The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 25, 1895, Page 28

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1895. THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF CALIFORNIA IN THE YEAR 189s5. Gold Is Being Produced in Thirty of the Fifty-Seven Counties of the State and the Year Has Begn an Exceptionally Profitable Cne for the Minfng Interests in General. Written for THE CALL by STATE MINERALOGIST J..J. CRAWFORD. In view of the large interests under review and the limited length of this article it will be impossible to give the attention to the details that the importance of the bjects de As only part of the State has as yet been canvassed by our fieldmen many details are lacking. The distribution of the commercially important minerals, which include oils, waters, gases, etc., is much more varied and extensive in this State than is gener- ally believed. For purposes of comparison the following synopsis, taken from the large tables prepared by the bureau’s statistician, Charles G. Yale, is given: THE MINERAL PRODUCTION OF CALIFORNIA FOR 1893 AND 1894. several su MINERATLS. | 5 00 00 50 00 2,446 Tons 81000 b 14,14 154,481 00 Petro eum. H - the road has three rails, so that both s found in several | standard and narrow gauge cars may be on transportation | used. Some 200 men are now employed ition with that | in the mine, 150 on the reduction works . The State’s | and 900 on the railway. st year. Gold is being produced in thirty out of nine-tenths of | the fift ven -counties of the State, al- in the U though it occurs in many others. Con- comes tinned activity prevails in this branch of pally from the mining, and the output for 1895 will ex- | ceed $15,000,000. Had not the disastrous fire occurred in the Utica mine last July the ountput would have been proportion- ately greater. Mines that were started a few years ago have become producers, and those now being developed may reason- ably be expected to bec such also, g0 that the future of gold-mining looks very promising. The fotlowing incomplete table indicates the activity prevailing in all kinds of mining in the ‘counties can- ur fieldmen of, Lake, | e greater | o, where it | of cole-| CoUNTIES. Mines |Miners | Mines |3 em- | oper- ated. |T110| 1 2 pro- of a total of 14,000,000 Newspaper accounts and the r 1894 indicat Shasta, Sor na and Tuolumne nia Barbara... counties in cc 1 quantities, but the 3 bulk of that p n 1894 ne from ! £ San s Shasta and Tebama On account of the cheapness of aterial from Asia Minor on will be decreased this nties. the importea the home produ year. The word ‘“mine” is here used indis- criminately and may mean a large mine or a mere “prospect” being developed. Probably the largest enterprises are being pushed in Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, Shasta, Trinity and Tuolumne v products—Brick are manufactured principaily in the counties of Alameds, los Angelés, Marin, Sacramento, Santa Clara and Sonoma. Returned prosperity | to the commercial world should stimulate | this industry, and tbe product for this | D : 1 year snould exceed that of 1893. counties. .\ew_s])ape'rs report m\porgant Pottery tons ware, sewerpipe, | developments in Riverside, San Diego etc., are manufac the counties of | ahd San Bernardino counties, and some Alameda, Placer, Riverside and San | of the mines are said to be fabulously Joaquin, while much of the clay em- | Tich. Fits 2 o ployed therein comes from Amador | 1ot_belxmcd States DebnsACoqum:ssmn County. Large buildings are now con- | Iam indebted for the following informa- tion concerning hydraulic mines: “Num- ber of permits granted to date, 129; number of mines working in November, 14. Eighteen have closed permanently, partly because the expense would not jus- tify the owners in enlarging their im- vounding works. The permits of four companies were canceled.” The very small number of claims in operation Jast month may be accounted for by the lack of water, preparing the claims for next season’s work, etc. It is confidently expected that a hundred or structed with steel and iron frames, which | are protected from fire by a covering of | terra cotta ware. The space between the | metal joists is also filled with the same material, ana as building has been un- | usually brisk this year it is expected that | the value of this year’s product will ex- | ceed that of 1893, Coel is found in many counties of the | State, and usuaily as a lignite. Tt is be- | ing mined at present in Amador, Contra | Costa, Fresno, Orange and Riverside coun- ties. So far the best coal found occurs near | the line of Fresno and San Benito coun- | nore will commence operations as soon as ties. | the rainy season sets in. Thus it will be The industry has been comparatively | seen that the gold output will be materi- dormant for several years past, due to the | ally increased from this source. partial exhaustion of the Mount Diablo| The cyanide process has not made much mines. However, the near future looks! headway in this State for several reasons: more promising, as large tracts of land ! (1) Because the ores generally do not take lying between. Corral Hollow and Mount | kindly to it; (2) because it is not thor- Diablo are currently reported to have been | onghly understood by the miners, who are thoroughly prospected by drill holes, | averse to making changes in their reduc- shafts, tunnels, etc., and an abundance of | tion plants, and (3) because there are com- coal found. A railroad from Stockton to | paratively no ‘“tailings” to apply the mines at Corral Hollow is now being con- | process on. The close proximity of the structed, and it is expected that shipments | mills to the watercourses induced a waste- will begin in the early spring. {.ful method to be pursued. Instead of re- Copper is found in many of the counties | taining or impounding their tailings, of the State, but is not mined, because it is | which were rich in former years, they were produced _cheaper elsewhere. In the |allowed to pass into the streams and be counties of Calaveras and Nevada copper | carried away, Bodie fortunately retained cement (contaming abount 80 per cent of | her tailings, and they are now 'being copper) is produced, being precipitated by | worked at a profit by three cyanide plants, scrap iron from 2 copper solution obtained | the largest of which bas a daily capacity of by running water over the old dumps and | 150 tons. s leaching out the copper, which has become | Gypsum occurs in many counties of the oxidized with exposure and time. The | State, but is being mined only in Fresno, finer part of the precipitate is roasted and | Kern, Los Angcles, Riverside and San ground, and is known in commerce as the | Benito. The greater pary is used as *‘land anti-fouling copper paint, used on ship’s | plaster,” or a fertilizer to counteract the bottoms. The copper (including cement) | deleterious effect of the sodium carbonate output is expected to be quite largs this | in the black alkali of a number of the val- next yvear in consequence of the extensive | ley counties. The industry does not seem works now being constructed in connec- | to be thriving. tion with the Iron Mountain mines in| Hydraulic Cement—There was probably Shasta County. The ore is said to carry | some produced in 1893, but no returns were about 30 per cent copper and from $10 to | made to the bureau. The only cement $15 gold and silver per ton. It is expected | now ‘menufactyred in this State comes that the gold and silver will pay all ex- | from Colton; San Bernardino County. penses and leave the copper as profit. The | Limestone suitable for making ‘‘natural’ English company which now owns lhei cement occurs in Uontra Costa County, property is about completing a narrow- | and a small plant was erected for using it, gauge railway from the mines to the | butisnowidle. Cement is usually made smelter at Keswick, on Clear Creek, eight | after a fixed formula by the admixture of miles in length, and thence three miles to | clay, lime and silica. It was formerly _the main line of the Southern Pacific Com- | manufactured so cheaply abroad and ‘pany, near Kennett station. This part of | brought here as “‘ballast,” the local manu- facturers were compelled to close their works, Infusorial earth is principally produced from the vicinity of Carson, Nev., and in the manufactured form is known as “electro-silicon,” This State produced about 20 per cent of the total production of the United States in 1894 and the bulk came from Napa County. Iron ore of pood quality exists in many counties of the State, and often in exten- sive deposits. But the absence of a suitable coal for Dlast-furnace work prevents its being utilized. The de- mand for charcoal iron is limited, hence charcoal furnaces have not been erected. A small quantity only was shipped from Shasta County in '94 to the iron works in this City. None has been mined thisyear, so far as we can learn. ons or both, occurs in several counties, but isbeing mined only in Inyo and Mono. The low price of silver affects this as well as silver mining. The output will be about the same as last year. Magnesite of good quality occurs in Napa, Santa Clara and a few other coun- ties, The product of 1894 came from Napa and was used for furnace linings, and, in the calcined state, for bleaching wood- paper pulp. Itis also in demand for fur- nishing the carbon dioxide used in soda water and like beverages. Heavy ship- ments would be made to the East were the transportation charges not so high. Manganese occurs in marketable quan- tities in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Joaquin, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara and Sonowma, counties. Cali- fornia produces about 10 per cent of the total production of the United States, and Lead, usually argentiferous or aurifer- | The production seems to be diminishing, probably because less mining by this process is carried on each year. This is the only State in the Union in which it is found in commercial quantities. Quicksilver ranked next to gold pre- vious to 1894, and it now ranks third in value of the State’s mineral productions, It occurs in the counties of Alameda, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Benito. 8an Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Sis- kiyou, Sonoma and Trinity. Only the counties of Lake, San Benito, Santa Clara and Sonoma produced any in 1894 or 1895. The limited demand and competition with Spain restricts the output, which may be increased on short notice. This year’s as last year. Salt is produced in the counties of Alameda, Colusa, Riverside and San Ber- nardino. By far the greater part comes from Alameda, where the waters of the bay are conducted into shallow basins and evaporated by the sun and breezes. A fine quality of salt is made at Salton, Riv- erside County, from a deposit in the bed of an old sea or gulf, several hundyred feet below the present sea level. A very pure and almost transparent rock salt occurs in a deposit of unknown depth some forty nardino County. Steam wagons are em- ployed to carry it to the railroad. The long railroad haul restricts the production both at Salton and Danby. statistics for this year, but it is supposed as last year. Silver is produced principally in Inyo and San Bernardino counties, although a product is expected to be about the same | miles south of Danby station, San Ber- | ‘We have no | that the production will be about the same | counties are not as well supplied with min- ing ditches as their more fortunate neigh- bors on the north this power will be the direct cause of renewed activity in gold- mining there, A number are spoken of in Kern, Los Angeles, Plumas and other counties, but have not yet assumed definite shape. Thousands of horsepower of our moun- tain streams are now running to waste, but when once converted into electrical energy will be the means of stimulating our mining and manufacturing enterprises as nothing before has done. California has heretofore labored under the dis- advantage of high-priced fuel and there- fore could not compete successfully with those States more favored in this respect. There is considerable rivalry between | the supporters of long-distance electrical | transmission and compressed air, each claiming to be more economical than the | other. A long-distance compressed air | transmission plant has been devised for | the Pioneer mine in Placer County, and after it has been in operation it is hoped | that sufficient data will be obtained for comparison with electrical transmission. P ) Modern Methods De- manded. | “Mining is now in a prosperous condition | in this State, owing, in a measure, it ap- i pears to me, to the end of the bitter an- CALIFORNIA'S CERES OF THE MINES. Livermore, Alameda County. Steadily in- creasing imports from Chile, Cuba and Russia depress the local production. Mineral Paints—Ocher is produced in the counties of Calaveras, El Dorado and Stanislaus; copper paint in Nevada County and the red oxide of iron in Somoma County. No statistics are at hand to justify a prediction of this year’s produc- tion. Mineral Waters—The bottling of these waters is an important end growingin- dustry. Improvements in its transporta- tion in bulk in enamel-lined tankcars have enabled the proprietors to place it upon the market at a more reasonable figure, and it is sometimes sold in the convenient form of siphons, which permits enough gasto be retained in it until completely used and therefore more palatable, No State in the Union has so many and as diversified mineral springs as this The older cnes are being constuntly en- larged and new ones improved and court- ing public favor. The patronage is re- ported as constantly increasing. year’s business will undoubtedly exceed that of last year. Natural Gas—The hydro-carbon gas is known to exist in a number of counties, but it is only produced in com- mercial quantities at Stockton, San Joaquin County, where the capacity of ail the wells is about 307,100 cubic feet daily. As a rule it is not measured to the con- sumer, but sold by agreement at so much per day or month. Much of Stockton’s prosperity is undoubtedly due to this cheap and convenient fuel. It has been estimated that 1000 cubic feet of gas are about equivaient to fifty pounds of coke in heat units. Perhaps in no other place in the world is the miner’s natural enemy, carbon dioxide, utilized commercially. At the New Almaden mine, in Santa Clara County, it occurs in unlimited quantities in some of the driits, so that they were abandened. These have been walled up, the gas drawn off through pipes and charged under high pressure in steel cylin- in breweries, soda-water works, etc. Petroleum — The oil industry in 94 ranked next to gold in the value of its pro- ductions. 1t occurs in the counties of Ala- meda, Fresno, Humboldt, Kern, Los Ange- les, San Benito, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The number of wells in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura coun- ties have multiplied amazingly during the past two years, and the combined product is estimated at present to be 4000 barrels daily, or about double the rate of produc- tion of '94. The gross value will not, how- ever, be proportionately as great as the supply exceeds the demand. The oil is of such a low specific gravity that the “burn- ers” used East are not suitable for 1t. Con- stant experience will evolve a successful burner, when the consumption will be greatly increased. The Pacific Rolling- mills have arranged to use it, besides many other concerns. Itis expected that both the supply and price will increase for some time to come. Three barrels are said to be equivalent to one ton of coal. Platinum is found in the gold placersand river claims of Del Norte, Humboldt, Shasts, Siskiyou and Trinity counties This | | bullion. The number of ounces of this | metal produced in 1864 was nearly as great | as in 1893, but the low price reduced its market value. The legal difficulties be- | tween the mining companies at Calico ' having been settled, it is believed that this | and next year’s output will be consider- able in adyance of last year's. This is one | of the few States where it can be produced | at a profit. | Soda in this State come principally from | Inyo County, from the evaporation of the | | waters of Owens Lake, which are con- | | ducted into shallo'v basins constructed for | the purpose, and from the lixiviation of | superficial strata of certain “marshes.” | No returns for 1893 and for this year. | Structural Materials — The quarrying and working structural materials is one of the most flourishing industries, and as California has reached that stage where | more substantial buildings are demanded the product of 1894, which foots up to more than $1,500,000, will be exceeded this year. Were the large amount of granite quarried at Folsom and used for State purposes inciuded in the totals, they would be materially increased, The travertine quarry at Bridgeport, Mono County, is peing opened and a very fine quality of stone for interior decoration is being extracted. As the length of this article has already exceeded tne alloited space, further details will be omitted, although deserving especial mention. Electricity—This. article would not be complete without at least a brief mention of the power by which the miners on the coast hope to still further reduce the cost that of 1894 came principally from near | small percentage always accompanies gold [ tagonism between farmer and miner and the mutnal recognition of rights. This | organization of miners to obtain their | rights within the law was the first real progress for reform throughout the State, | as demonstrating the value of unity in action for a common purpose,” said ;Char]es Stepp, when interviewed a few days ago in his offices, at 18 Geary street. Mr. Stepp is one of the principal owners | in the Cadrzus and Home Mining Com- | pany, both of whose mines are located in Nevada County. He has paid especial attention to mining in this State, having opened and sold gold-mining properties in this State, notably the Kirkham, which was bought by a New York syndicate. Continuing, Mr. Stepp said: “The gold mines of the State are being developed, and much prospecting for such properties iibeing done by Eastern capitalists. This inclination will be fostered, and California will be the gainer by any favors shown gold. From a selfish standpoint Cali- fornians will do well to let the monetary preference for gold stand just as it is, Leaving the whole country out of the question and looking solely to the interests of this State, no Californian can consist- ently be a silver man. “‘California, as the pioneer of the precious metal producing States of the Pacific Coast, and the State which has made the great- est aggregate yield, has very naturally passed by its boom period, and ite mining affairs are conducted on a legitimate busi- ness basis. Hundreds of old mines are be- ing reopened in these days and worked profitably, and the methods of mining and milling are being daily cheapened. In two years from now many of the present ‘pros- | of extracting and beneficiating their ores. | pects’ will be mines, and at work. In ten The success attending the installation of | years from that time some hundreds more the long-distance transmission at Bodie | will be worth working. As occupations and Sacramento hasstimulated similar en- | become crowded more people will go into terprises in the State. Among the more | mining. Cheapening of power by trans- notable ones, although there may be others | mission of electricity from watercourses ders and shipped all over the coast for use | equally as important, but which have not come under onr observation, may be men- tioned the following: That in Nevada County, which is nearly comnpleted, wili vada and surrounding mines with light and power. In Placer County the South Yuba Ditch Company is supplying the towns of Auburn, Loomis, Newcastle and Rocklin, and is extending the lines to Sacramento, where it expects to compete with the Folsom company for the business of that city. In El Dorado County the Grand Victory and also the Shaw mine have completed the preliminaries for the installation of a 500 - horsepower plant each. In Amador County all the mines on the “mother lode” will soon be supplied with cheap electrical power derived from the streams on the north and south. In Merced County the Merced Falls Electric Power Company will utilize the water-power at the Merced Falls and supply the towns of Hor- nitos, Coulterville, ete.,, in Mariposa County, and the neighboring mines with light and power, and the towns- of Merced in Merced County, Turlock in Stanis- laus County, etc. From 2000 to 5000 is the estimated horsepower that will be generated, The Rawhide Min- ing Company in Tuolumne County expects to shortly install a large plant for its own use. As both Mariposa and Tuolumne | furnish the cities of Grass Valley and Ne-, | is becoming an important factor. Cheaper | labor and supplies will also be available. In every mining county of this State are hundreds of undeveloped - prospects, any one of which might develop into a rich mine. It takes money to open mines, and this has been lacking for mining invest- ments in California. It is coming now from other States to help the California mines. “It is apparent to every one that the people of the United States must produce more gold, when you take into considera- tion that the total indebtedness of the United States to Europe is equal to all the gold in the world, and by the present in- terest taken in gold mining the gold product of this State can be easily doubled in five years, when one considers the great number of undeveloped properties which will at that time doubtless be at work. “Nowhere in the State of Cahfornia are there more noticeable and more probable prospects than in old Nevada County. The region of the Cadmus and the Home is becoming a’ great mining center. No one who hes gone in thers with money has failed to find some paying gold proper- ties.”” The refusal of Schlatter to accept money for his work is regarded by political heal- ers as a melancholy perversion of a golden opportunity. A NEW INDUSTRY. The Famous Travertine Quarry at Bridgeport Among the Peaks of the Sierra Nevadas—There Is but One Other lline of Such Marble in the World. The announcement that three carloads of travertine arrived in this City a few days ago from s California quarry had lit- tle signification for the general public, but to builders and architects familiar with the varied uses of this magnificent marble, of which there is but one other guarry in the world, its importance was well under- stood. The altitude of the small town of Bridge- port, the county seat of Mono County, is 6402 feet. It is located in a fine valley, bordered at one end by the highest peaks of the Bierra Nevadas. On the east side of the valley, at a short distance, a range of voleanic mountains runs north and south, and three - quarters of a mile from the county seat, in a southeast direction, amid scenery grand and impressive, is found the quarry of the Travertine Company, whose product is to have so important a bearing on the de- velopment of industrial wealth. J. C. Russell in his graphic report says: ‘“The whole range is frequently snow-clad in a single night, and in the clear atmosphere that follows a storm each peak and crest and wall of alabaster stands out clear and sharp against the blue sky, with such re- pose and grandeur and purity that no one can remain in their presence without a feeling of wonder and admiration.” There 15 evidence that at one time a volcano with a crater half a mile wide was in eruption. The lava ceasing to flow mineral boiling springs appeared, filling the cavity with their crystaliized salts, and deposited the travertine and onyx, which it is certain will continue to bedrock, probably 400 or 500 feet deep, and even with the increased consumption for marble will not be ex- hausted in a thousand years. “The springs,” continunes Mr. Raussell, *‘which have deposited the travertine and onyx must at one time have been very copious.”” The great beauty of the traver- tine found here will undoubtedly bring a large amount of it into use. A few of these travertine-onyx springs are still flowing, daily producing the material. The report of the State Mineralogist for 1893 and 1894 says: “‘One mole is still in process of formation; numerous springs, varying in temperature from lukewarm to boiling, are scattered irreguliarly over these spaces between the ridges.”” Mr. Russell predicts that the little mountain of Bridge- port will one day become tiie Mecca of scientists to witness the mighty laboratory of nature. The great value of this deposit was dis- covered in the latter part of 1893. Being only fifteen miles from Bodie, once a great mining center, prospectors for gold traveléd over this rich deposit for years, ignorant of its value. A searcher after marble for monuments in the year men- tioned brought the treasure to light. In the port of New York alone 12,000 tons of Sienna snd Numidian marble are impo:ed in one year, representing a value of $6,000,000 to builders. In the same period, from the yards of the Vermont Mar- ble Company alone, New York City, plain white was sold to the amount of $5,000,000. This California travertwne is spoken of 1 the bhighest terms by competent judges, and slabs, which are under the saws here now, have created enthusiasm among ex- perts. In New York City it is pronounced the finest species of marble. Mr. Harden- berg, architect of such well-known buildings as the Waldorf and the New Astor, the latter costing over $8,- 000,000, says it is the most beautiful marble be has ever seen. Mr. Post, architect on the Miils building in the same city and the new Havemeyer building on the site of the old New York Herald struct- ure, also gives 1t strong indorsemeat. Among others in New York who have ex- pressed their admiration of its qualities may be mentioned Clinton, architect of the Mutual Life building, Harding & Gooch of the Postal Telegraph building and the new Mackay building, and the names of such well-known men as Hunt, Bissell, Robert- son and Kindall. But the knowledge of the wonderful beauty and enduring qualities of this travertine is not confined to America. Its fame as an exquisite building maferial has reached Europe, and its merits have been investigated there with the same results that have followed its use elsewhere. In London there is in course of erection a Catholic cathedral whose grand propor- tions and artistic adornments will make it one of the noble monuments of that world's metropolis. Intothat splendid edifice will go twenty columns, each fourieen feet long and two feet in diameter, with caps and bases, all from the quarry of the Cali- fornia travertine concern which has re- ceived the order from London. How rare this travertine deposit is may be seen from the fact that there are only two such in the world. The other one is in the lofty Apennines, near the world famous Carrara, whose inexhaustible de- posits have been worked for centuries. It is ‘an interesting fact that the geological formation of the region of the Sierra Ne- vada in which the California quarry of the travertine is situated resembles closely that of Italy in the Apennine chain. There are points of difference observable, however, in the quality of the marble, and the California material has been pro- nounced by experts superior in variety and beauty to the Italian travertine. *In tone. color and soundness,” said Mr. McDougall of Ruffino & Bianchi, one of | the best posted men in marble in the coun- try, “it surpasses the Italian product. It is the most beautiful I have ever seen. [t would be impossible to describe or enu- merate the number and delicate blend- ing of shades. I predict that its use will work a revolution in the application of marble in builaing.” This property is owned principally by O. R. Egger, E. P. Gray, L. Kauffman, L. Klein, H. Mathey of this City, Colonel A. McNaily of Los Angeles, and J. A. Brown, the County Treasurer of Bridgeport, Mono County. These gentlemen have supplied the mines with costly machinery, and have already got out thousands of tons of ma- terial, which is now on exhibition at the quarry. H. Mathey was seen by a reporter at the offices of the company in the Nucleus building yesterday. “I bave the fullest confidence,” he re- marked, “in the adoption of this material in the fine buildings all over the country. In order to be near the great centers of population, where so many costly buiid- ings are all the time in course of construc- tion, I spent last year in New York. The leading architects of the city called at my office for the purpose of inspecting the travertine. It was thoroughly tested by these gentlemen, and as a result I received numerous propositions for furnishing it in large quantities for building purposes. At that time, however, the property was not sufficiently developed to justify ship- ping it in large qnantities. Now our costly plant is in steady operation; weare get- ting out thousands of tons of material and we are prepared to fill' orders for any amount. The travertine can be gotout in any size slabs or columns. These can be furnished of uniform color'or any variety that might be desired.” CHAMPION MINE. Nevada City owes much to the Cham- pion mine. In the dark days this was the one property that remained steadfast in faith and works. The result was success in the end. The effect of that success is visible everywhere. : It is visible on every thoroughfare in Nevada City, in the improvements com- pleted and projected. It is visible in men’s faces, which are animated with hope a_ml confidence, instead of being marked with despondency, as was almost universally the case less than five yeers ago. In a single month the Champion mine has pa_m out $134,000 for labor and material in Nevada City, not including the money spent for necessary supplies below. There are five working shafts on the Champion claims, two being on the con- tact vein, twoon the Merrifield and one on the Wyoming. Run at their full capacity 500 tons of ore per day might easily be produced. The principal work being done now is through the south shaft of the Champion at Deer Creek, convenient to the old mill and the new. This shaftis now down 1400 feet, and the lowest level is the 1200. Stopes are opened up and ore is being extracted from the 200 leyel to the 1000 level. At the 1000 level the ore chutes are of a magnitude and character that as- sure permanence and increasing dividends. On this level a lateral drift has been run north 1000 feet ana south 400 feet to the Providence line. Throughout this 1400 feet in length are ore chutes varyingin width from two to three feet to sixteen feet of soiid quartz, with bunches and veins of sulphurets glittering through the mass, often several inches thick. At the 1200 level the largest of these ore chutes is now being opened up and is apparently going to be larger and stronger than ever. If any work at all is done on the two other veins another biz mill will become a necessity as soon as the one now being built is completed, and it should not be less than 100 stamps. With the immense area of ground owned by this company and its three big parailel veins, all readily worked through shafts on the contactledge and crosscuts east and west, and with the permanence and pay so fully assured by present developments, a comprehensive system of development and production on a scale immeasurably greater than seems to be contemplated would be justified. The production of the Champion ground in the past is not a matter of record, but is estimated to be §4,000,000, divided about as follows: Champion, $1,500,000; Merrifield, | $1,000,000; Wyoming, $1,000,000; other con- solidated claims, $500,000. When it is con- sidered that these amounts have beeu taken out above the 1000 level, in but a fraction of the ground owned by the com- pany, and that as much more isin sight in the ground already opened up above that level, the possibilities of the future in this mine can be fully appreciated. The most important factor in consider- ing prospective values is the now well- established fact that Nevada Connty's mother lode and its parallel veins, like the great mother lode, grow richer and stronger at depth. This is -the potent magnet that is going to draw millions of capital to California for investment in mines from all parts of the world, and that is going to hold that cepital securely when the ephemeral bubbles of South Africa and Australia have been inflated to bursting. The present thirty-stamp mill of the Champion Company is crushing seventy- five tons of ore per day, or two and a half tons per stamp. ‘The new forty-stamp mill is calculated to crush four tous per stamp. It is to be erécted by the Union Iron Works, and will possess every improvement and de- vice known to modern science for best saving gold. The new chlorination works will be of the same character and have a capacity of twenty tons per day. The present cost of mining and milling ore in the Champion is about $3 50 per ton, in- cluding all dead work, which is consider- able. The cost of reducing the sulphurets is $8 per ton. The Champion Mining Company isan in- corporated company, having 34,000 shares of capital stock of the par value of $100 per share. The main' office is located in the Crocker building, San Francisco. Gus Kartschoke is president; H. Mohr, vice-president; Frederick Zeit- ler, superintendent and general mansager; J. F. Holling, secretary; John Tredinnick, foreman. The directors are: G. Kart- schoke, H. Moar, J. D. Schuster, J. Assfon, Dr. A. Withelm, J. A. C. Moock, J. 8. Ott. The Bank of California is treasurer and Lindley & Eickhoff are attorneys. in Nevada County. Mining “The conditions which prevail in the mining régions of this State to-day are en- tirely different from those- early periods of gold mining,” said J. B. Fargo, the wholesale liquor merchant of 316 Fromt street, and one of the principal owners in the Home gold mine.in Nevada County. Mr. Fargo continued: “For many years after the discovery of gold. in this State, our immense gold yield was maintained by very rude appliances and without sci- entific knowledge of mining. They col- lected it in these places in quantities that now seem marvelous. Gradually the area available for this kind of mining began to be narrowed, and attention had to be turned to other sources for the gold of which all were in search. After a while it was discovered that the great red hills in the central and northern parts of Calitor- nia contained plenty of goid, though the dirt was much poorer than the shallow places, necessitating the handling of more material. Then1t was that hydraulic min- ing was resorted to. Then, too, they be- gan to inquire as o the source of the gold, and men began to hunt for and open quartz ledges, the mother source of gold. “The Home mine is located near Nevada City, over Deer Creek, adjoining directly west of the Providence and Champion mines. The mine is equipped with fine machinery, and splendid work is being done. The company has. a three-foot ledge on the 270-foot level, showing free gold through it, and the prospects are very flattering fora big mime. A tunnel has been sunk 320 feet, and we are still sinking. The ofiicers of the company are Charles Goezinger, president; 0. E. John- son secretary, and Charles Kahl is super- intendent.”” Henry Arthur Jones, the playwright, is finlng to drop the Jones and call himself . enry Arthur,