The San Francisco call., 1898-01-23

In 2. quiet nook in the Alameda County hills, where the Black range frowns darkly on the rolling hills that stretch away toward the San Joaquin Valley, a new town has been born to Califor1lia-one that is destined, and in fact is now, the greatest and most per feet mining camp on the Pacific Coast. Tesla. for such is the name Of the town, is not strictly a camp, but as perfect a little town as it is possible to imagine, and it's rise to the dignity Of being entitled to a place on the map IS almost as wonderful as the story of Aladdfn's palace. The difference is that 1t was conjured up by the use of wealth and fertile brains, and not by rubbing of a lamp. Heat and light are the moving factors in the life of Tesla, however, for it is the home of the army of men who operate the immense coal mine that gives the place it's name.
 LID to a few short weeks ago Corral Hollow was the commonplace cOgno- men of the hilI-girt town, and its claim to being known as the habita- ton of men consisted of the mining plapt. a few anticipated farm build ings. a scattering of tents on the hill sides and beside the little stream that meanders down the canyon. Now doZ- ems of neat little cottages have been built on streets laid out on the north bank of the arroyo, a substantial hotel rears itself on the south bank, stores. a saloon, a hospital. lodging houses, shops and many other neat structures are rising like magic, ana Tesla pre- sents a far more animated appearance than hundreds of towns of ten times it's size.
 Nor are the buildings all or the greatest of improvements. No finer or more complete electric lighting system was ever inaugurated, and a sewerage system second to none is at present racing with the buildings toward com pletion.
 Corral Hollow is a famous place in California history as the headquarters of that notorious bandit, Joaquin Mu- rietta, who terrorized the San Joaquin Valley for many years when Stockton was in it's infancy and many other towns that are now hourishing com munfties had not yet attained the dig mites of names.
 Among the canyons of the Black range he made his hiding places and
  herds in Corral Hollow during brand ing time were constantly on the look out for Murietta and his band of cut threats, who thought nothing of killing three or four men for the mere lust of blood. Down the little valley that leads out of the hollow toward Stock ton, visitors are shown Castle Rock where Murietta's lookouts were sta
 
 bands of grim, determined men rode ur the glen with rifles at ready" praying for a chance to get in the bullet that would rid California of the dreaded des- perado.
 Corral Hollow was so named because its precipitous sides made it natural enclosure from which even the hardy hill bred cattle could scarcely escape except toward the river. It's enduring fame, however, rests on the immensity of the coal deposits that have been dis covered on it's sides and on the fact that the greatest electrician of the age had his name perpetuated by having the place called after him.
 Eight years ago it came to the ears of the Treadwen brothers who located and developed the great Treadwel mines in Alaska, that coal deposits ex isted in Corral Hollow, which is abou twelve miles from Livermore Be. Heving that such deposits would be o1 great value in such close proximity o San Francisco, they began a quiet in. vestigation as to the extent and qual- ity of the coal. Becoming convinced that an inexhaustible supply of fuel ex. isted in the interior of the mountain they set about acquiring possession O. the rights and properties that would