The record-union., 1899-10-17

esting:
KAOLIN DEPOSITS.
San Diego Union: The largest and
most valuable deposit of kaolin on the
continent lies within twenty miles of
this city. and is about to be sold by
the owner for a large sum. For the
benefit of those persons who do not
know kaolin when they see it, or do
not know what it is when they hear
or read about it, the information is i'm
parted that kaolin is valuable kind
OF pottery clay from which dishes and
line crockery is made.
The kaOlin deposits are situated on
FL Cajon mountain about twenty
miles east of San Diego, and the prin-
cipal owner of the claims is Charles
String, an experienced miner, who evi-
IDENTIFY knows a good thing when he
sees 1t. He was prospecting for gold
on the barren sides of Cajon mountain
some months ago, when he came upon
what appeared to be a vast deposit of
the valuable pottery clay. 1t was on
Government land, and Mr.. String filed
upon seven locations in the County Re
corder's office, taking in about all the
kaolln there was in sight on the sur
Iace. Since that time other locations
have been made by other persons
Mr.. String went quietly to work to
ascertain the value of the clay. send
ing samples to Japan and to manufac-
turers in the Eastern States. The sam
pies sent to Japan aroused the greatest
interest among the porcelain manufac-
turers OF that country, and Mr.. String
some time ago received an inquiry as
10 now much clay he could furnish on
board the California and Oriental
steamers at this port, and at what price
per ton. The kaolin, said the repre-
sentatlVes Of the japanese, was the
pest that had been seen in Japan, and
was badly wanted, since the deposits
formerly drawn upon in Japan for cen
turtles had almost given out, necessitat-
ing the closing of many factories.
Mr.. String, having obtained an idea
OF the extent of the deposits furn-
lshed the desired information, and suffi-
clent time has not elapsed to, receive
reply from the Japanese firms in
tefested. In the meantime, an Amer
lean firm has investigated the deposits
ana after experimenting with the kao-
lin, has sent its representative here TO
buy out Mr.. String. The representa-
tive is George Holcomb, now in the
city, and the other day he made a
definite offer for the valuable deposits.
1t has been impossible to learn the
exact amount of money offered. but Mr..
string admits that it is a large sum.
From other sources it is learned that
the price is between $40. 900 and $780,
OOO. Papers are said to have been
made out and it is likely that within
a week the deal will have been closed.
Mr.. String has sunk shaft ninety
nVe feet deep through the kaolin de-
posts. The valuable clay extends from
the surface to a depth of eighty feet.
and from indications on the surface has
a great width. At bedrock Mr.. String
encountered a gold bearing vein upon
winch he is sinking, but it is from the
kaolln deposits that he expects to
make fortune, though he considers
the gold discovery worth developing.
He said last night that he believed the
kaolin was a bonanza
There are deposits of kaolin of an in.
ferior quality in South Carolina and
other parts of the Atlantic Coast. and
small deposit exists near Stockton,
IN this State, which was developed by
capitalists. Nowhere else on the
continent, it is said, is there such vast
deposit as that on Ell Cajon mountain.
The claims owned by Mr. String are
within four and three quarters miles
from the Cuyamaca railroad. and large
quantities of the clay could be shipped
at comparatively slight expense. The
best quality of kaolin in the East is
worth Sl9 ton, according to those who
nave investigated the matter
Mr.. String, who has prospected over a
good part of Montana, Wyoming, Cali
fornia and other parts of the West.
states that the mineral wealth of San
Diego is scarcely known. sIt is by far
the best county in this State for the
prospector," said he, "and will become
famous. The trouble is that the aver
age prospector does not do thorough
work, and never learns what there is
beneath the surface
SOME GOOD MINES.
Sonora Union-Democrat: The Crys-
talline mine. under bond to Scotch
company, is being steadily operated and
promises to add another bullion-pro-
ducer to the several on the mother lode.
The shaft is being carried down with
out particular reference to the vein.
which it does not follow, but with the
idea of having it incline the full length
exactly as intended when work was
commenced. This necessarily finds the
miners frequently out of the vein mat
ter, but never so far away that the ore
cannot be stopped out easily and econ
omically when desired. The shaft has
attained a depth of over go feet A
tunnel is being run from the west
which will tap the vein at a depth of
300 feet. The mill is nearly completed
the frame being up and the motal'
blocks all in place. Battery blocks for
twenty stamps have been put in.
though the mill will start with but ten
stamps of 9C0 pounds each Later ten
more will be added.
The Punch Bowl gravel mine, two
miles below Rawhide, is being worked
by c. E. Shafer. On the north side
of the mountain an incline shaft has
been sunk 220 feet, at which depth a
large volume of water was encountered.
This shaft is intended to strike the
main channel, known to be very rich
Before this is accomplished the present
depth Of the shaft must be increased
from lO0 to 800 feet. Arrangements
are being made for a pumping plant
to enable sinking to be continued
The F. B. Candy mine, located half
mile north of the Tarantula mine on