The San Francisco call., 1905-02-11

prived of its by-products, is still ali
that Is needed to add to the inf1amma-
blllty of the peat and to increase its
heat-giving capacity Peat, by itself
does not blaze, but smolders. So 1t hap
pens that when a peat bog gets on fire
the only visible sign to denote the fact
Is found in heat waves which may be
seen rising from the bog. The fire burns
until the material is consumed. Ire
land and Germany were both instanced
by Woltmann to show the practical use
OF the fuel. In his opinion a greater
amount of heat can be produced by the
union Of peat and petroleum than by
crude petroleum and of course the
quantity Of material to burn is in
definitely stretched by the use of the
peat.
PEAT FIFTEEN FEET DEEP.
One remark that Mr. Woltmann
made is calculated to attract atten-
uon for its significance. He estimated
that the peat in the San Joaquin Val
ley may be fifteen feet deep. On this
basis one square mile of peat bog
viii be found to contain millions of
tons of peat all of the same general
fuel-providing nature.
Once more, the California petro-
leum miners, who have been able to
marshal q great array of statistics
based on reasonable estimates, may
again be justified in making large fig
ures to show how the consumption of
the native crude fuel oil may be in
creased and the market demand cor
respondingly augmented. There are
large oil fields in Kern; Fresno and
Kings counties. and in several coun-
ties in Southern California, in which
work is proceeding with only enough
to supply the present demand and to
- III T..
calls as they are made.
The idea Of hundreds of miles of
fuel beds lying unsuspected in Cali
fornia on the surface and in view of
all for half a century would be more
surprising were 1t not for the fact
that nearly every large industry in
the State is based on discoveries of
conditions in soil and climate that for
a long term Of years were not even
imagined.
Any one who wishes can see the
California peat at the State Mining
Bureau, free of charge, as the entire
exhibit is open to the public every
secular day in the year, holidays ex-
cepted. The peat samples are In
cubes. They are light and easy to
handle. Their vegetable origin is
manifest.
WORKING GOLD MINES.
The snow in the mountains still in
terferes with mining operations in
certain districts. AS has been here
tofore said, the water supply for the
season figures less in the calculation
Of large mining operators than 1t did
formerly. The bitter controversies
with water companies are consequent
ly less frequent than formerly. Elec-
tric power is taking the place of wa
ter in large mines and electricity
works the dredgers near the rivers.
Concerning the resumption Of op-
erations Of the Polar Star mine the
Grass Valley Union says:
There is but little doubt Of the reopening of
the Polar star mine w W. Byrnes, one Of
the owners Of the property. WHO is also con-
stated that the papers had ali been
drawn up and that he had concluded to make
the necessary transfer SO that work could be
The company. he stated composed mainly
OF New York men. is very anxious to start
work Immediately. The only objection to re-
which will have TO be handled in the next two
months without any particular advantage and
replace the present wood burning system with
oil burners. thus obtaining better results
who has been superintendent of the Minnie
Healy mine of litigation fame, has been chosen
for the position with the Polar Star. ].
terests IN the Northwest will also manage
the affairs of the local proposition. Kirby,
who came out here when the Polar Star was
started up the last time, is not figuring in the
management, though he had much to do with
bringing about the new condition OF af
fairs.
John Daggett, a pioneer mining
man of Siskiyou County, submits the
following statement concerning the
yield of mines in the Salmon River re-
gion since 1860 and up to the early
part of 1904:
Black Bear. Black Bear Creek. $4,000. 900;
Klamath, Eddys Gulch Basin. $500, 600; Even
ing Star, Eddys Gulch Basin, $50, 600; Noun
tain Laurel and Stephens and Central ground,
$500. 600; Live Yankee, Eddys Gulch. $40, 900;
Fagundes mine, Eddys Gulch, $50 000 Fourth
of July, Eddys Gulch. $4,000 Oriental and
Wilson's, Eddys Gulch, $50, 600; Snowflake,
Ball and others. Eddys Basin, $25. 600: Bear
Hibernia and Patterson. In Eddys Basin. SD :
600; Mystery and Golden West, Black Bear
Creek. $4,000; White Bear. Black Bear
Creek. $4,000; Uncle Sam, on divide between
Eddys and Whites Gulch, $75,00O Kleavers
and Swain north slope Whites Guch, $50, GOO;
east branch Of Whites Gulch $50. 600; Russian
Creek mines. $4,000; Tanners Peak west OF
river, $25 600; Morning Star Jackass Gulch,
$75, 900; Last ChancA head of Farrels Gulch
$4,000; Campbell d Bsnnetts. $4,000: Gra-
Farreils Guloh. $40 600, Indian Creek mines
5000; King Solomon mines. on Matthews
Creek. SITE. 900: Methodist Creek nines sl5,-
600: Las Perlas and others, at head OF South
Fork OF Salmon $25. 900; Hansen mine, Know
Nothing Creek. $50. 900; Know Nothing. Know
Nothing Greek, $3.50 900; various small arastra
companies. $4,000. This makes q grand total
OF $3.50. 900.