The record-union., 1899-10-02
Pacific Coast
Mining News.


The following mining news sheds
light on mining interests in the West
ern States:
COAL OIL MINES.
San Francisco Trade Journal: An ex--
change comments on the develop.
ment of petroleum, asphalt and bltu-
minous rock, which in recent years has
been remarkable, and from present out
look is destined to become even more So
1t is destined to become even more SO.
That on the west side of the San Joa-
quin Valley much recent development
of the industry has been made ana
great deal of capital is being put INTO
the business, and most extensive works
are now in progress. There have peen
incorporated fully 100 companies look
ing to it's development and many oth-
ers will be incorporated. While quite
a percentage own or have Leased lano5
on the coal oil belt, yet there are lar
too many that do not. In looking over
the directors of the company 1t is
noteworthy that nearly all sections OF
the State are represented, but the
work is being concentrated very large
ly in that part of the San Joaquin Val
ley termed the West Side,' lying to
the south and west of Fresno City. The
importance of this industry can be un-
derstood when it is learned that IN
1889 the petroleum yield of CALIFORNIA
was only 303, 900 barrels, valued al
$36S 600; in 1898 it was 2250,O00 bar
rels. worth S2,376, 420. The gross pro-
duct for the past twelve years has been
l0605, 167 barrels, which sold for ST.
roc, ,935. The handling of petroleum as
a fuel is more economical and cleaniS
than handling of coal. About l,659,OO
tons of coal are imported from foreign
countries and from other States into
California annually. The calorific pow
er of ordinary coal may be estimated
to be 1900 to 1900 heat units,
whereas that of oil runs from l9.O0O
to 21 600 Therefore four barrels oil
petroleum contain about the same
number of heat units as one ton of coal.
To supplant 100000 tons of coal, about
one-half of the coal imported annually.
100000 barrels of oil would be re-
quired. The quality of the oil found
at Oil City shows that it refines su-
perior to that found in Ohio and fully
equals that of Pennsylvania. This fact
will cause the building of refineries,
for it is far too valuable for fuel. par
ticularly with crude petroleum show :
ing an advancing tendency at the East,
in which ours will naturally sympa-
thize.
DESERT PROSPECTING.
Redwood City Democrat: Will LOWE,
who has been engaged in mining and
prospecting near Keeler, Inyo County,
has written an entertaining letter to
relatives in this city. The letter was
mailed on the 18th inst, just after
Mr.. LOWE and his partner had re-
turned from a three weeks prospecting
tour in Death Valley and the Sierras,
looking up copper claims, which they
propose to handle on commission.
Sample of ore discovered by them
are now being examined by the Stand'
ard Oil Companys agents at Salt Lake
City.
Prospecting on the desert as de-
scribed by Mr.. LOWE is not by any
means alluring. Water is scarce, and
has to be carried for days in cans in
the burning sun, and when used is at
blood heat Provisions have to be
packed on burros, and the task or
keeping those unwilling animals on the
move is sometimes harder than doing
the packing ones self.
Mr.. LOWE relates an incident that
will illustrate some of the hardships
of camp life in that forsaken country.
He and his partner returned to camp
after an absence of several days, hum
CRY and tired and contemplating a
good meal, when to their horror they
discovered that their burros had
cleaned out the entire grub supply, in
cluding the bacon, and leaving only
some honey and water. Imagine the