The San Francisco call., 1907-06-20

GEOLOGICAL SURVEYORS
INVADE DESERT REGION
Government Work Reported
in Bulletin Just From
the Press
QUESTION OF POWER
Swift Streams of Sierras
Generate Electricity
for Mining
QUESTION OF POWER

WASHINGTON, June ia journey
across the desert valleys of southwest
ern Nevada and eastern California can
not even now be looked forward to as
likely to afford the traveller much
pleasure; but that the hardy explorer
and prospector may derive much profit
from it has been known since the late
sixties, when it was discovered that the
bare, uninviting mountain ranges or
that region contained valuable de-
posts sof precious metals. The wave
Of mining activity and prospecting
that Immediately swept over the sec
ton reached maximum IN the sew
entities and died out before the end
of the next decade In 1900, however,
the discovery of phenomenally rich
veins at the site Of Tonopah gave "a
new interest to the development of the
district and led thousands of men to
brave the discomforts and dangers of
this hot and arid land.
An aid to the miner and prospector
of the present day unknown to the
pioneer explorers is the United States
geological survey, through whose sys-
tematic investigations the desert re-
gions of the country have lost many
of their terrors. Southwestern Nevada
in particular has been and is being
carefully explored, and the mountains
and valleys of that section are fast
yielding their secrets at the tap of the
geologist's hammer.
The report on "a Geological Recon-
naissance in Southwestern Nevada and
Eastern California" by Sidney H Ball,
just issued by the survey as bulletin
No. 500, is the result of seven months
field work, from June to December.
1906 inclusive. During this period
geologic mapping, under the general
supervision of f. L. Ransome, was car
ried on simultaneously with topo-
graphic mapping by r. G. Chapman
and B. D. Stewart, the area surveyed
embracing more than $3.50 square
miles. including portions of Esmeralda
and Nye counties, New, and Inyo
county. Cal.
Practically the only industries in
the region are prospecting and mining.
and the towns of this desert mining
territory typify both the push and en-
ergy of the western frontier and the
unstable conditions of new gold fields
Tonopah lies four miles north of the
area mapped. Goldfield, by far the
largest city in southwestern Nevada,
Bullfrog and Beatty population about
$500 each) are provided with telegraph
and telephone lines, water systems,
newspapers and most of the essentials
of city life, though the first tent was
pitched at Goldfield in January, 1904,
started until a year later. A number
of other camps within the area range In
population from so to 400.
Few countries so sparsely settled are
so accessible. The various camps are
connected by wagon roads, most of
them surprisingly good considering
that they are less than year old.
The Tonopah and GoIdfield railroad
connects with the Union Pacific at Ha-
zen, New. The Carson and Colorado
railroad in Owens valley is from 25 to
As miles west of the western border
OF the area, and the San Pedro, Los
Angeles and Salt Lake railroad, com
monty called the Clark road. is from
40 to 75 miles to the east A railroad
has been surveyed from Goldfield to
Bullfrog, and two branches are pro-
jected from the Clark road to the same
point.
Daily or semi daily automobiles make
the run from Goldfield and Las Vegas
to camps In the Bullfrog district. Some
OF the mines have small but sufficient
water supply near at hand; other camps
are compelled to haul water from
springs or seeps 20 miles distant. The
power question will probably be solved
at other camps as it has been at Gold
neld by the transmission of electricity
generated on the swift streams of the
Sierras.
Balls report, of course. discusses
primarily the general structural and
economic geology of the districts into
which, for convenience, he has divided
the area The report is illustrated by
geologic map, a map showing eco
nornfc conditions and many sections
exhibiting structure.