported--The Future

Special Correspondence to The Herald.
RANDSBURG, March 31.-During the
last few weeks there has been decided
cline in prices of town lots in our little
desert city. However to an observer
who looks for more than surface indica-
tions this is no sign of retrogreseion IN
the mining business; on the contrary,
it is an encouraging omen, and an eX-
tended tour through the hills reveals the
fact that greater energy is being ex-
pended in prospecting and developing
claims than ever before, and results
show that those efforts are not being
made in vain, for each week ends with
record of two or three new strikes, or
better showings in the older mines which
are being rapidly developed.
Over in the Stringer district Is busy
and encouraging scene-the sinking Of
shafts hosting and sacking and haulin g
of ore. The same can be said of many
other sections of the Rand district and
in almost every canyon can be seen the
tents of sturdy, patient pioneering pros
pectors.
MANY WHO MlntclSQ htlt boNe hCN
since the advent of spring, gone farther
on to penetrate and explore hitherto un-
trodden wastes of this desert region. A
large number have gone to the Panimint
mountain country, from whence few
have come bearing rich specimens and
fabulous tales of large ledges.
Quite an excitement was created in
town last night by the report of mur-
der at Garden station, twelve miles dis
tant. 1t ran something like this: Two
men hired third party to haul them
and their outfit to Panimint and depart
ed for that place at one o'clock Sunday.
At about five o'clock the owner OF the
team returned saying he had left the
Others at Garden station. Next day one
of the two others showed up almost
fantshed For water, and other parties
man at the place above named. When
confronted with the news the owner of
the team stated he had to kill him in
self defense. Arrests were made, a
party dispatched to bring in the corpse.
etc, but today the dead man surprised
the populace by walking into town ap-
parently alive and in the flesh. Another
evidence of the extreme healthfulness Of
this climate.
The early part of last week a very
quiet visit was made to this place by w.
S, Abbot. of Los Angeles. Mr.. Abbot is
one of the three men chosen in the United
States to report upon the feasibility Of
irriga ting the eastern slope of Siberia
for 500 miles west of the Vladivostocll
some years ago, by the Russian govern
ment He Is now In charge of water
developments in the Big Tejunga can
yon, embracing an area of 139 miles just
north of Los Angeles. He also owns the
water Of numerous creeks and canyons
to the north OF Indian Wells valley, the
most available source of supply for a
large quantity of water to Randsburg
and vicinity
Several OF the larger mining compan-
les have received propositions from him
to the effect that If they have faith
enough in Randsburgs future to give
him a contract for only two years for
500 horse power at $50 per year per horse
power, that he will furnish that amount
of power by the time their mills are
built and deliver any part of 1000 horse
power and any part of 1000 inches of
water in excess Of 200 inches.
No doubt Mr.. Abot is the best post
ed man upon Manganese ores on the
Pacific coast, and is known in the east
as the Manganese King" because of
his extensive control a few years ago
of the Manganese mines of America. He
says that on the meteorological map of
the American continent showing every
opening and shipping point of those ores,
there is no note taken of any Manganese
deposits within 500 miles of Los Angeles,
and yet he has lately examined three ex-
tensive and rich deposits in Los Ange-
les county and has secured several
others in Southern California.
He says Randsburg undoubtedly has
many mines which will be of great value
as the indications are they are noun
tain mines Of depth and richness rather
than shallow mines of the desert. And
that the wildcat real estate and towr
lot boom ie undergoing a deserved sub
sidence, but the deep mines contracted
for by several of our companies will
doubtless establish Randsburg as per-
manent and prosperous camp
Last Sunday night we experienced a
storm which tore down many tents and
damaged several buildings. with that
exception we have had fine weather for
long time.