The San Francisco call., 1905-02-25
CALIFORNIA; MINING
DISTRICTS ARE BUSY
Progress Of Various Sections Is Reported
to Be Profitable and Promising.

The special feature of the time con-
nected with mining in California is
the series of reports that come in re-
garding the several districts. These
are generally satisfactory. Consider
able progress is noted in many direc-
lions.
In the Greenwood district in Ell
Dorado County the Santa Claus Mining
Company has been organized to oper-
ate, with 100000 paid UP capital, ac-
coroing TO the Georgetown Gazette.
The property Of the company has been
worked before. but it will now go on
a larger scale. In the same district
development work is proceeding at the
Oliver quartz mine. The mine is
owned by Mrs Sarah J. de la Mon
tanya, who is developing the mine with
her own capital. Several good pros
poets are to be developed by indivi-
ouals in Greenwood.
In the Humbug district in Siskiyou
County the Mckinley quartz mine has
been leased to William Jamison, to be
developed. The Mono quartz property,
otherwise known as the old Punch
creek claim, viii resume during the
coming month. Eastern people have
Bonded placer ground at the mouth
OF NeSey Creek, in the Virginia Bar
District Operators are drilling for
prospects in the Orc Fino district
In the Forest Hill district in Placer
County, so reports the Placer Herald,
mining operations at Bath are pro-
ceeding on an unusually large scale.
The Paragon mine has been working
steadily for four months. The prop
erty has been leased from 7. w.
Browne Of San Francisco. Good re-
turns from the Grennen & Rush
hydraulic mine are reported. The
Gaylord mine has been leased by z.
c Gaylord and others.
In Trinity County the Qutmby mine,
or Quimby Greek, has been developed.
A stamp mill will be operated next
month. According to the Amador
Ledger, a rich strike has been made
IA the Gwin mine. Prospecting at the
Treadweu continues
TEARING DOWN CONVERTERS.
The Redding SearchIight reports
that the converters at the Keswick
smelter Of the Mountain Copper Com
pany are to be torn down and to be
removed to the new plant of the COM
pany in Contra Costa County. The
Searchlight says concerning this move;
Tie fact that the converters are to be re-
moved is no surprise. For years the company
shipped its low-grade matte to Elizabethtown
X. J.. where IL was treated at a refinery
With reduction works. including refinery, so
close at hand as Bulls Head Point, the matte
produced by the one furnace that il promises
10 keep in operation at Keswick be treated
economically It certainly will no longer have
need OF the number OF converter STANDS II had
at Aeswicks when three Of its i've furnaces
were oIten IN operation at tne same tlnle. An
the smelter in Keswfck. These changes going
On in the smelter town cause great concern 70
The people who have property interests at
stake.
The Amador Record says that a
ledge has been discovered in the Pio-
neer district, in Amador County, that
assays $40 TO the ton.
The Angels Record says that G. D.
Lane will soon personally superintend
the Utica Company's mining interests
in Calaveras County and that L. W.
Shinn viii go TO Alaska TO supervise
Alaskan properties in which Lane is
interested. 1t is also reported on the
same authority that new ground will
be opened south of the Angels An
mex.
An article was recently published in
The Call relating to the peat resources
IN California According TO the Min
ing World, published at Chicago, the
peat deposits of Canada are estimated
TO cover nearly 1000 square miles,
exclusive of those of British Colum-
hia and the Yukon country The Min
ing World says in part:
The average depth Of these deposits is from
five 70 ten feet In addition 70 these Canadian
areas Of peat there are cOnslQeraDle depOsils
in the Northern States on the American side
Of the line. These figures give some idea OF
the great possibilities IN the utilization Of this
product for fuel purposes when a satisfactory
and sufficiently cheap process of treatment
becomes available European countries as yet
seem TO have made more of success Of the
manufacture Of peat into fuel. and in some in
stances il is used for the manufacture Of tex
tile products such as mats, baskets, etc. In
Russia ana France peat IS made into cloth for
medical and surgical purposes on account OF
its antiseptic properties and in England the
use Of the fiber for paper making is being CON
sidered. The experiments with peat In Can
sds have been more extensive than in the
United States, but il cannot yet be salo lhat
tba problem Of its utilization for fuel in Can
ada or the United States has been solved so
as to make the operation an assured hnancial
success
AGAINST MINING FAKERS.
While the State Mineralogist of Cal
ffornia is seeking to secure legislation
at Sacramento that will regulate the