The San Francisco call., 1909-03-29

14oA1l, tic PdSlOLs ]
territory This region is also the easiest
and most convenient to reach of all the
mining districts of the entire depart
ment being the nearest to the coast
and in direct communication with the
same by regular river steamers.
The district of Zaragosa, on the
Nechi river, paid to the Spanish crown
the sum of $1,000 600 in gold this dis
trict having produced in 10 years of
Spanish occupation the sum of $4,000
600 in gold. More than half of the
gold of Antioquia has been taken from
the district under mention.
The gravels of this district are as
rule of soft nature with compare
lively small stones, seldom passing 20
pounds in weight and more often of
smaller sizes, there being exceptions in
certain localities, as at the mouths of
streams where boulders are generally
found. Blue cement gravels are preva-
lent in certain sections, and as a rule
are very rich. The values of the
gravels are generally even and good
pay; the general average will run 80
cents on a conservative estimate.
CAUCA RIVER MINING
The Cauca river, from the mouth of
the Nechi river up to Caceres and Val
DIVA and for leagues on either side of
the river, comprises the placer region
that possesses the best facilities of any
for the easy Introduction of machinery, |
as well as for the obtaining of pro-
visions and supplies for mining opera
tions. For many hundreds of miles the
Cauca river traverses rich and fertile
valleys and is fed by nearly a thou
sand smaller streams, all Of which may
be said to be gold bearing sources. The
entire valley of this river is from its
source rich in gold bearing gravels and
the river itself, with it's innumerable
"playas, has been never ceasing
source of wealth to the poorer classes,
who go in great numbers every year
to wash the auriferous sands.
The native system OF working these
river mines is that OF first building
wing dams into the streams and max
ing small inclosure, which is after
ward pumped out by hand and the
gravel is carried out on the bank TO
be washed for the gold it contains
These dams are constructed for the
seasons work only, beginning in the
month of November TO get out the tim
Der and usually starting to take out
gravel in the month of December. AS
many as 500 men are employed at
single establishment during the sea-
sons work, and this is hurried along as
fast as possible to finish before the
river begins to rise.
Most Of the Porce river mines are
under private titles and are operated
by Colombian companies, with the ex-
ception of those mentioned as being
operated by foreign companies with
hydraulic elevators.
RETURNS FROM MINES
The Colombian company most faith
ful in the exploitation of it's mines on
this river, and the company which has
is the Guayabal and GuayabiIito min:
ing company of Medellin, which is the
owner of some 10 miles Of the lower
portion of the same river near its
mouth, including large tracts of tim
per lands. This company has been
working these mines in a small way
for the past % years, from 1879 to
1907, with now and then a year of in
termission.
The total number of pounds of gold
taken out by this company is a little
over 2,267 avoirdupois pounds and not
one-tenth part of the property has
even been thoroughly prospected. The
average yearly time expended in these
operations is placed at two and a half
TO three months each year, or sum
total OF seven years at the most. The
operations OF the company are limited
to one single esta blishment each year.
but they also rent to small numbers of
miners to work in various places on
the property. Last years work was
at mine called Las Nieves. where
hole of 100 by 30 feet on the surface
by 80 feet in depth was taken out. and
which gave gold to the value of $40
600 and over. Here diving apparatus
is also employed TO an advantage in
the work of preliminary prospecting, as
well as in the finishing up of the hole
after the water is allowed to run in.
DEVELOPMENT PLANS
The journey from the Magdalena
river takes some two or three DAYS.
However. the Puerto Berrio railroad is
projected to reach Medellin in a few
years, and then it will be a question of
hours instead of days., as now The
population Of Medellin is in the neigh
borhood of $4,000 inhabitants, and it is
the commercial center of the entire
central portion Of the department, as
well Of other large districts.
There are many well established and
wealthy business houses in this city,
and they enjoy a credit with the out
side world unequaled by any other
city of Colombia. Besides fine resi-
dences, banks, theaters churches, no.
tells and public buildings. the city
boasts of fine parks, racetracks brew
cry, cotton mills, hosiery factory, a
good electric lighting system, and other
modern improvements.
In this city there are also four as
say offices. where all of the gold that
is brought here every month is as
sayed and run into bars for shipment
to Europe and elsewhere. The value
of the gold bars is calculated at once
in the actual values in London, de-
Quoting here the insurance freight and
the export duty OF l per cent. Me-
deuin exports from ss50,000 to $780,
900 in gold bars every month, besides
no inconsiderable amount in coffee,
hides and other products.
Colombia is today progressing in a
very notable manner. The policy OF the
government to construct railroads
throughout the country. to establish
new lines of river steamers on all of
the navigable rivers, and to open up the
! interior of the country by the making
of new roads for the development of
new districts, as well as for the easy
communication with all parts of the
country, can result in nothing less than
good and lasting effects everywhere.
CARTER WILL REcovER-chicago. March
2S.-Captain Oberlin ". Carter. who served a
term in the prison at Ieavenworth, Kan. passed
the crisis Of a severe attack OF pneumonia to-
night. Captain Carter has been lowering be-
tween life and death. Tonight his physicians
pronounced him out OF danger