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THE FLOURISHING "RAND" GOLD MINING DISTRICT Several Weeks' Investigation by a Special Cor respondent of The Herald II YEAR S SPLENDID DEVELOPMENT Great Progress in Mining and Milling ALSO IN WATER SUPPLY Good Openings for Invests ment of Money RAPID GROWTH OF RANDSBURG ITS BUSINESS AND MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS Approaching Completion of the Randsburg and Kramer Rail road—How It Will Effect the Twin Cities Just one year ago the writer was de tailed to investigate the mining re sources of Randsburg,now better known as the "Rand district," comprising- Randsburg and Johannesburg. After a Week's careful observation and examina tion of the few large mining properties then being actively developed, the result was given to readers of The Herald in as concise and practical a form as pos sible, which has been commended ever Since for its accuracy at least. A similar duty now devolves upon the ■writer, and in view of the fact that ma HAMMOND PROS SER CO.'S STORE terial development has taken place in business as well aa mining, milling and water interests, during the past year, all "glittering generalities" and super fluous remarks must necessarily be eli minated in order to give, in the limited space allotted for that purpose, as com prehensive and intelligent a presenta tion of facts and figures as possible. Randsburg is now in a similar condi tion to that of a popular race horse, .which has Just got its second wind in an exciting race and is heading for the goal, with excellent prospects of reach ing it successfully. The Klondike fever may have contributed to the temporary cessation in active development of min ing properties in this section during the past six months, but it is a fact worthy of special note that only one mine owner left Randsburg for the Eldorado of the A RANDSBURG STREET SCENE frozen north during that time, and he went because he was offered strong in ducements to go. REVIEW AND PROSPECTS A brief review of the progress of the "Rand district" during the past year makes a very creditable showing. In mining operations there ha 3 been a marked development of the leading old claims, as will be shown elsewhere-- and many others, in this and the new district of Johannesburg, have come prominently to the front.which were un known a year ago. Up to the present time the Rand group, the pioneer mines or the district, have produced over *100, --000, and under very adverse circum stances, the Butte, Kinyon and Wedge fully $80,000 each. The Napoleon and Merced, new claims in the Stringer dis trict, have each produced over $15,000. The St. Elmo, IVtaluma, Alameda, Val Verde and King Solomon group, also the Rooltet mine, have been important pro ducers. Among recent discoveries which promise to become leading mines are the Little Butte and its extension, the Me teor, Banner, Minnehaha, Combination, Skookum, Hard Cash, Reedley group, William J. Bryan and many others. The total product of gold from the en tire district to date Is over $600.000—a good showing when the fact is borne in mind that the first discovery was not made until April 22, 189fi. The monthly product is now about $100,000. During several weeks' investigation the Writer went through dozens of the mines and promising claims of the dis trict, hence the report of mining devel opment work, which appears elsewhere in this article and the Johannesburg ar ticle is in nine cases out of ten either the result of personal observation or con firmed by it. It is a toothsome morsel to chronic "kickers'' and carping critics to prate about the uncertainty of Rand district mines attaing great, or even a few hun dred feet depth. The fact is that nearly all the mines that have attained a depth of two hundred feet or more are showing sulphurcts in increasing proportion a< the mines go down beyond that depth. This is regarded by many non-resident mine owners and mineralogists now here investigating the mines as an ex cellent Indication that the mines, in their base or? prospects, are sure tn develop into immense and permanent deposits of mineral wealth. In order to test this matter by personal observation the writer went down to the bottom of the Wedge and many other mines in that vicinity; also went through the Minne haha, Meteor, Hard Cash, Skookum and many others in the south and southwest sections, the Val Verde, Alameda am; kindred mines of the Johannesburg sec tion, also the bottom of thel St. Elmo mine shaft and through the various drifts and stopes of that group. The present depth of the following mines, coupled with the increase in base ore as they go down proves that the alleged fear of the mines "pinching out" is un j founded. The Wedge is down 415 feet, the Little Rutte 385 feet, the King Solo mon 270 feet, St. Elmo 200 feet, and many others have attained a depth of from fifty tn over 100 feet. During the past month there has been a marked increase in the inquiry for good paying mining property, and with the advent of the new railroad it is con fidently expected that the number of seekers after mining Investments will steadily increase. E. P. Maginnis, jus tice of peace and formerly district re corder, informed the writer that it is not true many individuals hold from 20 to 40 claims each, but that a considerable number do hold from one to ten claims; that out of 2000 claims recorded in the entire Rand district no development work whatever has been done on be tween 800 and 1000, or nearly one-half of the number recorded. A considerable number of the above claim holders have arrived recently to do their assessment work before the close of the year, and others are arriving daily. This alone has infused an actfve spirit into the dis trict. The claim-holder feature will be a still greater factor in activity when a large number who cannot perform their assessment work or pay for it before tho close of the year (the time undeveloped claims are forfeited) must sell or part with their claims. This Is an excellent opportunity for men with much or a lit tle capital to secure paying prospects for a small consideration, and the dis trict will be generally benefited by the development work required by law. i LOS ANGELES HERALD: SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 3J, 1397 In water development the situation is very encouraging. As will be seen in the Johannesburg article, water is now furnished by the Johannesburg Milling and Water company lo the entire dis trict, as may be required, I'm- domestic and other purposes. The supply Is abundant and the quality is good. E. M. Skilllng hauls water six miles northeast of Randsburg from his wells to the ridge near the Butte mine, where it is piped to a tank in town, and from there ha tiled again in wagons, it Is confidently antlci pated by the Johannesburg Milling am! PRINCIPAL ORE BELTS AND CLAIMS, RAND DISTRICT Water company that ere long all the water needed to operate mills for this district will be obtained. With water will come mills, or reduc tion works—one naturally follows the other. The Rand Mining company hasi leased the Visalia mill at Oarlock, have! increased its capacity from five to ten stamps and have doubled the well facili ties to obtain sufficient water for the en larged mill. Oarlock mills as yet oper ate the bulk of Rand district ori s. A reduction works that cost $20,n0n < Wood's lutomatic dry concentrator and crusher) is now in operation on the Alameda mine, Johannesburg. Blight imperfec tions in the crusher will soon be rem edied, then it is contemplated to do cus tom work. Another substantial ten- Dtamp mill that will require 30,000 gal ons of water every twenty-four hours s In process of construction at Johan lesburg. (See article on that town on text page.) The milling done at Cudde back lake, a live-stamp mill, is highly satisfactory, the only objection to that "ii. nHr. mm nnrtock mills, being the listance. Milling at Oarlock costs from :(i to $s per ton, nt Cuddeback lake $■> ■ier ton. The hauling to both mills costs from $1.75 to $3, according to distance tnd the character of the roads. GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS The geological formations of the Rand listrh-t are principally schist, porphyry and granite or syenite (altered granite), the latter showing peculiar slate fea tures, being in many places in thin hori zontal layers. The ores are as yet free milling gold (with the exception of si. Elmo district), but showing a marked tendency as the mines attain considera- " HARD CASH " MINE bid depth, to change to base ore, an en couraging sign in the opinion of mineral ogists, as it indicates that large bodies of ore exist below. This district presents so many features peculiar to itself and differing greatly from those of any other mining section of California that it is a puzzle to old time miners. But the more they investi gate the mines the more convinced they become of the great wealth of ore stored in the bowels of the earth, Carping critics have ceased to "bellow like the bull of Eashan," as some of them did a year ago, regarding the poor outlook for good strikes in this district. MINING OPERATIONS By the annexed map, which shows a number of porphyritlc belts and the prlnoipal claims thereon, it will be seen that the Rand group, the point of first discovery of ore, is given prominent space. This is done on account of the prevalent opinion that Rand mountain Is what might be termed the backbone (mlneralogically speaking) of the dis trict. It was on the Rand mine of this group that Mr. Mooers and his associa tes, C. A. Burcham and John Singleton, struck the first ore found in the district. This was on October 22, 1895, and the chunk was worth $75. Since then, the Rand group has paid handsome reven ues to its owners and the writer regrets that he is debarred, by-special request of the company, from giving any statistical, data at the present time. THE WEDGE MINE Is popularly known as a triangular piece of ground but in reality is a four sided claim with the end lines parallel and situated in the heart of the high grade ore district of Randsburg. The vein is of an average dip of 50 degrees to the northeast with the strike running about 20 degrees west of north. The de velopment work consists of a shaft 415 feet deep and levels at 115 feet, 165 feet, 215 feet und 215 feet distant from the mouth of the shaft. Work now is being donentthe2ls foot level where a distance has been run on the west of 75 feet and on the east of 40 feet. The intention is to continue this level and others below it till the end lines are reached. Practical ly all the ore milled up to date has come from above the 105-foot level, no "stup ing" of uny kind having been done be low that level. The 315-foot level has been driven only about 25 feet east and west of the shaft and some high-grade ore was encountered In this level, also at a point 50 feet below this level and at !• distance 806 feet down the shaft. At' the bottom the vein is well defined, al though narrow. While the production of the mine so far has been nearly $10>>, --000 not one-tenth of the vein has been "stoped." An interesting geological occurrence, i. c., the splitting of the main ledge on this hill has taken place on the Wedge claim, one section of the vein now being developed on the Butte claim nortli of their shaft and the other section ,'roing south of the Butte shaft, the apex of wlhch has been traced a long dis tance to the Philadelphia and Hector claims 2000 feet to the southeast. The northern section of the vein having been WINNIE MINES—STRINGER DISTRICT and being developed in the King Solo mon mine, one-half of a mile to the ease. THE J. 1. C, EXCELSIOR AND BIG WEDGE These are a group situated north of the Butte, Wedge and Kinyon mines. An incline double-compartment shaft has been sunk to a depth of 320 feet on the J. I. C, 17G feet to first level and 90 feet to second level; thence to the bottom, all varying in degree of incline. A shaft in the Excelsior will be connected with that of the J. I. C. There are cross-cuts Nt different points aggregating 300 feet Eleven men are constantly employed and there are indications of a good ledge being close by. J. J. Brown, Denver, one of the owners of the famous "Little Johnnie" mine, Leadvllle, Colo., and Col. James A. Shinn, Leadvllle, are the owners. They are also owners of the Tom, White House, White Hills, Phila delphia, Serpent of the Desert and Rat tlesnake. THE BUTTE MINE This is one of the old mines of Rands burg, It such designation can he used in connection with a camp that is not yet 2 years old. The Butte also ranks among the first mines in this camp to turn out big pay, and it has been a good payer ever since, except during some short intervals when, owing to change of own ership, it was not being worked. A lit tle over three months ago it was bond ed by a Montana mining man named Wilson, who at once proceeded to work it in a proper wuy and put the mine on its feet. It is situated In what is known as Fiddler's Guli h. The vein is in diaritic rock, with a streak of white quartz near the hanging wall, showing free gold throughout. The rest of the vein mat ter is a crushed quart! mixed with talc, also rich in gold. THE KINYON This Is one of the greatest producers of ore In the Hand district. At least $80, --000 worth of gold has been taken out dur ing the past two years, and, as Mr. Kin yon, sr.. and the sons said to the writer, "The Kinyon is not for sale." Un fortunately, after several attempts be tween the blasts to get down the shaft, the writer was compelled to defer his visit into the mine until some more op portune time. THE LITTLE BtTTTE'MINE' - ** This adjoins the Kinyon on the north and is a valuable mining properly. After making an appointment with Mr. E. Lee Allen, the manager, to go through the mine, several attempts were made by the writer to meet him at the mine for that purpose, but Unsuccessfully. Tin main shaft is clown 385 feet, and drifting Is in progress thence, both ways, in a vein of good ore. At the 880-foot level of the above shaft a 2-foot vein of the richest ore taken out was struck a few days ago. THE RAND MOUNTAIN MIXES This property comprises five claims belonging to the Hand Mountain Mining company of Los Angeles. They are: The Ooloratha Wedge No. 1, Coloratha Wi dge No. 2. the Twin Brothers. Lillian 11., and Bald Eagle. They lie to the cast of the Big Hand mountain and a short distance south from Randsburg. The live claims cover an area of about GO acres, and their location is conceded to be one of the best in this camp. Tin company is incorporated, with a capital of $1,000,000, diivided into 1,000,000 shares of $1 each. Work was begun on these mines about the first of last July, and at the pres ent time they have a shaft down in the Coloratha Wedge No. 1 nearly 200 feet, and are deepening at the rate of from three to four feet a day. They intend to keep on sinking down to a depth of 250 feet. MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS The Tip Top. owners, Ed Hammond. Max Skinner and Claude Bohannon; two miies southwest from Randsburg; shaft 50 feet deep, six-foot ledge, runs $10 up to several hundred dollars per ton. Pioneer—Garfield A- St. Michael; bond ed October :i to Messrs. Wiißhfre and Blaisdell of Los Angeles for Sir..ooo; con tract let for 50-foot shaft; four men working: adjoins and is similar ore to Minnehaha mine. The Tarantula. Bradbury. Louise Pro vost. Providence and Lonely Turtle are promising claims adjoining the Hard Cash. Skookum. etc., in a section that is heavily mineralized. L. W. Beach, Ed Cobleigh and George Toedt.all of Rands burg, are the owners. Mr. Beach was on tho staff of the Evening Express, Los Angeles, for years as reporter and after wards conducted the Mount Lowe Echo. His mother is lessee of the Hotel Port land, South Spring street. He says he has "struck a good thing." The New York, on part of townsite north, Is owned by S. J. Montgomery. H. C. Winohell and several other gen tlemen. It has aSO and 25-foot shaft. The Paymaster, north and parallel with Minnehaha, is owned by S. J. Mont gomery and E. B. McGlnnis. It has a two-foot ledge, a 40-foot and 50-foot tun nel, a 20-foot shaft and an open cut. Eleven hundred dollars worth of orehar been taken out and milled so far, at Kane Springs. The Dyke, adjoining the Meteor, own ers J. C. Brou n and M. Page Minor, Wil liams, Ariz., and i. 11. Belcher, Garlock. on same ledge as Meteor; 10 feet wide in tunnel. Philadelphia Wedge, owners C. E. Fer ris & Co., adjoins the King Solomon group and Butte: ledge four feet: shaft 100 feet deep; stope at 40 and 80-llt. lev els; ore runs $25 per ton across ledge, F. L. Ransdall, superintendent. Keystone Gold Mining company, re cently incorporated, capital stock $1,000, --000, has the following claims one and a quarter miles southeast ot Butte mine: Little Gem, Hazel Dell, Mabel X, and Motor. THE WEDGE MINE Old St. Nlc, owner H. V. B. Gibson of Redondo, has shaft 65 feet deep and ledge varying from six to twenty-two inches in width. The Petnlumn, owners King, Doss & Co., situated three and a half miles west of Rand mountain. A. J. Better, the assayer, has made a number of assays on this property, running into the thou sands of dollars; mine has 125-foot shaft; drift 40 and 50-foot level; ledge four and a half to live feet wide. Company now preparing to put in a gasoline hoist en gine. The Zelda, a half mile west of Hard ; ('ash mine, is owned by Messrs. Ham- i mond. Lively and Upton. The ledge Is ' opened for 1500 feet at Intervals of a few feet and averages 12 feet; average assay $42.04 to the ton; several small stringers connect with main ledge. The Wasp, between Randsburg and Johannesburg, recently bonded to Messrs. Ragsdale and Hubbell; working bond of $10,000; two men working; at 30 --foot depth have two and a half foot vein; ore assays from $6 to $31. Irene and May Queen, both very prom ising mines, bonded by Charles M. Rose. Johannesburg; situated two miles west of Randsburg; ten men working stead Ily. May Queen has 200-foot tunnel and good ledge; the Irene has two shafts, fine body of ore; that from shaft No. 2 running $100 to the ton. The Josephine adjoins Ruroham No. 2; has open cuts and 20-foot and 75-foot Shafts; ledge one and a half feet wide; average milling of ore $22.80. Just milled first lot of three tons. The Gold Bug, two miles southeast ot Randsburg, was recently bonded by Frank Cole and Thomas B. Huff from Messrs. rowers, McCormlck and Col. McCombes. It has a shaft down 120 feet and still sinking, a drift from 50-foot and 150-foot levels; also another shaft. The 1, dge In shaft No. 1 is three feet wide. The 120 tons of ore milled at Oarlock ran $20 to $55 per ton. THE STRINGER DISTRICT Since the writer was here last—a year ago-ra great change has taken place. -Many new and valuable mines have been opened up and the placer district has been extended. In conversation with the dry washer men, the writer learned that there are ;;0 men working on 15 ma chines. The range in net earnings is from $1.50 to $5 per day per man, some what less than a year ago, owing to the larger number at work. A brief description of the leading mines of this district must suffice as space is limited. The Magganetta mine is incorporated under the name of the Magganetta Gold Mining company, with a capital of $500, --i)n.'. Shaft No. 1 is down about 150 feet; No. 2 between 30 and 40 feet. From the latter a drift has been run 90 feet, tap ping some very rich ore. The ledge has been traced by trenches for 250 feet, showing good ore. Development work is .ill that is done at present. A third shaft now being sunk from the summit will, it is expected, open up a large body of ore. THE MINNEHAHA This promising mine is situated 2V. MINNEHAHA MINE miles east by south of Rnndsburg, and] was formerly owned by Messrs, Mediu ms, O'Lcnry and Hansen. It was bonded last August by Messrs. C. E. Ferris and G. M. Rigden of Los Angeles for $16,000, of Which $3500 was paid cash down. Tho ore is free-milling gold and mill tests show it to run over $100 to the ton. An incline shaft goes down 100 feet, thence drifting is being done, following the ledge on both sides 15 feet and in te ;. northeast and southwest. The ledge at litis point is uniformly three feet wide, but five ledges have been opened tip tn different parts of the claim, all show ing free gold. There is an immense body of ore in sight. There are two tunnels also on the claim, each 25x10 feet in length, and ore chutes are being worked on the surface, these having been dis covered at 85 feet depth in the incline shaft and been traced thence to the sur face. One thousand dollars were taken from these ore chutes alone. THE METEOR Adjoins Minnehaha on the west, is own ed by Messrs. Kelly & Carpenter—bond ed to Messrs. Ellis and McGrew for $35, --000. Working bond expires May Ist. They are now running a tunnel to cross cut the ledge 60 feet from hanging to foot wall—ledge GO feet wide, have about 30 tons of ore on the dump; ore assays $12 to $200; Just started a shaft from summit of claim (October 21st), at «>4 feet depth milling test shows $100 to the ton. THE BANNER CLAIM No mining claim In the Rand district has come to the front rank any quicker. to say the least, than the Banner, owned by Messrs. Price and Hopper, of Rands burg. It Is in a splendidly mineralised section, near the Meteor and adjoining the Tip Top, in the west end of the dis trict. On Thursday, October 21st, a boulder of ore was taken out weighing 368 pounds, assays from which showed $100 to the ton. On the following Satur day, a chunk weighing 1000 pounds (with loose earth attached) was taken out, which showed free gold all over it. By the 24th, twenty-five sacks of good ore had been taken out. Messrs. Price and Hopper have a valuable property. THE HARD CASH GROUP This is another promising group of SCENE ON BAND MINE claims in the west part of the district which bids fair to become heavy gold producers. They are situated 4hi mllea southwest from Randsburg. The com pany was recently incorporated with capital stock of 1,000,000 shares of par value of $1. A block of 200,000 shares was appropriated as treasury stock for the purpose of purchasing machinery and making necessary improvements in the various claims. The officers of the company are as follows: A. T. Stewart, president and general manager; Dr. B. O. Webb, vice president; Prof. Inskeep, secretary and treasurer, who with the following are directors, Jay E. Hunter and Nat. Wll shire. All of the above are well-known Los Angeles gentlemen, and they may be congratulated on having a splendid piece of property. The five claims are the Hard Cash, Robert E. Lee, Hesper, Tycoon and Shasta. The Hard Cash is the only one developed. It has an In cline shaft down 65 feet, a drift 55 feet, and the work in progress is evidertly being done in a solid body of ore, and yet no walls have been exposed so far. The ore in sight is estimated at 15,000 tons, assays run from $5 to $83, averag ing $15 at Garlock mills; tailings aver age $5. There has been shipped so far about 150 tons and there is now on the dump 600 tons. THE YORKSHIRE LASS GROUP This group comprises Skookum, York shire Lass and Spokane, incorporated as the Yorkshire Lass Mining company. The only one now being actively worked is the Skookum. which has an incline shaft 45 feet down and drift 60 feet, also shaft at end of drift 20 feet, all in ore from the surface. At 100 feet depth the vein is fully 19 feet wide with good hang ing and foot walls. The ore mills at Oarlock from $6 to $15 per ton. Five hundred tons have been milled to date. The Yorkshire Lass has a double com partment shaft 6x12, forty feet down, lon ore from the surface. Assays show ore runs from $6 to $12. There are 300 I tons on dump. No work has been done ion Spokane as yet, except a 15-foot tun nel on vein. A. C. Harper of Los Ange les Is one of the company, and he accom panied the writer through the Spokane. THE WINNIE This is said to have been named after Mr. Hammond's (the Randsburg mcr ■ chant) be=,t girl before he sold it to Chas. A. Koehn, Kane Springs. However, | whether true or not, it is n good one. The i ledges average eight inches of pay Stn nk. which runs from $78 to $S0 per ton. There is a shaft SO feet in depth, 250 feet of stuping, and about 25 men are employed mining and hauling ore to Kane Springs, two and a half miles to Randsburg, a".d thence nbout twenty miles to Mr. Koehn's mill. Two four horse teams are constantly employed, and occasionally a 12-horse team. Chas. A. Koehn has a young pig at this I oocainp that for learning is par excel lence—indeed, it is a "real, smart pig." It is consequently a pet of Mr. Koehn, for Charlie (as he is familiarly called) has a strong liking for learned men or animals. He charged the writer to men tion the pig when at the mine, and the promise is fulfilled. THE MERCED This is the property of J. W. Scott, ', I formerly lessee of the Hotel Arcadia, Santa Monica; also his brother, C. B. Scott, and Col. Chase of the Nadeau ho : tel. The ledges have rich pay streaks, as I (Continued on Pass Twenty-two.) 15