Las Vegas times. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1906, 1906-06-30
MALCOLM MCDONALD TALKS or
NevApA-THE OLD AND THE
NEW.

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Montgomery shoshone and many other
properties of that state which have In
the past few years been raised from
raw prospects to great mines have
been expressed by his investment In
them. Mr.. Macdonald's opinion on q
mining subject Is always of interest.
and on the Nevada section 1t is es-.
pecially so.
Before leaving the city on his return
to the west he accorded the Evening
Mail an interview in which he said:
Nevada, since the year 1853, has
occupied the attention, more or less, OF
the mining world. At no period in the
history of the state has that attention
been SO vivid and widespread, extend
ing to all classes. as during the past
few years. Statements. apparently ex-
travagant. have been published of the
great riches and vast extent OF the
new fields. An intimate knowledge of
the older districts OF the state togeth-
er with a personal examination Of
great many of the discoveries which
have been made In the past few years,
would seem to warrant the assertions
which have appeared from time to time
In the press. The half has not been
told, and it needs but the most cur
,sory inspection of the depoaits al
ready opened up to bear out the state
ment that this new FL Dorado will
rival the worlds record in its prod
ucts"
But, Mr.. Macdonald, how is IL pos
sible that this immense wealth has re-
manned so long undiscovered. partic-
ularly since prospectors have gone to
the end of the earth in search Of
gold?"
He then answered:
"A study of the geological and topo-
graphical formation OF this section,
and knowledge OF the peculiar con-
dltions, will give the best answer. Take
map and run two lines in general
southerly direction. one commencing
at point to the north and west of
Austin the other just below Wabuska.
These lines will mark approximately
thoroughly defined and differing geolo-
gical formations, the country lying be-
tween the lines being an area in which
the rocks are almost exclusively of
volcanic origin, comprising series OF
andesites. rhyolites and basalts, with
their accompanying volcanic ashes.
while to the north. east and west the
formations are largely sedimentary,
comprising a series of ancient lime.
stones and quartzites. 1t Is generally
within this area OF volcanoes that the
rich finds of recent years have been
made.
Commencing with the discovery of
gold and silver on the Comstock, In
1858. and covering the time until about
the year 1890. the section produced an
enormous sum, estimated at about
5000. 100000. in gold and silver. To
this may be added about $160,000.0 900
for the lead-siIver products of Eureka,
the district which In its day controlled
the lead market of the world Most OF
these camps are in the limestone
quartzlte areas, and are located to the
north, east and west sides OF the Sec
tion that has come into prominence
more recently"
In the limestone-quartzite area
numerous springs are found and water
Is comparatively plentiful. while in the
volcanic area it is very scarce; the re-
suit which quite naturally follows from
this condition has been that the lime
stones were exclusively prospected and
developed In the early days when the
above-named silver-lead camps were
discovered, while an immense desert
area In the very heart of this volcanic
region has for many years past been
bidding defiance to our most coura-
geous pioneers.
Across this section eighty miles Is
not IN unusual stage without water:
distances of sixty miles were OF fire.
puent occurrence, while drives of
twenty-five and thirty. or even forty.
have been so common as 10 occasion
no surprise. Add to this fact that
forage was at all times scarce and
OYER large area absolutely unprocura-
BILE, Is It al all surprising that even the
most hardy prospector should recoIl
from region that was persistently In
.hospitabIe to man and doubly so 70 his
beast of burden, an Indispensable
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