Year: 1874

1t Is scarcely two months since op-
erations were commenced to develop
these valuable gold mines, which have
so long been considered unavailable
from want of water, and the work has
been steadily progressing. A wagon
road has been made to the head of the
ditch to enable the company to put
the lumber for fluming on the ground
before the Winter rains render the
cafion impossible. The main ques-
tion, however, in such an enterprise
in this section of the State is, have
you sufficient water in the mountains
that can be made available? The
water supply is to be derived from the
Elizabeth Lake and springs flowing
into the Castac cafion; and, after
thorough investigation has been pro-
nounced ample by experienced miners
and engineers. The construction of
this ditch has been entrusted to Mr..
A. D. FORD, gentleman whose en-
ergy and skill have overcome every
obstacle and demonstrated his entire
competency for the task he has under
taken, even without the reputation he
has already earned by his connec-
tion with the San Gabriel ditch. A
little over six miles of the ditch has
been staked off leaving but three or
four possibly to complete it. The
ground is for the most part good
ditching; the fiuming will be chiefly
in the upper part of the cafIon, and
Mr.. FORD has run the ditch at such an
elevation as to make this compara-
lively easy. One quarter inch fall is
allowed for each twelve feet in length,
which will leave about one hundred
and fifty feet fall at the mines. The
ditch has been laid out along several
gravel beds that are believed to be
rich in gold, but have not yet been
prospected, the men being busy and
the labor of packing the dirt great.
The probabilities are that "pay
ground" will be reached long before
the ditch reaches its proposed termi-
nus. Extensive deposits of asbestos
have also been discovered and taken
up, which in time will add greatly to
the business in this neighborhood. A
new impetus will also be given to the
Placeritos, and other mines in the vi
cinity of Lyons Station, among which
are those of Messrs. M. KRAszYNsKI
and A. ]. KRAszYNsKI, who have ex-
tensive oil claims also close to the
Station, with the most extensive sur
face indications yet discovered. The
Spangler we'll has been reamed out to
seven and half inches, preparatory
to putting in large casing to shut off
surface water and overcome the diff
culties encountered by the caving in
of loose shale. The well will again be
in running order in a week or two.
We learn that several other oil COM
panies are about to commence opera
tions near Lyons Station. This is as
it should be, and indicates a COM
mendable spirit in the capitalists of
Los Angeles, who begin to realize
what an immense source of wealth
they have SO long overlooked. Now
is the time to push the development
of the oil territory, as the attention of
Eastern men has been directed to this
point, many Of whom only wait for a
fair test, something that will demon
strate that oil does exist here in pay
ing qualities, to throw all their energy
and capital into this lucrative pursuit.
1t is hard for an oil operator to under
stand why it has been neglected, and
the backwardness and apparent want
of confidence of those most interested,
has an unfavorable effect. We are
glad, therefore, to see the present
movements afoot, and hope that all
will be pushed vigorously to success
full termination, and that California
will not only produce her own oil, but
sufficient to supply the whole coast
and Chinese trade.