The San Francisco call., 1901-12-08
MINE WORKERS
ARE STIRRING
Recent Rains Supply the
Means to Resume
Operations.
Progress of Developments
Promise to Be Very
Satisfactory.

Satisfactory.
The last week has been a good one for
the miners of California and Nevada, in
asmuch as considerable snow and rain
have fallen and the streams are filling
up. Repairs on mills have been rushed
10 get ready for the seasons work, and
there is general activity now all along
the lire. Placer claims in the north are
reported to be in good shape for operat-
ing. The feature of the time is still the
general prospecting for copper. large
demand will undoubtedly be made for the
Forthcoming bulletin OF the State Min
eralogist for the practical information
which it contains. The scope of the pub
hcation has been already indicated. 1t
will be out of the State Printing Office
this month. Every copper property in
the State is described and every prospect
Reports are received of large discov-
cries OF copper in Arizona. A correspond
ent of the Los Angeles Times, writing
from Jerome, makes the following state
ments:
This district has seemed to centralize in the
great United Verde copper mine, which has
made Senator Clark many times a millionaire
Two or three years ago miners began to pros
pect on adjoining claims as well as in the
Black Hills. and on R1ingus Mountain. two or
three miles from the United Verde works. and
tnelr ssarch Tor copper mas been maintained py
encouragement from Eastern capital The
theory long entertained that the United Verde
contained about all the really valuable copper
deposits in this region is being disproved re-
peatedly. and Senator Clark's protracted legal
struggle for the Iron Mountain and Copper
Cher prospects in the Black Hills, ending in
compromise in which he retained half in
terest, has demonstrated the Senator's con-
hdence in the new property. Some experts be-
ieve that the output from the Verde region
viii be so enormous in a few years that the
rnF ~ hn fwafF Graa 1fWlA no
greatest copper property in the world, will be
but one OF several great contributors to the
general output Of the region.
Placers and Ledges.
According to the Yreka Journal, the
trouble between parties concerned in the
copper mine in the Preston Peak section
has been compromised. Late rains have
furnished sufncient water to operate the
quartz mill of the Yreka gold mine at
Salmon River. There is water enough in
Humbug Creek for the placer mines.
At Soulsby mine, so says the Tuolumne
Independent, the stamps run at night,
In the daytime. The water has been
taken out of the old workings of the Sem
mole mine and underground work is pro-
crossing. The Union-Democrat reports
that the Tanzy pocket mine near Sonora
has been yielding big punches of gold
recently, and that the finds OF the pres
ent year will net the owners $50 900. The
Stockton Smelling Company has started
up its furnaces in the old Mason Reduc-
tion Works and sulphurets of the Black
Oak and Rawhide mines have been
treated.
Stephen Bowers, field assistant to the
State Mineralogist, who has been explor-
ing the Slate Range and Spangler Noun
tain In the vicinity of Borax Lake re-
ports that he examined a large deposit
OF iron ore in the Slate Range and ad-
joining country, the extent of which was
ABOUT one mile in length and one-half
mile wide. The deposit may prove to be
OF value when railroad that has been
already surveyed to pass the spot is con-
structed. The pass between the Slate
into Death Valley, is about 2300 feet
above sea level. Slate Range is about
400 feet higher.
A quartz ledge has been discovered bv
S. Irvine of Nevada City in Sierra Coun-
ty. Fourteen men are employed at the
Ruby mine, near Downieville, taking out
ore.
During the present year the Gwin Mine
Development Company has paid S115 600
in dividends, making $266, 900 to date. The
mine is in Calaveras County. Large
quantities of old tailings have been
handled by the cyanide plant at Indian
Creek, near Murphys.
Farmers Find Mines.
The Mining and Scientific Press calls
atlentlon 70 familiar enough phenom-
enon In California-the discovery of min
eral wealth in locality that has long
been worked over without revealing its
nlooen stores. The recent discoveries at
mormon island and Folsom placers are
referred to by the Press as follows:
The rich placer strike made near Mormon
1sla1d and Folsom, in Sacramento County, is
another illustration OF a good mine missed bI,
the old miners. Mormon Island was big
placer mining camp in 1S4e. In 1859 the writer
recalls 1t as given over TO the Chinese, who
were rewordng the failing piles Of the 1S4s
miners. It's former brief glory is not even a
memory to the present generation and few of
the old miners who worked at Mormon Island
are still alive. The new discovery would an
pear 10 be a reQiSCOVerV of the old ~
the American River at this point The, miners
who worked out Mormon Island in the early
days knew nothing Of channels. Gold was
where they found it, and when they did not
find II they moved on. Their successors FOR
years have accepted this ancient verdict Of con-
demnation, 1t has remained for farmers to
find the mine the miners missed. The incident
Of farmers finding mines has been common
enough in the last twenty years in California
70 base expectations for Its recurrence. 1t is
hardly probable that this last discovery will
prove very extensive. It Is likely only a rem
nant that, missed in the old mining is found
now. But II does not exhaust the Possibilities
of the vicinity Of Folsom that await discovery
In strongly calling attention 10 them an in
vestigation has been started that NAV lead Ia
more new old mines
The mining plants in Meadow Lake
District, in Nevada County. will use
petroleum for fuel, which will be hauled
A L. Johnson and E. S. Hadley of Sac
ramento, who bought a mine for a gold
property between Greenwood and George
town, in FL Dorado County. have deXeI-
oped three-foot asbestos ledge. tven+r TeyGIz
inches Of IL being fiber and the Remainder
asbestos rock.
Twenty-eight men are now emploved in
the old Wedekind mine in Nevada now
near Reno and was recently described in
this paper. The 100-foot level is being adj
vanced and the main shaft is down 14O
feet Nine men are working at the Eng
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