The San Francisco call., 1909-02-08
GOLD DREDGING is
ON THE INCREASE
II Will Produce Third of Cali
fOrnia's Output of the
Metal This Year

The year 1909 will be noteworthy
among the miners of gold because of
the great extension of the dredging in
dustry The field of dredging opera
tions extends over an area that would
have been improbable FIVE years ago.
The large profits incidental to the
operation Of gold dredgers have been
made manifest by the creation of
great combination, which is supposed
TO amount practically to q merger of
various interests. Very likely a third
Of the gold output of California in 1903
viii come from the dredgers.
The recent freshets carried away one
dredging machine in the Folsom dis
trict. but this will be replaced at once
Dredges are operating now in half
score of counties. After several un-
successful attempts in northern points,
which have largely been due to lin
tied capital on the part of certain en-
terprises. a new start in earnest has
been made at Callahan. in Siskiyou
county. Large expectations are enter
tained concerning dredger gold mining
in Siskiyou-
Attention is called by the San Diego
Union TO the rapidity with which min
ing has recently made progress in the
desert region of California. The Union
says that the mining industry promises
to make southern California more
noted than had been thought possible
adds that mining in the south will be
productive Of more wealth than the
orchards, vineyards and ranches lying
south OF the Tehachapi, and continues:
In San Bernardino county alone one particular
section is proving that there mineral values
beneath its surface In the great district sit
uated 10 miles north Of Aulboy and Bagdad.
in San Bernardino county. several companies are
now developing and operating great ore bodies,
the permanency Of which is unquestloned. One
company has built It's mill, with capacity Of
50 or 90 tons per day OF "a hours in active
operation reducing the ores of the property since
July. 1905 II has over half a mile OF de-
velopment work done upon its property. reach
ing a depth OF 120 feet where the water level
WAS found. Other companies working upon
are striking bodies Of good The district
has been proved and there remains but short
period Of time before many properties will be
among the producers
The new Custer mining district, in
Inyo county. appears TO be having a
boom. Samples of ore from the district
have been exhibited. with high assays
credited TO them. The Custer district
is situated in the Argus mountain
range, northwest of Death valley and
east of the Mojave desert. close TO the
Nevada line. The formation is granite
According to current reports certain
veins have been followed for long dis
tances. Following the discovery Of ore
the usual rush Is taking place.
Hydraulic operations at various
plants are now under way. with ample
water TO keep running very late in the
season. a large plant in Quartz val
ley, in Siskiyou county. has a number
Of giants at work on banks Of gravel
the property Of Gardner & Weed. The
giants are kept in service day and
{ Near n ha IL
gravel mining company is running con
stantly opening gravel banks from the
lower end with a large fiume which is
made 10 carry several thousand inches
Of water. At Sawyer's bar also in Sis
kiyou county, the Finley hydraulic
mines are about ready to operate The
ShumWay hydrau mine, on the north
fork Of the salmon, is preparing to be-
gin running in charge of BonaIly and
others.
While the great amount Of water
tnat has fallen this year is favoring
the hydraulic miners in California,
some inconvenience has been met with
by the quartz miners, the precipita tion
increasing the flow beyond expectation.
Al the Zeila mine. in Amador county.
the bailing of water is reported to oc-
cupy half the time According TO the
Amador papers the water in shaft (
Of this mine rose or 10 feet in an
hour
The Nevada City Transcript saws:
After receiving quite a scare. owing 10 an
unusually heavy how Of water which, for a
time threatened to hood the mine the man.
sgement Of the Golden Gate IS now highly
elated over the manner in which the mine is
rapidly being unwatered. In few days n is
expected the underground works will be drT,
and Jnen the big electric pump viii be in
stalled. 1t IS now ready for transfer from the
foundry to the mine. 1t IS turbine driven
oy electricity. and has capacity Of 200 gallons
per minute vertical throw
Concerning the suspension of work
on the Alpine mine, In El Dorado coun-
ty, the Georgetown Gazette saws.
The suspension has been the cause Of various
rumors in mining circles during the last week.
II is asserted that Messrs. Nixon and WingaeId
were willing 10 go on with the Development
work Of the mine. but the Iucero gold rnining
company. which owns the property would NOT
grant further extension. Consequently Nixon
& Wingfeld were obliged To suspend They
spent many thousapds Of dollars in prospect
ing The property. and doubt would have
purchased # eventually. It IS also asserted
on the property TO Justify the erection of AZ
least a 20 stamp mill. and that the Lucero
company viii now undertake working on It's
own account The latter assertion seems 10
have some foundation. wood cutters have
been engaged. the pumps being reinstalled
and il looks though the company intends ia
keep the pumps going either for the purpose
Of continuing the work the property or get
ting some other company to take u1 the de-
Of. or.O'-De"' ''A "1eis -''A0" & "insneio lett
discoveries OF OIL lQQlcdt10nS have
been made recently in Shasta county
This is considered to be a matter of
Importance by Shasta county papers
According to the Redding Searchiight
the latest discovery was made on Little
Creek, three-auarters Of a mile up the
stream from Little Creek station. Two
men were working q gold claim. The
recent rains had loosened the soil SO
that the mouth of the 200 foot tunnel
was blocked.
While the miners were reopening the
tunnel holes were dug in the floors to
set timbers and in the water that came
up a thick scum of oil formed.
Twelve years ago. according to the
same authority, indications of oil were
seen on Little Creek. Indications OF
oil were also found about two months
ago on the Shade farm, short distance
east of Anderson. where a well was
being bored for water. Oil was struck
in small quantities. but the we'll borers
did not sink any deeper after they
found the water.