The San Francisco call., 1898-08-07

is spending several weeks in the
 southern counties doing a little geological work, but mainly con- U 1Cerning himself with the work of
 preparing the register of mines and the county mining maps, which will be the chief work of the bureau for another year. County deputies familiar with the local mining field have been ap- pointed in tWenty-four counties to assist in the map work and In the description Of the operating mines of their counties Seo- retary Jacobs expects that the bureau will move to the new ferry building about September L w L. Watts, the oil expert of the bureau. has gone into Orange Coun- ty to study the oil possibilities there. He is preparing an extensive bulletin deScrip- tive of the results of his last year of work in the southern oil fields, and State Min eralogiSt Cooper hopes to be able to get 1t published this fall.
 An important strike has been made in the old and great Brown Bear mine at DeadWood, Shasta County. The latest discovery was made in the lower tunnel of the mine on.the Monte CriSto walls and is the continuation of the ore chutes of the upper levels. Its width is three feet where it was cut. The ore is reported to be quite rich and the ore body large. For about thirteen years the fifteen stamps of the Brown Bear mill have been hammer ing away day and night with scarcely in- termission enough for repairs. Yet, thir- teen years ago the mine was considered worked out Again, four years ago the men at the helm took a gloomy view of its future, but new men with more hope ful views, renewed energy and more intel Hgent prospecting kept things going and paying as in the past The mine is now owned by J. w. Phillips of Oakland
 rich find is reported from Scott Noun tain on the upper waters of the Trinity River, Trinity County. J. W. Conant of Redding has been spending the summer hi Ia aa mir, a mountain stream with his family as many prospectors do. His find is a ledge of free gold seven feet wide and averag- ing S25 ton. There will be many such finds throughout that mining region of Northern Trinity and Western Siskiyou
 Not long ago rich strike of nuggets was made in Southern Oregon when some ducks were killed, and quite a little stam- pede to the duck foraging ground follow ed. The other oay the Desmond brothers, living at Oak Bottom, in Shasta County Killed an old rooster for dinner and his gizzard yielded a 50-cent nugget with which they bought eggs.
 The San Francisco parties who recent ly purchased the Tough Nut mine on Dog Creek of Neley Thomas have about com pleted the construction of a cyanide plant. The principal owner is expected on the ground in a few days and a new method for the treatment of the rich Dog Creek ores will soon receive thorough test There are few sections where so many rich lodges abound and where such a good surface showing is made as in Dog Creek
 Among the richest placers of Shasta County were those of Dog Creek, and many fortunes were taken out by the early miners of that section Even at the present time many miners are making a living on the old creek and occasionally light.
 The Big Two. and Lone Lenore mines, on Little Humbug, have been sold for Sl0 900 to San Francisco parties.
 The Salmon River Mining Company, now working the old Billy Klein mine, has. been doing very we'll lately. and was more extensive. The river Is very low this season, on account of lack of snow on the high mountains last winter. They have about 15 900 inches at present and ought to have double that amount for running the mine to its fullest extent The water will gradually diminish until the hot weather is over.-Yreka Journal
 The cyanide plant of the Midas Gold Mining Company at Harrison Gulch Shasta County, was destroyed by fire re- gently, and it is to be rebuilt immedi- ately.
 The Reeder & Brown claim on Shasta River, in Fools Paradise district, which pald SlO.OO during the past two months, IS now In litigation concerning partner ship difficulty, with J. F. Boyle as re- celVer. This Is very rich ledge, and all the quartz taken out yields very rich avera ge.-Yreka Journal
 A gentleman who has recently visited the upper end of the county said the min- ing outlook in the vicinity of the Forks of Butte was very good. Eight mining locations had lately been made near the Best mine. Three of these were made by local residents, while five had been made by men from San Francisco and San Jose. The latter were well supplied with capital to open and work the gravel deposits which prospected well.-Oroville Register
 The machinery at the Odin mine is all In place over the new shaft and the water for power Is now being brought in from the Central House ditch. It is expected that everything will be in readiness by Wednesday to start the machinery Steam power is being introduced for use fin case the water falls at any time.-Ne- vada City Transcript
 The lack of water has no effect on the pocket mines. In fact, it is a benefit. The pocket mines are the sources from which two-thirds of the ready money in Tuo-
 R. B. Symington is making a survey Of the Constitution mine on Deer Creek above town, and will prepare a report on the property, which is likely to be sold soon to a company that will start up work on t. The Constitution is doubt less valuable property, having been a large producer above water level In early times.-Nevada City Transcript.
 The Allison Ranch mine is now run ming by steam power, the company refus- ing to take water on account of contin- uQus ntgauon;t-Cirass Valley Telegraph.
 We have authority for saying that the Mount Gaines mine is sold to George Crocker and J. F. Peck and that the par ties concerned are now in San Francisco Gazette
 Scarcity of water is playing sad havoc with surrounding mines. The Bell and Norwegian, near Tuttletown, have closed down, and it is more than probable that several others in that vicinity will be obliged to follow suit. After few years more of these losses mine owners will have electric power and not be at the