Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-03
GREAT MINERAL
WEALTH AT HAND
LOS ANGELES IS CENTER FOR
RICH DISTRICT
IN SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA
ARE TANGIBLE RESULTS
Pioneer Miner Paves Way for Rail-
road, Which Completes Zine to
Colorado RIven-Route Studded
with Minerals
By JAMES L. BRIcE. NJ. E.


1t is doubtful If it is generally known
what a treasure house of mineral
wealth Is to be found in the mountains
of the desert Immediately aRd natural
ly tributary to the City ofSthe Angels
Since the discovery of the precious
metals in the forbidding, waterless
wastes of Nevada, and the fact of their
almost ubiquitous occurrence under
conditions heretofore considered by
miners unfavorable to their CONNER
cial deposition, the possibilities of all
parts of the desert have attracted the
attention of the miner and prospector
in a way that is now leading to tan
gible results, and a systematic explora-
ton that will within a very brief period
of time become apparent to the less
observing citizen of Los Angeles in the
solid results accruing therefrom.
As a rule the building of railroads is
consequent upon the creation of ton
mage calling for transportation to meet
the exigencies OF commerce, but, once
the resources of a district are so far
developed as to favor railroad con-
struction, the railroad then in turn be-
comes an aid to further. development,
and returns to enterprises following
it's completion a generous compensa-
tion for the aid it received at the hands
of the pioneer enterprises which braved
all the commercial risks inhering in
isolation.
Work of Pioneer Miner
Connecting these facts. fair idea
may be had of the important and wide
reaching work being done by the pio-
neer miner at present on the desert
regions of southeastern California, and
it must not be thought that this work
is all prospective and dependent on the
future for demonstration Of its utility
or futility. Absolute results of satis-
factory nature have been achieved in
many places where exploration has
been carried on with the proper degree
of earnestness and intelligence. AS
far as outward conditions and those re-
sulting from limited exploratory work
may be considered as important rele-
want evidence of the existence of ex-
tensive and valuable deposits of min
erals awaiting extraction, few regions
in the world, if any, can surpass south
eastern California and western Art-
zona.
Only for the comparative isolation
and inaccessibility, dearth of water
and extreme heat of the country, it
were the prospectors' and miners
Elysium, the mineral outcrop being
conspicuous as TO extent and richness.
One of the most important events
now transpiring is the construction of
the California & Arizona railroad, sup
posedly a Santa Fe adjunct, leaving
the main line of the latter at or near
Bagdad, crossing the Colorado river at
Parker, Ariz., and making junction with
the Prescott & Phoenix railroad five
miles north of Wickenburg, at a point
known as c. & A. Junction.
Railroad Completes Line
The new line is now complete to the
California side of the Colorado river,
crossing on a 100000 steel truss bridge
1400 feet long. said to one OF the finest
pieces of engineering in railroad con-
struction in the world. AS soon as the
summer heat somewhat abates the re-
manning section Of the road will be
pushed to completion, which probably
will not be later than the first of next
year. The terrific heat of the midsum-
mer months, when the temperature
rises in the Colorado river valley along
the proposed line of construction to
from 105 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, rem
ders it destructive of any Semblance
to economy il not inhuman to horses 4
and men to operate constructive
force.
Though not extensively opened up.
yet there are a large number OF mines
along this new road able to begin ship
ping ores as soon as the road is ready
for business. These properties line the
way from Wickenburg to the western
junction at Bagdad, a veritable gallery
existing in the region of the Colorado
river.
Shipments are being regularly made
from stations along the completed por-
tion of the road and number of prop
critics on the California side are pre-
pairing to output as soon as the track
is built up to them. Among those ready |
to market ore are the Whipple Mount
ain Gold and Copper Mining company, |
National Copper company and the |
~.
Whipple mountains a few miles north |
of the line Of survey. Considerable ore
win be shipped from Copper basin, a |
few miles up the river from the rail- |
road on the California side, while En-
pire Flats, just opposite on the Ari- |
zona side, is probably in better shape |
to furnish tonnage.
First Shipments Without Cost
All ores shipped at present go to the
Ell Paso smelter. We understand the |
officials of the c. & A. have offered to
ship free the first ten cars of ore from
the terminus at Parker in order to |
stimulate production and advertise the |
resources of the country. On the Ari- |
zona side at Parker the railroad has a |
grant of forty acres, and ten acres op-
posite on the California side.
Parker presents a most favorable site |
for large custom smclter, being the
center of one of the richest mineral |
sections of the United States. In the
immediate neighborhod are large de-
posits of iron and lime, slagging ma
terlals, leaving nothing to be brought in
but fuel. We know of no smelling
plant in the whole country so fortuit-
ously situated for economic reduction.
With these great natural accessories
and trade advantages, it is the height
Of pessimism to suppose such oppor-
tunity will be overlooked by capital.
In fact, it is already rumored that a
is in readiness to begin erect
ing such plant as soon as the rail-
road is completed. The poisonous fumes
here will not injure vegetation and
there is plenty of water in the Colo
RADIO. Parker will undergo a great
in the next year or
two This Is no unwarrantable at
tempt at booming but justly prefigured
result from great natural resources
suddenly tap. ID by railroad transpor-
.ation facilities.
At every station along the line the
property owners have placed on dis
play magnificent samples of ore, gold,
gold, -silver-gold and solid
,teel making iron that win make any
mining man of experience open his
yes with surprise. II