The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-29
GOLD N DESERT sand
Edison Knows How to Make
Electricity Get II.
UNTOLD WEALTH WAITING
In the WaterIeSs Wastes of
the Ortiz Land Grant,

New York. Oct. 2S.-The Journal says:
The sleepv old town of Dolores, New
Mexico, that still clings to many spanish
traditions, is to be the centre OF attrac-
fion on the part Of the worlds gold nun
tiers during the next few months Tor IL
IS there that Thomas A. Edison IS TO
demonstrate that he has discovered the
secret of extracting the precious metal
from the desert sands by a process de-
scribed in the Journal several weeks ago.
Dolores is the centre Of the great ortiz
land grant of $4,000 acres, which was re-
Gently purchased by a syndicate headed
nv Edison it is said, for 100000 The
rompanv was formed and the purchase
made on the strength Of Edison's asser-
Hion that he had discovered and tested
process by which 90 per cent OF the gold
in the dry. sun-baked hills Of the ORTIZ
grant could he extracted without the aid
of so much as d bucket Of water.
IJnbounded faith is expressed in the
ability Of the wizard Of electricity to
make good his assertions. Even the IN
demonstrative Mexicans in this vicinity
have been seized with the spirit Of the
affair. and every move that is made in
the local headquarters Of the Edison COM
pany in Cunningham Guleh, one-half
mile below Dolores. where the first plant
IS to be located. is watched with eager
interest by the inhabitants of the mud
walled houses of the settlements.
To look about the country surround
snE the little town Of Dolores one would
not be led to imagine that millions Of
dollars in gold had been taken from the
fat and unpromising territory, and that
millions more remain to flow into the COT
fers of Edison or some other genius who
discovers the secret of mining gold with
out water.
In this barren territory Indians, Span
iards and Americans have engaged in the
almost constant hunt for gold, and evil
dences have been found tending to show
that the wonderful people whose ruined
homes are now found in Mexican cliffs
delved in the rich soil ages ago and Sc
cured the yellow metal for their wis
and ankle ornaments.
The predecessors of the Pueblo indians
mined here for gold and copper-for tn
district is rich in many mfnerals-and i
was the rumor of the fabulous wealu
of this region that lured the Conquls
tadores in the sixteenth century to thes
barren mesas, and even as far as South
ern Colorado. These early searchers 70
gold found mines that We're still marvel
lousy rich, although much of thei
wealth had been yielded to the natives
Some Of the workings of the Ortiz min'
sn the upper part of the Ortiz grant, al
hundreds of years old and quain
weather-beaten Dolores IS the oldest mil
ing camp in the United States.
Tradition has it that nuggets of emo
NOUS size were found by the Spanish az
venturers who were the first Of their RAJ
on the ground, and certain it is ut tn
dav that one of the severe rainstorn
that infrequently visit this country vi
expose many, particles Of gold.
Several years ago a nugget worth 49,
was picked UP after one Of these storm
Gold can be found anywhere on the gra
where the older rocks are the underlyil
formation. or where they are adjacent
gulches, and the placer gold can be east
traced to the lodes whence it originate
Before the Mexican occupation tho
sands of Mexicans passed the winter
the Ortiz grant in order to utilize
snow which fell, as the difficulties
mining. owing 10 the scarcity of wat
were something appalling. The old m
ers carried the rich gravel on their baC
in sacks for miles to some spring, or e
the water was brought to the placers
a not less painful process of ''packin'
In the winter the snow of the cane
was melted by means of heated roc
and the scanty supply Of water thus f
nished was used over and over again
washing the precious pay dirt.
When the Americans came YAM
methods took precedence over the cr'
labor Of the Mexicans. Deep wells W
bored. and water was forced up
steam pumps. The dirt that had b
washed years before was washed az;
according TO the new process. and Vi,
ed rich results. The deep wells have
all lasted. however. and water has c
t:nued to grow scarce year by year,
ill now the sole hope Of perpetuatinG
yield Of the Minis is by the plan VI
the wizard Edison has devised.
The Ortiz mine which is the lar
and Oldest of the ore properties in
grant. was located. according TO off
papers. by Ignacio Cano in 1898