The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1905-04-01
THE PRosPECToR.

THE PROSPECTOR.
There are many who desire to equip
themselves anu make 1 prospecting trl
This coming spring and summer and the
question has been asked as to the OPP
p~ortunities in Nevada and Arizona, also
as to Alaska, says the Mining and Sci
entifc Press. 1t is with some hesitancy
that this department makes any sugges-
ton as to a suitable field for the pros
pector. for several reasons. Among them
are the climatic conditions obtaining in
each of the three sections mentioned.
While undoubtedly at this time any pros
pect of promise at all in southern Ne
vada would sell or attract capital more
any other section of the United States,
the hardships, privations and dangers
which beset the prospector in that re-
gion, whether he be a "tenderfoot' or
not, are a sufficient consideration to de-
serve earnest attention and not to be
lightly passed over. The scarcity of
water in that vast desert region, the in
tense heat of summer, the difficulty OF
getting supplies for men and animals
and dangers from reptiles are among the
drawbacks to prospecting IN southern
portion of western and southern Arizona.
However. there are hundreds of miles
of desert and mountain still practically
unknown between Virginia City, New,
and Cananea, Mexico. A glance at a
map of Nevada and Arizona will show
that along a line connecting Virginia
City and Cananea, and ituated within
a very few miles o nom side or the other
of 1t. are the following towns. camps and
mines: Dayton, Hawthorne, Candelaria,
Silver Peak, Tonopah (25 miles north
east). Goldfeld. Ida (about 20 miles
southwest), Crater Good Spring and
Searchlight are only a few miles from
the line. on the west), Ell Dorado Can
yon, Chloride, Mineral Park, Cerbat and
The San Francisco district. where are
located the Gold Roads and other i'm
portant mines. is but a few miles to the
westward of the line. Continuing south-
ward, the line passes through Hillside
and Santa Maria districts, W~ickenburg,
Harqua Hala, Congress, Vulture, Flor
ence. Tombstone and Bisbee, Ariz., and
Cananea, Mexico. 1t may be argued that
this is merely a coincidence: but the fact
remains hat along this line are some
of the most noted mines and mining dis
are scores of good mines and noted dis
tricts at long distances away on either
side, as, for instance. Jerome and the
district about Prescott and southerly
from there. And in southern Nevada
there are numerous rich mines and dis
tricts far removed from his imaginary
line. Still the fact remains that good
mines have been developed along this
particular line. and 1t is improbable that
all have been found. The desert region
between Goldfeld and Ell Dorado Canyon
oPP1o'S W oASt thC 6tcdtcSt pOSSlulIILleS
at this time. for the reason that 1t has
received less careful attention than those
sections more easy OF approach and
where water is more readily obtainable.
In the direction of the line here referred
to there is a large area in Arizona, in
Yavapai county. covered by a floor of
basalt that is from 200 to 1900 feet deep,
and 1t is only where erosion has cut
down to the older underlying rocks that
prospecting can be carried on. AS to
Alaska, is is probable hat the tributaries
on the west side of the Yukon river in
American territory offer as good induce
ments and advantages as any other for
gold, particularly when capital can be
had for development. The indications
are that there will be a considerable de-
velopment OF copper in Alaska along the
island of the coast and In the interior
also.