Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-10-29
THE RICH GROUND
OF BRIGGS STRIKE
ACRES OF GROUND WILL YIELD
81 A PAN
PROPERTY BEING WORKED
The Oregon-California Consolidated
Mines Company Has Force of
Men at Work.

During the past two weeks, Mr..
George w. Soranson, OF Cincinnati
Ohio, and Mr.. w. r. Mcconnell, OF
Washington, Indiana, president and
vice-president of the Oregon-Cali-
fornia Consolidated Mines Company
have been here engaged in making
an inspection of the mining proper
ties of the company. They were ac-
companied by Mr. George Il, Sanders,
of this city, who first induced them
to invest in Southern Oregon.
They have Informed the Courier
that they are particularly well
Ipleased with the showings of the
properties and the vast natural re-
sources of Southern Oregon. 1t Will
probably interest our readers and
especially those engaged In mining,
to know that the company with
which these gentlemen are assocl-
ated, Is now operating the famous
Briggs Gold strike that is still fresh
In the memory OF most of us; not
withstanding an enforced idleness Of
three years. In addition to the
Briggs property at Goldenview,
which Is located on the Oregon
California state line. the company
has well-developed property on
Sardine Creek near Gold Hill and an
other property on Forest Creek near
Jacksonville, which were visited, as
was also Medford and Ashland with
the result that Grants Pass was Sc
lected as headquarters Of the com
pany.
AS the Briggs was one OF the most
remarkable strikes In the history of
mining In Southern Oregon, the facts
of the find are worth repetition, es-
pecially as the property now prom
ises to mean much toward the de-
velopment Of that portion of the
country, the wealth OF which Is now
not even guessed at. The people OF
this country should look after the
mineral resources more, even II the
land values are phenomenal and not
leave all the piums and rewards for
eastern capital. Any one who is
energetic and persistent can get n
mine In this country, as the forest
reserves offer an unmatchabe rich
field, the richness OF which Is proven
beyond q doubt by the fact that plac-
er gold In large or small quantities
can be found mot occasionally but
In every gulch. One must expect
hardships and being deprived for a
time Of many pleasures, as that Is
a part Of finding mine
The prospector first goes into the
lonely hills alone. then follows the
mad rush after he has made a rich
discovery. The eternal question is
where TO look---where is an unex-
plored country today. Outside OF the
deserts, where no human being can
exist for want OF water, there is only
left one---remarkable as II may seem
the oregon-C California divide, one
OF the largest unexplored districts
In the United States. comprising the
Slskiyou Mountains In northern Cali
fornia and Southern Oregon.
Here is vast solitude OF 300O
square miles awaiting the prospector
and miner. Unlike most solltudes,
this one teens with vegetation and
nature Is almost the only guardian OF
It's immense wealth II is In this
great wilderness David Briggs and
his family, consisting OF a wife, two
sons and one daughter lived. The
femlly worked and tolled honestly
and zealously, gaining livelihood
by days OF perseverance and drudg.
cry at ranchlng and hand slniclng in
the gulches for gold Ray Briggs,
one of the boys, was the hunter OF
the family. and TO him fell the lot
of supplying neat, One early June
morning. Ray shouldered his rifle
and went after game He struck a
buck trait and followed itup Sucker
creek from his fathers placer claim
and ranch. lie followed II over IN,
divide into the head OF Thompson