The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-03-08
PROSPECTING OUTFIT
IN CENTRAL AMERICA
SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS
TO THOSE SEEKERS OF FOR.
TUNE IN THE TROPICS
Geo. r, Bridger in Engineering and
Mining JournaD.

Geo. r. Bridger in Engineering and
Mining Journal
The Atlantic coast country of Nicar-
aqua Is d promising field for prospec-
tors with some capital or represent
ing small exploration companies. The
mining code is liberal. and mine own
ers are given favorable concessions
as regards mineral claims, surface
rights, timber, water power, importa-
ton of mining machinery and pros
pecting outfits free of duty, etc. For
eigners are encouraged to engage in
mining, and everything possible Is
done to foster gold production as the
3 per cent export tax on gold is one
of the country's sources of income.
Two months stay on the Caribbean
coast and In the jungle enabled me
to gather some information which,
while not purely technical. will per-
haps be useful to engineers and pros
pectors who may visit the country.
Desutory placer washing is done by
the natives. who also work the hilos,
or strngers. carrying coarse free gold.
Colors can be found in any of the
creeks. but to find virgin ground one
must go to the backwoods. A look
at the country convinces one that
there are good but not unsurmount-
able reasons why the gold resources
have not been entirely exploited In
the past, surface working of the oxid-
ICED ores only has been done, and
milling plant consisting Of a Hunting
ton mill with matchmaking plates was
used, with consequent high gold losses
In the tailings, avoidable in the syan-
lie plant of today.
Buy Outfit in u. S.
For trip to Nicaragua one should
outfit in the United States. as Near
aguan prices are high and the quality
of goods poor No heavy clothes need
be taken. For the towns Palm Beach
suits or white duck. b. V. d. under
wear, negligee shirts, white socks.
white shoes and a straw hat. A strong
umbrella is useful during the inter-
mittent showers and as sunshade
or the bush light weight khaki is
recommended, broad brimmed hat
and two pairs of high boots. Boots
should be we'll vicolzed, as one is al
ways walking in water or mud.
While camping out, folding cot
Is needed with an attachable frame
work for the indispensable mosquito
bar. a light blanket comfort, feather
pillow, air mattress and bed linen
should be bundled in the usual cow
boy tarpauin. The tarpauin can be
stretched over the cot as rain shed
trunk should not be taken unless
lit is alright, The great humidity
causes the contents of an ordinary
trunk to become covered with mold
and cockroaches will find their way
I into ordinary baggage. The natives
make an excellent waterproof bag OF
strong cloth treated with crude rub
Der. These bags can be used inside
of canvas dunnage bags. which may
be tied to the canoe and a spill then
means no loss or wet clothes. Inner
bags of oiled silk would answer the
same purpose and would not be harm
ed by salt water.
How to Pack Supplies.
| Supplies should be ordered packed
for tropical climate, and goods sub
iect to harm. by dampness should be
put IN in glass or tight tins. Custom
duties are charged on the gross weight
of the package. Failure to declare
goods is punished by an increase OF
100 per cent in the duties Rifles and
shot guns are taxed and a permit
must be secured from the government
to take them out of the customhouse
revolver and cartridges can be TAX
EN- in on the person. Machinery ship
ped should be well painted to resist
oxidation, ~and boilers, stacks, etc
should be heavily coated with tar.
There are few roads and trails in
the coast country, and these are pass
able only in dry spells when the creek
fords are shallow: at these times some
packing. can be done on bulls. The
real highways of the country are the
numerous rivers and their tributaries.
Gasoline schooners carry passengers
and freight from the port of entry.
Bluefields. to the rivers. The back
country is reached in pitpans--a cross
between a dugout and a canoe-which
are padded or poled by Indians.
Travelling on the small streams at
high water is rendered difficult by
snags and the lack of headroom be-
meath the arching bamboo. and after
a storm the fallen bamboo keeps a
macheteman busy cutting a way. Care
ful outfitting. "A knowledge of the
seasons, money and considerable grit
are needed to get over the country
after leaving the beaten paths. The
dry season favorable for prospecting
is during February, March, April and
May.
The Indian boatmen are paid zoe per
day and rations. Fresh meat soon