The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-16
RISKS MEN TAKE
TO SECURE GOLD
Death Valley Annually Gets
Fatal Toll of Lives From
PrOspectOrs.
HEAT AND POISON
DO THE FATAL WORK
Death Valley Railroad Will
Open Great Mineral Sec
ton of West.

II is not difficult TO determine why capi-
tai is so unwilling 10 venture into the
Death Valley section for mineral, nor
Uhv so many representatives of capital
on returning from the forbidding valley
so seldom see 1T TO recommend 1t as
likely field for investment. The desoia-
ton heat distance from railroads, scar
city of water and much OF what Is
available for use of a poisonous charac-
ter, all are factors which the careful en-
gineer must take into consideration,
But there are a great many who ap-,
prcclate the extensive minerailIauon ol
this field, and are conhdent that IN une
ingenious man will make possible iuil
realization OF the mineral merits of this
fascinating section of California. One OF
these is J !. Sullivan. general manager
Of Inc Funeral Range Lead, Silver &
Gold Mining company. who is in salt
Lake City al the present time;
Some day there VIII be millions upon
millions OF dollars taken from the south
end OF the Funeral Range of mountains
on the cast side OF the Valley of Death,
he said TO The Tribune on SATURDAY.
"These mountains range from 5000 10
a0O0 feet in height. To reach the sink
OF Death Valley. which is 97i feet below
sea level. one has 30 make drop OF 92'f
feet in the short distance OF four and
balf miles. on travelling for one and
half days from the Tonopah 4 Tide
water railroad line one reaches the sum
mt where he Is confronted Win an awe
inspiring sight. Before him stretches the
deep corgcs and rough canyons of the
most desolate vet attractive region in the
world.
Toll of Human Life,
"'rhe mountains and valley are we'll
named. as there are always from four to
half dozen poor Old prospectors and
miners who pay toll with their lives each
wear in venturins into the field, Some
Of the bodies arc found. and frequently
they are never heard from. In the last
seven years have buried three bodies
myself. and let me tell YOU that IL is
Of bones or body. showing what terri
ble torture the poor fellow suffered be-
fore death claimed him.
But man must risk such things to
find metal.
AN along the rim of The valley there
Bre 6nc viens OF ore which the pros
pector does not stake of. as there is
no possible wav 10 operate Mt the pres
ent time. When YOU come across man
working his claims you make up
your mind tha IL is something exception
Al. have rut seven years Of my life
in that section and have found some re-
markably rich ore. but IL is the enormous
deposits Of lower grade milling rock
which viii return the millions some OF
'eoraX Smith. the borax king. is hsv-
Ing survey made up the center Of the
valley to Mount Blanco where there Is
practically ineNhaustibe supply of
horsx. and This road Viii do much to-
wards developing Death Valley mineral
resources. and some day the tourist Will
ride over this graveyard in Pullman cars.
Telling Poisoned Water.
"Scattered along both the Funeral and
Panamin' ranges Of mountains there are
few small springs or water some pois
onouS anG others are excellent in quality.
] have been fortunate AS far water is
concerned. as ! have splendid water al
both my properties. There also is
good road 10 my lead property. but TO
reach the gold group pack train IS
necessary.
There is no reason FOR a man i'm his
right senses becoming poisoned with bad
water, as the poisonous springs always
are surrounded by the bones of animals
which have paid the extreme penalty OF
thirst, There Is little danger ordinarily
if man viii keep away from the bed Of
the valley and conline himself TO the hills
on either side.
1T Is not the most desirable place in
the world In which to live. yet you would
be surprised 10 see the number who do
live within its zone and who thrive ply
sically. To me the loneliness is the great
est drawbsck.
To the average mind the prospecior OF
Death Valley IL n weather. beaten. gIizzed
and sun SCARED veteran from whom you
might run quickly as toward him. but
Sullivan does not answer TO this descrip-
tion. He is a clcan-cut young fellow
we'll educated and modest lie does not
claim Death Valley as his home for the
fun OF the thing, but in the confident
expectation that when nc leaves Il per-
manently IL Will be with stake of suf-
hcicnt proportions 10 permit him To live
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