Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-25
GREATER WEALTH
IN MOTHER LODE
PRODUCER OF CALIFORNIA
MILLI0NAIRES
Senator clsrk's Recent Purchase Of
Importance to Los Angeles-5ig
sale at oldfield-General
Mining News

The Mother Lode Of California is
more than 100 miles long and takes It's
course through Mariposa, Tuoumne,
Calaveras Amador and FL Dorado
counties. The ore bodies of the lode
range in thickness from one to fifty feet
or more. with gold yield ranging from
50 to $25 per ton and averaging at least
SO per ton. II has been the great gold
producing area of the United States;
beside It, all other mineral areas pale.
More mining masnates have come out
OF the Mother Lode than from all OF
the other mineral strikes in California
combined. Several of it's quartz mines
have yielded from five millions to fifteen
millions each Among these big pro-
ducers are the Keystone, Old Eureka,
Union Gecently purchased by Senator
Clark oe Montana for S1,750,OO0) Utica,
Plymouth and Kennedy. A host have
given UP from two millions to three mill
lions, while great number show to
their credit from 100000 to $1OOOO00
IL is not possible to ascertain exactly
the total gold product of the entire lode
TO date, but 1t Is generally estimated
that about one-third of the quartz
mining production of the state has
come from It. For several years the
Lode has produced about one-fifth of
the entire gold product of California.
Most Productive District
The most productive part of this
wonderful Lode is in Ell Dorado
county. IT was in this county
at a little settlement called Coloma, in
1S4S, that James w. Marshall picked
UP the gold nugget that sent a yellow
CLEAN around the world and made Cal
ifornia the mecca of the adventurous,
ambitious and enterprising everywhere.
In actual value of product, Ell Dorado
far excels every other county traversed
by the Lode, nearly S200,000,000 being
the estimated total of its output.
In Ell Dorado county especially are
the indications favorable for future
production, for as development has
progressed in depth in the county's
several great mines evidence of the
longevity of the ore bodies has in
creased, and it is being realized that
the mining of the past, generously pro-
ductive of golden treasures as it has
been, was but little better than surface
work. In this county mining can be
prosecuted with exceptional economy,
there being abundance of timber and
water, two essentials in economical and
really effective mining. The heavy
rainfall of the region and the great
mantle the lofty Sierra Nevadas are
creative of a multitude of streams,
which, with nominal expense can be
utilized in the generation of electrical
energy for the various kinds of mining
operations. Hence it is literally true
that in Ell Dorado ore of a given value
is worth more than in probably any
other county in the state.
In bulletin No. Is the California state
mining bureau pays the following
tribute to Ell Dorado county:
1T is a fact that in no county in Cal
ifornia has mining been carried on at
less expense than in some of the mines
of FL Dorado and 1T still offers abund-
ance Of legitimate and promising op-
rortunities to those with both the capt.
tai and experience to handle large low
grade mines."
Meaning of CIark's Purchase
The recent purchase of the great
Union mine in Eel Dorado by Senator
Clark, he millionaire Montana opera
tor, has caused added interest to be
shown in mining on the Mother Lode,
especially in Eel Dorado. An investment
of s1,750,O00 means a great deal more
to mining community than the aver
age reader may suspect. and especially
does 1t mean considerable to Angelenos,
from the fact that IL great many of our
people are interested in mining prop
erty near this late purchase, notably
so In that of the North Union mine,
which is but a short distance from
the Union, from which it takes its
name. This property is owned and con-
trolled by Los Angeles business men.
Active development work is now
under way with most promising results
to date. This particular piece of prop
erty affords magnificent opportunities
for tunnel mining. and a tunnel Is now
being driven that will cut severa,
known ledges. carrying good values al
about the 4OO-foot level. A small
amount of prospect work on this prop
erty has uncovered some enormously
rich ore some of which was brought tC
this city recently, ore that in severa
instances shows large flakes of particle:
of free gold and when assayed ran VI
into the thousands per ton.
1t is the consensus of opinion of al
mining men that although the Mothe,
Lode Of California has produced it!
hundreds of millions it has barely beer
scratched and it is safe to say tha
fifty years hence the old Mother Lod,
will be creating sensations such as th'
forty-niners never dreamed of.
Valuable Nevada Property
Perhaps no sale of mining propert,
in Nevada has been of more far-reach
ing effect than the recent transfer o
the old Blair property at Silver Peal
10 Charles Schwab and associates, say
the Goldheld News. This proposition
has been recognized as one of grea
merit for many years, yet because o
it's being tied UP in the Blair estat
litigation and the wealth of its owners
nothing could be done, and as it re
q'lres an enormous expenditure at tn
outset, probably $2,000,00O. men only o
practically unlimited means could ever
consider 1t for a moment.
The most conservative estimate
makes it necessary to expend more thar
$l,00O,000 at once I'm order to thorough.
exploit the property. and in this worl
the old workings cannot be utilized
Again, not less than a 200-stamp mil
could be considered for moment. AM
in order to operate the property on thi
extensive and aggressive plan II vii
be necessary to pipe the water from tn
White mountain range, and also bull
Il gravity tram two and a half mile
long from the mlne to the mill site.
The Blair property consists of ahou
forty or fifty claims, all Of which wer
patented twenty-five or thirty year
m,