The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-23

that was so persistently inhospitable to
man and doubly so to his beast of bur-
den, an Indispensable assistant.
RAILROAD FACILITIES.
In the early days lumber was eagerly
sought for at $500 per thousand. To-Day,
with railroad facilities hundreds of miles
nearer to the scene of present activity,
prices are reasonable but in some of the
outlying districts lumber sells readily for
500 per thousand, hay for $50 per ton,
grain at 81 per 100 pounds and other
necessities in proportion. These condi-
lions have rendered almost prohibitive
the prospecting of this particular area.
re region has always been reputed to
be rich in mineral, yet the hardships
and the inability to procure supplies
have kept it virgin ground up to within
the past few years. Numerous have
been the expeditions fitted out for its
conquest, but without success until the
returning army Of prospectors from
Alaska, Africa and South America, with
the added experience afforded by these
districts, spurred on by the thought
that this was their last chance. have
at last carried the hitherto impregnable
fortress.
The discovery of Tonopah within the
border of this region OF volcanoes has in
fused fresh life and awakened a new in
terest in this vast and virgin field, and as
a consequence new development work has
been gradually encroaching upon the
comparatively unknown area from the
north with results that have been ex-
| tremely gratifying to all who have an
! interest in the venture. First Tonopah,
then Goldfeld, followed by Bullfrog,
Kawich. Ida and other camps. And
this is but beginning, for beyond lies
the great Ralston desert and Death VAL
! ley, which are practically unknown and
unexplored regions to-day. Mr.. Spur of
the United States Geological Survey
who has made a general reconnaissance
survey Of the State, calls attention to the
fact that this general belt Of VOLCANOES
with outlying limestones and quantities.,
with almost identical conditions, can be
traced through into Old Mexico.
QUARTZITE DISTRICTS.
With this invasion of the great central
area and improvement in transportation
! facilities comes a renewed interest in
the adjoining quartzite and limestone
districts, where silver and sulphide ores
are found. At the present time the ores
from these districts are largely shipped
to Salt Lake, and are paying the heavy
freight tariff that only comparatively
wealthy ores are able to bear. Now in
mining operations the prevailing condi-
tion, and one that is well-nigh universal,
is that where rich ores are present in
great quantities leaner ores are present
in still greater quantities. Therefore, we
have abundant reason to assume that a
cheaper method of treatment i'll at once
manifold the available ore reserves in
many districts that so far have been
mined only for the high-grade ores they
were able to produce.
1t is a noteworthy fact that silfcious
ores shipped from these districts are
worked in lead furnaces, and this sug-
gests the possibility of working the low
grade silicious gold and silver ores with
the low-grade silver-lead ores at points
within the district, where they may be
conveniently assembled, and thus reduce
the long distance haul and excessive
freight charges, making it possible to
work some of the large bodies of low
grade ore which cannot now be handled.
While prospectors are in search of
gold-silver ores they should bear in mind
that the lead-silver and also copper ores
are fully as desirable and profitable. Ow-
ing to the excessive freight and treat
ment charges they are even more so at
the present time than the average grade
ore now being discovered in the new
camps. While they are in search of rich
er ores it would be well to advise them
to prospect for or give the lead-silver
ores some attention, as 1t is only a mat
ter of a few years when all such ores as
are now being shipped to Salt Lake will
be treated in the district. 1t Is only
question of fuel and the transportation
of smelter machinery to make ii profit
able to now treat the ores in this dis
trict, as there are now being found sufffi-
cient fuxes to handle all of the silicious
product.
Recent experiments have demonstrated