davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1898-03-14
Mother Lode Mining

In the course of an article on Mining as
Business" the Amador Ledger says:
Mining along the mother lode requires a
prospecting period covering. In most In
stances. from three to five years. and the
most rigid economy must be practiced, for,
If the cost is kept down to the minimum.
1t will still amount to a vast sum before
a certainty that there is no pay-shoot to
be found is arrived at. or the pay-shoot is
found and returns had from the mill"
This is really one of the principal reasons
why so many mother lode properties were
only partly opened and then abandoned
for years, and why so many of them now
paying are In the present owners hands.
If the miners of thirty or forty years ago
had had experience to give them the
sand" to keep on spending money and
sinking, they would have made the profits
instead of leaving them to be gathered
by the present generation. AS the Ledger
very properly says, the men placed in
charge of properties on the lode should
be thoroughly familiar with all the con-
ditions which may arise both as to
equipment and the prosecution of the work
Too often men without this experience
have been placed in charge with disastrous
results to the mine and the stockholders.
In fact, along that great and famous lode,
where success is almost assured. provided
the proper methods are adopted, there have
been more quartz mining failures than
elsewhere in the state.
The herald., 1898-03-14
The Duncan Mines

Since the erection few months ago Of q
battery of four two-stamp trlple-dis-
charge mills at Duncan's mines at the Pot
holes. the property has been considered.
more than ever, among the prominent
mines of this section of country; In fact,
about the chief representative, aside from
the mines Of the Golden Cross company at
Hedges, of the low-grade propositions in
which the Colorado river country abounds
Ciean-ups of the mills plates have been
made every fifteen days, and while all ex-
penses incurred In the running of the mine
and mill, which have been larger than they
generally will be, on account Of the new
ness of the machinery and the fact that
matters have hardly had time to get in
good working order. have been covered by
these clean-ups, and small margin left,
they have not been entirely satisfactory,
Last Friday, however, on the XO-foot
level, body Of about $40 ore was struck.
which Is of considerable extent and gives
indications of growing larger rather than
diminishing. This will increase the profits
of the mine greatly, which, even with tho
lower grade of ore in which the property
abounds, will be highly satisfactory when
working gets fully under way. 1t is said
that bond has been taken on the property
by Mr.. W.. A. Clark. prominent Yavapai
county mining man. who has been some
time in this section. The consideration Ia
100000, an exceedingly reasonable price
for the Duncan mines.-Yuma Sun.
The herald., 1898-03-14
Ventura Notes

VENTURA, March 12-The farmers of
the Los Posas district have combined and
leased a large tract of land in the Ante
lope valley for pasturage. They have over
100 head of stock already pastured.
Notwithstanding the fact that the city
is making all preparations to hold an elec-
ton for the municipal ownership of an
electric light plant G.. W. Chusman, man.
ager of the Ventura light plant, has pur-
chased all the needed machinery for the
establishment Of another plant. There is
but little doubt the people of Ventura will
vote to float the bonds for that purpose.
In fact, it is conceded beyond doubt.
Leslie r. Chaffee of the Chaffee COM
pany, recently married to Miss Eva Solari,
is erecting a 10-room residence on the cor
ner Of Main and Kalaiama.
The herald., 1898-03-14
FUCKERS GAME OF BACCARAT
He Lost Ten Thousand Dollars and
Now Declines to Pay

The case of Gerald vs. Rucker, which Is
down for hearing before the Queens bench
division, is likely to attract considerable
interest. Mr.. Martin ID. Rucker is the
gentleman against whom the action is
brought by well known sporting man, and
the o US given at baccarat are alleged to
amount to close upon $4,000.
Mr.. Rucker who is almost as widely
known for his success with his racehorses
as he is for his shrewd management of his
bicycle business, when making one of
house party at Newmarket last summer,
was unwise enough to play bacarrat. Per-
haps Mr.. Rucker had less than the usual
luck of beginners or possibly he persisted
in betting when the chances were against
him, or it may be that he only lacked the
wisdom of experience which led the dying
Frenchman to bequeath to his son the
immortal baccarat advice-de ne jamais
tirer au cinq. However that may have
been, the stock of chips at Mr.. Rucker's
right hand vanished so rapidly that soon
he was obliged to purchase further sup
ply These went the way of the others,
while the players around the table compli-
mented Mr.. Rucker on his skill, but Won
dered at his bad luck. At the conclusion
it was found that Mr.. Rucker had not only
lost all his spare cash, but had signed ac-
acknowledgements amounting to nearly
$4,000.
What was the surprise of the winners,
when, on presenting the acknowledgements
Mr.. Rucker refused to honor them! Rep
reservations and threats were alike una
vailing-the loser would not pay. In the
circumstances the only thing to do was
to bring an action for the recovery of the
money. When seen yesterday Rucker ad-
mitted the correctness of the foregoing
statement, but said that he did not know
the name of the game he had played, and
had never seen it before playing it at New
market.-St. James Gazette
The herald., 1898-03-14

standing in our street discussions before
the meeting everybody seemed anxious to
have the values of their property reduced,
so as to lessen taxation, when they came
to the questions: "Shall we reduce the
sprinking of streets?" "Shall we curtail
the accommodations of the public H.
brary?' etc. but few persons favored such
retrenchments.
When the vote was taken "for' or
against" reduced taxation, only seven
persons voted for while the whole audi
ence, fifty or more, voted to "let well
enough alone"
The following candidates were then nom
mated:
For city trustees, Lee A. Longley, II.
Cunningham, l.. Q. Atwood; clerk, Mr..
Hinckley; marshal and street superintend-
ent, Mr.. Reed, present incumbent; treas
urer, j. H. Jacobs. present incumbent H.
brary board, DR.. Walker, DR.. Taylor, Mer-
ton Keith, Howard Longley, M. Merwin
There is no disposition to nominate an op-
position ticket.
The herald., 1898-03-14

VALDES, Alaska, Feb. 27-(Special Cor
respondence to The Herald) The Califor-
mia Bears, composed of Paul Tyson, Ern-
est White and Harry Spencer of Santa Ana
and H. M. MARBLE and C. B. Duryea of Los
Angeles, bound for the Copper River dis
trict, are encamped here. together with
some 15O other gold seekers, waiting for
favorable weather to cross the glacier.
The Valdes pass can be Travelled only six
or eight weeks during the year. Several
parties have been in camp here for months
The pass is now in condition for travel and
everybody hopes to get their outfits over
the glacier before the end of March.
Once across the pass, we do not antici-
pate any delay in proceeding far enough
up the Copper river to commence pros
pecting, where every man in camp is conf
dent that he will strike rich placer dig
gings.
Once across the glacier. we will proceed
due west of Spirit mountain until we strike
the Copper river, 120 miles or more from its
mouth where we will begin to prospect,
working north, or the west side of the river,
until we reach the Klotena river.
IHtIt is HO SCdlcllS Vi pIpNlSIullS III
Valdes, all the parties being well supplied.
There are no cases of sickness among the
men.
The weather for the past six weeks has
been mild. but al times very windy. Only 4
few inches of snow have fallen this month
The atmosphere is not cold except at night
and during the early morning. 1t is day
light al $40 a. m. and not dark until Up.
m. While the sun is shining the weather IS
almost as balmy as in Southern California.
In the seven weeks we have been encamped
here we have had fully as much and per-
haps more sunshine than cloudy weather
There are three married women in camp
here. Among the last arrivals via steamer
Excelsior were Mr. and Mrs Haas from
Los Angeles. Mr.. Haas Will open a store
here. He has about ton of goods to COM
mence with and says he has several tons Of
merchandise coming by the Alliance and
Excelsior.
There are two routes from here to the
Copper River district. The Valdes pass
over the glacier and what is known as the
river route along the banks of a small
stream which winds its way through the
range of mountains that separates the
coast from the Copper River district.
During our encampment here several ex-
The herald., 1898-03-14

States, on their way to Copper river,
Alaska, realizing that we have no proper
protection under the laws Of the land,
deem it necessary to enact a code of laws
to govern our conduct during our journey
and stay in Alaska; therefore be it
Resolved, That the following be enacted
into a miners law
That any person guilty of willful mur-
der, upon conviction thereof. shall be pun
shed as a jury of twelve men shall decide.
THAT any person guilty of assault,
assault and battery, aggravated assault or
assault with intent to kill shall be punished
as jury of twelve men shall decide.
ANY person or persons charged with
stealing any property whatsoever shall be
tried by jury of twelve men and upon
conviction thereof shall be sentenced to
Immediately restore the property stolen
and pay to the party injured all damages
sustained directly or indirectly in conse-
quence Of the theft, and in case the guilty
party shall not so restore the property and
make good all the damages aforesaid the
injured party may take sufficient prop
erty from the defendant to satisfy all dam
ages and dispose of it in any way he may
deem proper, and the defendant shall also
be banished forever from the country. and
he failing to leave Immediately upon no.
tice, shall receive not less than ten noI
more than fifty lashes, and, failing to leave
within ten days after such punishment
shall abide by the consequences, AMI
should the amount stolen exceed s1C0 in
value he shall be punished as in the case
of murder.
THAT any person charged with crimes
described as above shall be tried by jury
of twelve men of the district, and in all
trials defendant shall be entitled to three
peremptory challenges, and a person shall
be adjudged guilty of any crime if not less
than ten OF the jury shall agree to his
guilt.
1.-The officers elected to enforce these
laws shall consist of judge, sheriff, a
clerk"
The first election to fill these offices was
held at what is called the court house at
Copper City at p. m. February s, 1898.
The following citizens were elected: c.
A. King. judge; Delbert Stevens, sheriff
Frank P. Reed, clerk.
The above officers all good, resoute
men, and no further trouble is anticipated.
1t is safe TO predict that theft will be un-
known, as the miners are determined to
! enforce the law on the first offender.
The herald., 1898-03-14
Good and Bad Luck

The Sonora Democrat of March 5th says:
On last Tuesday afternoon a fine body of
specimen ore was uncovered at the Sell
mine, short distance from the face of the
tunnel, which is in several hundred feet.
planked over. Intending to do some widen
ing out at this point to put in hoisting sta
ton, the foreman, Louis Page, had hole
put in the vein, the shot breaking loose a
lot of quartz, much of which is very rich
This was the first blast put off in the mine
under the new management and a short
time will demonstrate whether the dis
covery is bonanza or not. Those who
had run the tunnel past this point missed
the deposit of gold by not over six inches
The herald., 1898-03-14
Silver Mining

Silver mining in the United States has
not decreased as much as most people are
inclined to believe. The production still
remains very large. In 1897 the quantity
produced from ores mined in the United
States was 56,117 900 ounces, in 1896 1t was
IS 4S9 900 ounces, in 1895. 46 331 900 ounces in
1894, 49,S47,OOo ounces, and in 1898. 60,5Oo,0oo
ounces. The production has therefore
increased over the depression which fol-
lowed the great fall in silver in 1898. The
greater part of the silver mines in this
country have continued running, although
their profits have been of course, very
much diminished by the fall in the value
of the metal.
A very large part of the silver, however,
is produced in connection with other
metals. Thus the Anaconda, which is gen.
orally known as copper mine. is at the
same time the largest producer OF silver in
the United States, and very considerable
proportion of our lead supply is obtained
from mines which produce silver Also
New York Times.
The herald., 1898-03-14

II think It foolish for men to rush to
the north In such large numbers" said
Murray to a Riverside Enterprise reporter.
"While coming down the trail we passed
several hundred poor men with heads
bowed down with hardship and discour-
agements vending their way to the Mecca
of excitement. Only limited number of
men can be employed on the Klondike
claims, and a question of great moment
is: What are these poor fellows going to
do for living? Wages are good, 1t is true,
but there is no employment for one
twentieth Of the men who are heading for
the Yukon. Provisions are scarce and
these men will have to live. 1t costs about
$12.5 day for board in the winter months,
and wages are only SIS a day.
THE growth and development of the
Yukon country will be the same as any
other mining district--those who reach the
country first will be literally rewarded.
but the thousands who follow will be re-
duced to poverty and starvation In many
cases."
what do you think of the Copper river
district?" was asked by the reporter.
"Well, 1 am convinced that there is a
great deal of gold along the river, but the
men who have endeavoredn 80 get at 1t
so far have lacked courage and persever-
ence. Parties would arrive at the head OF
the river and, being unable to go farther,
would do little washing and return with
the report that the Copper river gold fields
were fake. The Copper river will be the
same as the Klondike, the parties who
reach the gold fields first will be the ones
who make the money. and those who fol-
low will get the worst of the DEAL"
The herald., 1898-03-14
ELECTRIC PRIVILEGES
The San Gabriel Company in Pasa-
dena-The Tourist Crop

PASADENA, March 13.-(Ofice of The
Herald, 5S East Colorado street) The re-
cent granting of a franchise to the San
Gabriel Electric company to erect poles
and string wires or to build conduits for
the transmission of electricity inside the
city limits, means a great deal to the city
of Pasadena. The company will do light,
heat and power business in the city and in
competition with the present company Will
doubtless bring prices downwards. Will
liam Kerckhoff of the Kerckhoff-C Gunner
Mill and Lumber company is president of
the new concern, which should insure its
thorough reliability. According 10 the
ordinance. the company is granted its
several privileges under condition that the
poles shall be straight and not placed
nearer together than 100 feet, excepting n t
intersections; shall be set flush with the
curb except where the council directs 9TH
erwise; that the council shall have power
to order the poles removed that the wires
shall not be less than twenty feet from the
ground; that all underground conduits
shall be placed at such depth as the council
directs; that the city shall have the right
to use the poles and conduits for its fire
police, telegraph or telephone wires; that
the grantee shall commence work within
three months and shall expend' SIC, 900 with
in eighteen months.
LOTS OF TOURISTS
All winter Pasadenas tourist hotels
have done big business. Both La Pinto
resca and the Green have had to turn away
guests and are now well filled. The hotel
men will profit by this object lesson. La
Pintoresca will have large new addition
built to it during the coming summer for
the accommodation of next years guests
By that time, too. the annex to the Green
which was expected TO be in use long before
this, will be finished and open. Walter
Raymond IS expected 10 arrive in Pasadena
on the 18th inst, when in all probability
steps will be taken toward the rebuilding
of the Raymond hotel. The grounds of the
Raymond are being kept in excellent shape
and a small admission fee is charged 20
them. The gatekeeper is informing guests
of the owners intention to rebuild.
The deputy county assessors again start
BREVITIES
to work tomorrow Monday. The following
deputies have been appointed for this city:
John o. Lowe, chief deputy; c. w. Swan,
field deputy for the business center; Capt.
A. c. Drake, south of Colorado street; A.
NJ Elson, north of Colorado street; G. A.
Winner, North Pasadena.
John A. Emmons, aged rs years, died to-
day. Deceased came here from Boston
about three months ago. The remains will
The herald., 1898-03-14
Orange Nominations

ORANGE, March 13-At a caucus held in
the Bank hall on Saturday evening the
following nominations were made for city
oificers: For city trustees, four-year term,
f. L. Parker, Ed Camfield; for two-year
term, Henri f. Gardner, Nelson L. Ed
wards; for treasurer, w. II. II. Clayton;
for clerk, o. p. Koerting; for marshal,
George Webb; for library Trustees, Lea
Collins and Walter S. Gregg.
fruit and vegetable cannery is very
much needed at Orange. Orange and
surrounding country produce sufficient
fruit and vegetables to keep a large can
merry running the greater part of the sea
son, and it is not unlikely that substantial
encouragement would be given to a COM
petent Gamer If he would undertake the
enterprise.
The herald., 1898-03-14
Sold For Thirty-iive Thousand

The F. A. Lehman group of six gold
claims in the Castle Creek district. Yavapai
county, has been sold to E. Lorensend and
I. X. Lloyd of Salt Lake City, Utah. the
consideration being $S5,oOO. The new own
ers will begin Immediately to work the
property, and will erect ten stamp mill.
The mine has a good sized pay streak,
which assays $40 per ton gold. A test has
been made which showed that sixty-six
per cent can be plated. No stopping has
been done in the mine, but there is a great
deal of ore on the dump taken out while de-
veloping the property. There is said to
be 5000 tons of ore in sight in the 400 feet of
work done.-Yuma Sun.
The herald., 1898-03-14

| petitions have been made to ascertain the
practicability of the latter route. Early in
| the month four men went up the river for
| thirty-fve miles. They were gone fifteen
days. On their return they reported favor
| ably of this route On February Sth par
| ty of five, including Harry Spencer of the
| California Bears, left for a two weeks trip
up the river to verify the report. They re-
| turned and reported unfavorably of the
| route it being considered by them mprac-
| ticable.
| Nne-tenths of those encamped here have
decided to go over the glacier. Everybody
| is taking advantage of the fine weather and
there is great activity in getting supplies
up the pass.
Some few are determined to go by the
river route.
The Pacific Steam Whaling company is
building a dock here and have put up a
store. 1t is said they are about to build
hotel, as there is much talk of their rum
ming excursion steamers to NaldeS next
summer. Flour can be bought for $3.50 and
81 per hundred weight at valdes, but Oh
the other side of the glacier it costs s14 to
s16 per hundred. The Indians who are
willing to work want so much for taking
! it over the pass that it is worth fully SIG
per hundred on the other side. A man with
some good horses or oxen here now would
pick up a tidy sum transporting the vari-
Gus outfits.
Some days the wind is so cold and fierce
that no hauling on the glacier can be done
Several parties have made the trip over
the pass. They did not reach the Copper
river but did reach one of its tributaries
Camp life at Valdes has not been so mo-
notonous as one might expect. With
plenty of small game in the forests and
fish in the rivers the men have had con-
siderable sport
The camp here has been very orderly
since the hanging of bad man. from
Montana, who quarreled with and shot
and killed man named Lee from Lowell
Mass, and a man named Call from St
Paul, Mimi, on New Years day. This
bad man" was disarmed and on Sunday
January I'd, tried and hanged. This was
the first and only evidence Of the presence
of disorderly characters among us, and it
led to the drawing up of code of laws to
govern the conduct of those now in this
district and all who are to come.
Copper City, Alaska, Valdes Bay, Febru-
ary s, 1885,
Whereas, The citizens of the United
The herald., 1898-03-14
Disorder at Corona

RIVERSIDE, March 13.-Word was re
ceived here last evening Of a serious cut
ting ARRAY between two Mexlcans at Cor
ona. The men quarreled over the division
of some money. when Martini, one of the
men, drew a knife and inflicted several
dangerous stabs on the body of the other,
whose name is Grajalvo Martini is under
arrest and his victim is In the hands OF the
surgeons.
Burglars are plying their vocation at
Corona very boldly. In the past few days
a number of houses have been broken into
and considerable property has been taken.
The burglars have thus far eluded arrest,
although all suspicious characters are
closely watched.
The herald., 1898-03-14

pany's packing house near Casa Blanca
yesterday. which is likely to result fatally
for one Of the men. The fighters, who had
been drinking. engaged in a game OF cards.
and dispute arose which led to the fight
One Of the men attacked the other with
a knife, and the latter, whose name Is
Hall, used a hatchet on the head OF his
antagonist, cutting several deep wounds
AS It was a case of self-defense. no ar
rests have been made, although the In
jured man Is lying in critical condition.
The herald., 1898-03-14
RIVERSIDE NON-PARTISANs
Candidates For City Offices Nominated
at an Enthusiastic Meeting

RIVERSIDE, March 13.-The non-parti-
san mass meeting called for yesterday
afternoon for the purpose of placing a
municipal ticket for trustees in the field
was an enthusiastic affair throughout
L. C. Russell was made chairman and
NJ. r. Plaisted secretary. The meeting
adopted strong platform calling for re-
form in city government and reduction
of water rates. The nominees were
pledged to the strictest economy and to the
levy of a low tax rate. They We're also
pledged to fix water rate of not more
than 10 cents an inch
Brad Morse, DR.. C. c. Sherman and Alex
Grant were the nominees of the convention
for trustees. The convention decided not
to name candidates for clerk. marshal or
treasurer.