Imperial Valley press., 1936-01-19

UIlTeG JllIlIlelS Will UHelF varying
shafts, inclines. adits, cross-cuts and
slopes formed a labyrinth of inter-
connected underground workings
extending back into the interior of
the range for a distance of several
thousand feet.
Not of Great Depth
None of the shafts were of great
depth as the main ore bodies rested
more or less upon horizontal plane
not more than a few hundred feet
below the surface headings.
The ore extracted was mostly of a
low grade nature and it is authori-
tatively claimed that this area con-
stitutes one of the largest bodies OF
low grade gold bearing ore in the
entire United States. Much of the
wealth which came from the proper
ty was found in what is known as
"glory-holes," although pay dirt eX-
tended throughout the entire work
ings.
Most of the underground working
was of a stopping" nature. Rich
bodies of ore would be found where
it was possible to undercut and break
down from the above the gold bear
ing matriX of the roof or hanging
WalP' of the mine. In one instance
this operation was continued up
ward for several hundred feet until
the surface was reached, leaving
Gaping hole resembling a mani
moth crater.
Miles of water and compressed air
lines were installed on the surface
and in the underground workings.
One of the largest and most up-to-
date Corless Cross Compound
steam engines in the west was in
stalled to drive the great compress
ors which supplied a constant stream
of pure air to the miners gopherin5
out rich treasure far back in the
bowels of the earth Other great
engines operated the battery of
stamps hoists, skips and other sur
face equipment.
First Electric Plant
The first electric light plant ever
installed in this portion of the west
Was set up and with very few inter
ruptions, supplied light for the un-
derground workings and for all COM
pany buildings on the surface.
Fuel for the immense boilers was
a problem as that was before the
days of oil burning equipment. To
meet this great and constant need,
hundreds Of Mexican and American
laborers were employed cutting
desert ironWood
These men worked for a contract
or who supplied the company with
all their fuel. Choppers were paid
by the cord for all wood cut but the
contractor delivered the fuel to the
company at so much per ton.
1t is matter of knowledge to
all old-timers that when the work
started the surrounding desert was
heavily covered with ironWood
growth. As the demand continued
throughout the years Higuera. who
held the wood cutting contract,
was compelled to move his chop
pers further and further back
from the mines until, at the close
OF operations, wood was being
Hdultu II ulSJdllCe Vi twenty miles.
Many Men on Payroll
Exact figures are no longer avail
able, but from the most reliable
sources of information at hand the
number of men employed by the
company and by the wood con-
tractor reached a total for many
years of from fifteen to eighteen
hundred.
Naturally, with this army of
men employed in such an isolated
spot, town of substantial proper
tions was assured. Many of the
laborers and miners had families.
The town which grew out of
the great undertaking took the
name of the principle owner of
the properties and as Hedges"
it became known far and wide.
No record is available of the exact