The herald., 1898-04-11
THE NEW GOLD FIELDS
SOME RICH FINDS SOUTH AMERIcA-THEY ARE GREATER
THAN KLoNDIKE
FINE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA
Richness Natural
Forests Of Tmber-A riff Argument-How
Foreigners Are Growing Rich

ship in machinery for pumping the waite
so they can work down to bedrock and thu!
get the cream which in this case sinks u
the bottom instead of rising TO the top.
| On this claim of eighty acres the bed
rock is found at an average depth Of twen
ty-fve feet, and the soil will yield an aver
age of over 81 per cubic yard for the en-
tire distance down, or frequently from se'
| to 500 per cubic yard for the bottom layer
| of few feet above bedrock.
The surface placer mining IS pretty well
worked out, but the deep placer mining,
which is immensely rich, is practically un-
| touched
| Tayors party thoroughly tested Their
| claim and found the gold in quantities as
| above stated. The gold is coarse, ranging
| from particles as large as wheat up to the
| size OF a pea, with some larger nuggets.
The claim is estimated to contain over
So, ,OOO, 900 in gold that can be taken out at
the rate Of $1,000 day without extensive or
expensive works.
The natives who operate placer mines
by means of cane pumps attached to over
shot water wheels produce gold very rap
idly.
Modern mining and pumping machinery
have not been introduced to any extent
on account of the long mountain trails
which necessitate the use of mule power
for the transportation of all kinds of
freight for two hundred miles or more.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATA
Those who have seen accounts of the
different strata of pits put down in the
Klonidke will note the similarity of placer
grounds. The one put down by Taylor's
party shows the entire strata of the Porce
valley. The first stratum is composed Of
about seven feet of ordinary rock and rift
of the mountain side; then there is almost
six feet of blue clay, and then foot or
two of black sand, thoroughly impregnated
with iron. In many instances solid nodules
of iron appear. Here the water begins.
Then follow Ave feet of conglomerate,
which is not cemented together, but yields
readily to the pick. Below this come four
feet of conglomerate, rounded down to
nodules--granite, quartz and cysts-with
much slate, which, however, is not
rounded. but is worn fiat. In this stratum
is the gold. Underneath this is bedrock.
which is granite. which is decomposed by
reason of the iron oxide coming down
through from the sand.
proach bedrock. A pump throwing 1876
gallons per minute. operated by eight men,
could hardly keep the water down suffi-
Labor was uncertain, as 1t stopped contin-
ually for feasts and religious services.
Mr.. Taylor's party will put in a CEN
trifugal pump that will lift 5000 gallons per
minute.
AGAINST A FINE-SPUN THEORY
This rich mining region seems to dis
prove the theory that in the formation of
the world all the gold was floating in the
atmosphere in vapor form. and that the
bulk of it was deposited near the poles, for
this country lies almost under the equator.
being located only few degrees north of
that imaginary line.
The country is covered with a dense
growth of forests and undergrowth and
one who travels outside the regular trails
must cut his way with a machete The
forests abound in mahogany rosewood and
laurel.
The land is easily cleared, however, as
the trees are cut down and left to dry.
and then a fire sweeps everything off ex-
cept the stumps and large logs, and these.
in two years time, decay and go to pieces
There are two rainy seasons. December,
January and February are dry The next
three months are wet, the next three dry,
and the next three wet again.
Irrigation is not necessary. Everything
grows luXuriantly. After the forests are
cleared off a native grass tall and rich,
springs UP and grows vigorously, and this
furnishes feed to the immense herds of
cattle.
IMMENSE FORESTS-PRODUCT
The country is mountainous, with large
valleys, capable of supporting an immense
population. The Magdalena valley is
thousand miles long and from twenty to
eighty miles WIDE Other valleys are ex-
tensive but not so large.
The population is of Spanish descent,
mixed with Indian. People. however. do
not have any attachment or love for Spain.
Labor is cheap. being worth in gold
from 30 to 40 cents per day, and a girl to
do housework can be hired at from S12 to
SIS year.
All kinds of fruit and vegetables grow
vigorously, as does also corn, which is the
staff of life, instead of wheat Cattle are
abundant, and yet the people use very little
milk and no butter. The cattle of that
a black spot on the back of each ear and
on the nose. The black spots are as black
as the ace of spades, and the white is as
white as the driven snow in Klondike.
VERY CHEAP LANDS
The country is as undeveloped as the
United States was a century ago. Land is
cheap, as a rule. Government valley land
as fine as there is in the world. can be had
by purchasing government warrants as
cheaply as Is cents an acre. Land in large
tracts can be purchased at second hands
at from Sl.50 to S2.50 per acre On the plains
Of Bogota, near that capital CITY of $50 600
people, good lnad is valued. however. at
from 500 to 800 an acre. This plain is
l2,OOo feet above sea level, and the climate
there is said to be the finest in the world.
REVOLUTIONS
The government is subject to FREQUENT
revolutions. Practically none but the SOL
diers are allowed to vote The soldiers
support the government. and the govern
ment supports the soldiers No one Is
allowed to carry a rife into the countrv
therefore the government and the soldiers
have control of all the rifles and ammunf-
ton. Revolvers are allowed. Mr.. Taylor
had to leave his rifle with the custon, offi-
Ger when he arrived in the country AMI
was allowed to take 1t again when he left
The natives make two kinds of liouor
"hlch are the national drinks. They are
cheap and very exhilarating. Peer 10
very expensive, as it is all imported. and
there is heavy tariff upon it. Beer sells
al ~ cents pint, and therefore but little
of it is used.