Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1901-04-13

The Original Locator Writes About
she New Dfggfngs.

the Now Dtkkhnks.
The SENTINEL received the following
communication from James L. Butler.
the pioneer locator in Tonapah District,
which explains il itself:
81 have been thinking for some time
past Of contributing an article to your
paper concerning this district, as to its
present status and future possibilities.
| have refrained from doing so until now.
as / wished to look over the situation,
the better to enable me to state facts.
In this communication / have endeav-
ored in . brief way to give what informs.
lion l have at hand regarding this section
which 1 believe will be Of interest 10
your readers.
THE III AND SNOWFALL LIGHT.
"This part Of the State is what has
been known for years Is the Desert.
Very little moisture falls here as q gen.
eral thing. but this season has been an
exception, as at least three feet OF nov
fell here during the month OF February
and remained on the ground during the
entire month. At the present time
snow can be seen on some of the peaks
Of the mountains that surround this dis
trict.
GROUPINGS TO BE SEEN TEN MILES OFF.
"Tonapsh is situated on the western
slope Of the San Antonio range, in the
foothills, ON the east side of Montgom-
cry District. The groupings on some Of
the peaks Of the mountains of this dis
trict have been 10 full view Of every one
who ever crossed the San Antonio or
Montgomery deserts. and that dates
back to the early sixties. The lodges
here run nearly east and west. and have
large black groupings that can be easily
seen for . distance Of at least ten miles.
The ore is in minerslized ~porphyry and
the veins are from one to four feet wide.
For years people have passed over these
groupings, and either took no samples or
concluded there were too much of them
to contain any great value. l made
three trips here myself before | thought
it worth while to make any locations.
In the latter part Of August, 1900, | wis.,
tied the place, did some prospecting,
and brought away some samples Of ore.
The samples asssyed 666 ounces in sill
yer and $40 in gold. l then returned,
accompanied by Messrs. Brougher and
Oddie, and eight claims were located.
| which are known as the Butler Group.
When we began to stake off the ground
we found ore everywhere.
| MILLINGvALUEs ALONG THE ENTIRE LEDGE.
"~Prospectors shortly after began to
come into the district, to whom leases
were given, and at the present time fifty
one hundred feet of ground is being
worked under the leasing system. and
already considerable ore has been shipped
containing large values. In fact, nearly
all the ~leasers are taking ont fine ore.
The character Of the rock is free milling,
and along the entire length Of the lodges.
for several thousand feet. pay ore is to
be found. These are the only mines /
ever saw or heard Of that carry milling
values their entire length. l have met
many old miners and prospectors here
who say the same thing.
THE LABOR SUPPLY MORE THAN ENOUGH.
"Although Tonspsh, for the amonnt
Of work that has been done on
the various prospects, presents . very
bright future. still it is no place for peo-
| pie to come to in search of work. As is
usually the case with ell new mining
camps. they are soon overdone. and this
one 10 no exception to the rule. That 10
the reason / have not written to my
many friends in Eureka, as / did not
want them to rush in here until some
thing more substantial regarding the fu-
ture Of the camp could be stated. None
Of the prospects are down deeper than
forty feet 90 yet. At the present time .
large amount Of milling quartz is show
ing up on the dumps.
BUSINESS HOUSES OF ToNAPAH.
As to the town, it has been surveyed
for about eight blocks. All the lots on
Main street are already taken. Up to
date. Tonapah contains two stores. three
assay Offices. three hay yards or ~corrals.
three saloons. and another large one be-
ing built, one dental parlor, one board
ing house, two chop houses. and one
Photographic gallery. As yet only about
. dozen frame buildings have been erect
ed. but at least eighty tents have been
pitched.
"The camp presents . lively appear
ance in the evening. the saloons being
crowded. and considerable drinking and
gambling INDUCED in.
UWa hava = varv hr;ohk nroanact for i.