[Fred Pheby, Next Boom is Panamint, Sunset, December 1905]

Next Boom is Panamint

            THERE are some twenty-five thousand people in the new mining districts of Nevada, and the larger part of them are watching for new camps and new openings. Tonopah grew slowly and conservatively, but finally compelled attention by sheer force of merit. Goldfield caused a stampede and proved such a success that by the time Bullfrog entered the favored arena, the people were only too ready for it. Those who had made a stake at Tonopah and Goldfield were willing to take a chance at a new venture, and those who hesitated and lost at the first camps and even the second, did not intend to lose on Bullfrog. So also with Bullfrog there was a rush to Kawich, Lida, Silver Peak, and Tule Caņon, each in turn attracting and enjoying either great or small booms, but just now every one is on the tip toe of excitement to know where the next rush will be, and it looks as though that section will be Panamint.

            Generally speaking, the Panamint range, in Inyo county, California, offers as great an opportunity for the man of small means and the prospector as it does for the capitalist. There are already sufficient good mines to attract an energetic, active population, and when the country has been thoroughly prospected, many mines are bound to be added to the present good showings of the district. Old Panamint camp has already produced its millions, but this was entirely from a copper-silver ore. No attention whatever was paid to the gold veins.

            Every one of the formations generally found in most mining sections are there. These are the schists, slates, quartzites, limestones, granites, andesites and rhyolites, all running about parallel with the strike of the range. All the veins are in true fissures and many lie in contacts, thus assuring the most permanent conditions for depth of ore bodies. Even the most skeptical mining expert can find no fault with the geological conditions of the range, and Josiah Edward Spurr, the eminent United States geologist, who has recently studied the section, predicts that some remarkable discoveries will be made.

            Water is plentiful in most of the caņons, always enough for milling purposes, and in some cases for power. There is a heavy growth of pine in the upper parts of the caņon, which assures cheap and abundant fuel and mine timbers. The country is quite active at present, but has never enjoyed a boom. Many men are now visiting the district, and before many months it is expected that this section will receive the proper attention that it deserves.

            The original Panamint properties were located by a lot of outlaws, in the early '70's. Their discovery proved so valuable as to immediately attract the attention of mining men, and were soon sold to Senators

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William M. Stewart and John P. Jones, of Nevada. This section for several years enjoyed one of the greatest rushes to any mining camp. The activity lasted about five years and declined with its more famous sister, the Comstock lode, but not until $2,500,000 had been produced from a rich silver lead ore. The nearest shipping point in those days was Los Angeles, more than 500 miles distant. This famous old camp is situated high up in the range at an elevation of more than 7,000 feet, just under Telescope peak, which rears its head 10,987 feet above sea level. It is a most delightful spot, with its running water and forests of piņon pine, particularly in the summer. Such a spot will be sought by the desert prospector during the intolerable hot days of the coming summer, and when once he gets into this range the world will hear more of the Panamint district.

            Probably the most important of all the caņons is Jail caņon. Here are located some of the best mines in the entire range, among which are those of the Gem group. These claims are owned by local men, and have a good record from their high-grade, free-milling ores alone. But recently the same parties have discovered on one of the claims a strong vein of sulphide ore, carrying more than $100 per ton in gold, several shipments of which have been made to the Val Verde smelter in Arizona.

            Farther up the caņon is found the rich Burro mine, which was discovered by an Indian. The vein continuously outcrops the full length of the claim, reaching a width of twenty feet. A rich shoot runs better than $50 and the whole vein averages more than $10 to the ton. Twenty inches of water runs across the north end of the claim, and an abundance of timber is found farther up the caņon. This is a free milling proposition, and should prove a very attractive group for the capitalist.

            Adjoining this famous property is the Star group, owned by James McHugh, and showing a well-defined vein between slate and diabase. The entire vein will pay well, and assays as high as $118 have been obtained across four feet. With capital for development purposes, these claims should prove big producers.

            Four miles to the south is Surprise caņon. Here the once famous mines of Senators Stewart and Jones are located, but nothing has been done with them for the last thirty years. However, recently, Jack Curran has located some good claims in the vicinity of the old silver camp, which he is working to a profit. These veins are probably of the same series as those of Halls caņon, just to the north. Nothing whatever has been done in the way of development work, but as soon as a trail can be built shipping will be commenced. The formations of this part of the range are limestone and quartzite, and the ledges are on the contact.

            It is stated that De Lamar may take over the Radcliff group of properties in Pleasant caņon, which have produced several hundred thousands in gold. The vein on these claims show a strong fissure in places 40 feet wide, at a depth of 1,100 feet. It also shows 15 or 20 feet of $28 ore on the surface. The World Beater mine, owned by Monte Montgomery, and located just above the Radcliff, is producing some wonderful ore. Many thousands are being extracted from a four-foot ledge that averages better than $75 a ton. Much of it runs into the hundreds.

            The Tyler brothers have just closed a deal on their claims with eastern capitalists for $25,000. They have opened up a fine shoot, and it is expected when the mill, now in course of erection, is completed, that these mines will produce largely in bullion.

            One of the greatest discoveries reported from the Panamint is that of Tom O'Shaunessy, who has just located several claims on a vein over 100 feet wide, and all of which will horn well. Thirty feet of ore on the hanging wall side gives high values.

            H. M. Thurman, a local prospector, has recently found some rich veins that give promise. These veins were found after following for some days some float up Coyote caņon. The vein outcrops boldly for 800 feet, and good values are obtainable in the horn spoon across the entire ledge, and by assay averages more than $35. One shoot is known to exist that will run $125 per ton.

            Another rich discovery has been made by Don Pickett, who heard of the Thurman strike and immediately decamped to the same caņon. Some 2,000 feet to the west, and parallel, he found a strong, well-defined vein that showed bright particles of free gold. Upon close inspection he found the vein to carry uniformly high values. By careful horning he has demonstrated the existence of several rich shoots.

            Other discoveries have recently been made in the low hills to the south, and they show veins of value.

            Geologically this end of the range is not unlike that of Tonopah and Goldfield, and offers a good opportunity to the prospector. The formation is composed principally of andesite and rhyolite. Recently the southwest has been electrified by the discovery by "Shorty" Harris of a rich gold vein in the Panamint district. It is stated that a vein has been found over fifty feet in width showing values throughout. The strike is of so recent date that very little can be stated.

            It is only a question of time when this section will be better known and get its just share of the thorough prospecting that all the desert along the state line is destined to share in. The way to reach this unprospected range is via the Southern Pacific to Reno, thence south to Keeler, where a triweekly stage connects with Ballarat.

FRED PHEBY.