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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
FRANK COBLER, 'THE
VLKltt KRIHTBK," iatf W. FIRST ST., LOS ANGELES, CAL.
CU. C. FlWEY,
H A R D W A R K!
59 and 61 North Spring Street,
LOS ANGELES, - - CALIFORNIA.
Gold Pans, Horn Spoons, Picks and Shovels, Canteens, and everything
necessary for a complete outfit at bottom prices.
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The Gold fields
LOWER CALIFORNIA.
BEING A COMPLEXE GUIDE BOOK WITH OFFICIAL MAPS, REVENUE
AND MINING LAWS, ETC., ETC.
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS.
Southern California Publishing Co.
Room No. 42, Lanfranco Block, Los Angeles, Cal.
18 89.
COPYRIGHT, 1881),
B Y
B. A. STEPHENS.
AUTHOR OF
The Quijotoa Guide Book,
The Los Angeles City and County Guide Book,
The Resources of Los Augeles Ccunty,
A Succinct History of Los Angeles City,
The Resources of 1 ulare Valley,
Towns on the Santa Fe Ro\ite,
Illustrated Chart of History of Arizona,
Viticulture in Southern California,
Secretary of Historical Society
of Southern California
Corresponding Memberof Wisconsin State Historical Society.
.
PREFACE.
|jI|HE sudden migration of several thousand people into the Mexican
^^ Territory of Lower California, caused by the discovery of rich gold
fields there about two weeks ago, the lack of knowledge, among many who
have gone there, of the country, its history, resources and laws, as well as to
answer such questions among those abroad who cannot help feeling inter-
ested in this mighty movement, has prompted the publication of this book.
It was gold that caused the settlement of Alta California. History is repeat-
ing itself in Biija California, that New Italy, which is indeed the colophon
(Kalifornia) of that great book — the world. The great Peninsula is too good
a country to remain any longer a terra incognita.
B. A. Stephens.
Los Angeles, March 8, 1889.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory — The Discovery — The Rush to the Mines — An Expert's
Report — The Geological Character of the Mines — The Route to
the Mines — Col. T. Masac's Concession.
INTRODUCTORY.
The United States might he expected to make no great way in civilization till they be fully
peopled to the Pacific, and it might not be unreasonable to expect when that event has occurred,
the greatest civilization of that territory will be found in the Peninsula of California and the
narrow strip of country beyond the Rocky Mountains.— Vestiges of Creation, A. D. 1835.
Where are the gold fields of Lower California? How can I get there?
How much is the fare? Is there any reason for all this excitement? Are
the news from the Santa Clara gold mines reliable? What are the tariff and
mining laws of Mexico? In case these mines should fail, will it pay to
settle in that country? Tell me all about it.
These are sample questions that are being asked by thousands of people
on hearing the news that gold is being found in fabulous quantities in the
gulches and canons of the Mexican territory of Lower California. Such
reports have been coming in for some three weeks past. A gold mine has a
peculiar fascination for the human mind, and rouses a strong excitement.
The reports have been confirmed by persons returning from the mines with
gold dust and nuggets which they themselves dug out. This increased the
excitement to such an extent that nearly all the male population of Ensen-
ada have gone to the mines, something like 3000 people have left San Diego,
and on one day (Saturday, March 9, 1889) fully 600 people left Los Angeles
on one train. At present writing, miners, prospectors and tenderfeet are
flocking in by scores and hundreds from all the Pacific States and Terri-
tories. Large numbers are crossing 1 y the old route of the Patys, the Ken-
tucy trappers, who went from Yuma to Santa Catarina Mission in 1828.
Rich and poor, big and little, prominent and obscure people are hastening
to the find, and a low estimate will place 5000 Americans now at the Santa
Clara gold mines.
Coming right on the heels of the financial depression which followed
the great real estate boom of 1886-7 in Southern California, its excitement
affords temporary relief to minds made melancholy by commonplace timet.
6 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
The San Diego Union and Bee of March 9, 1889, thus appropriately
comments :
" The watchwords of prosperity have been changed. A week ago we
talked commercial development, and questioned each other about railroad
projects. To-day, in meeting a man we do not waste words by inquiring
into his intentions, but straightway ask, ' When do you leave for the mines?'
Not long ago we were selling land. To-day we are dealing in picks, pans,
tents and camp-kettles. A little time ago we shouted ourselves hoarse in
our efforts to excel our neighbors in patriotism and in love of home. To-day we
seek a valid excuse for breaking away and going into a foreign land becaus-e
the gold is there. We seek for an excuse, and rinding none, go anyway and
let the excuses take care of themselves. These are among the effects of the
mining boom in our midst.
"What is the fi re of our friends who have gone before? We say
' gone before ' advisedly, for no man can say who will go next. In the camp
some men will succeed — some will bring back gold as some have done, and
some will return with empty pockets. All men will not succeed. All never
do anywhere. It is not the fault of the place but of the men. Some will
call it luck, others will name it by other names. The result will be that
the prospectors will find out more about Lower California tban has been
known before. They will penetrate the country and examine it with the
careful eye of the gold finder. Others, not prospectors, will also learn the
country, seeing it with the eye of the gold seeker. One of the greatest
results of the mining boom will be that Lower California will be better
known and its features more clearly understood. The history of early Cali-
fornia life will be repeated. Many will soon tire of the tediousness of
mining, and some of these will return, but many will not. Those who stay
there will seek other and more congenial avocations. They will become
tillers of the soil, they will investigate the possibilities of manufacturing,
and the country will be developed through their exertions. The results will
be commen mrate with the efforts of the individuals. There are many
opportunities for men in Lower California, and 'our sister republic' will
reap a rich harvest from an accession of workers. The International
Company will be greatly affected by so sudden and great an increase of peo-
ple on the peninsula. For a long time that corporation has been spending
money to get people to go to Ljwer California. Now they are going. It
matters not whether they go in just the manner that the corporation
desires. They are going, and will continue to go — and it will be for corpor-
ate interests to adapt themselves to popular wants, The International
Company can greatly assist the incoming population, and profit by the
reflex benefit."
m m
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LOWER CALIFORNIA.
THE DISCOVERY.
•' About the 23d day of last February," says George Robarts, an " Indian
came into a store in Ensenada with considerable gold dust. The store-
keeper shrewdly obtained from the Indian the knowledge of the location of
his mine and went there himself to work. His continued absence led others
to look for him and discover his secret. Their success in gathering gold
speedily became known. Ensenada became excited, tben San Diego, then
Los Angeles and all Southern California. The Indian's mine was in the
Santa Clara valley, about forty-five miles southeast of Ensenada."
The following extracts from responsible newspapers and their corre-
spondents will tell the tale :
The Lower California!!, under date of March 7, 1889, has the following
interesting letter from the mines. Immediately upon receipt of the first
news, one of the editors of the paper, Ira Bennett, a man not easily deceived
in mining matters, left for the mines, and the following is a letter from him
which will be of interest.
" The excitement created in regard to these mines was started over the
diggings of a single gulch (Canada Mexicana), one of the smallest in the
whole district, and now almost dry. All work — except a few locations of
ledges — has been done in this gulch until now. Gold was first discovered
here, and it was here that the ten-ounce nugget was found. American
gulch, a branch of Mexican gulch, and widening at the head into a wide
mesa, bears indications of still greater richness than the little gulch where
work is now being done. By the time you receive this a string of locations
will be made along the stream, which is quite large, and good developments
are expected. The head of American gulch is bounded by high hills, and in
these, especially Gold Hill, most of the locations of quartz ledges have been
made. L. H. Gaskill, Charles Bennett, John Vipon and otheis have been
exploring this region, and both Mr. Gaskill and Mr. Bennett tell me that
indications point to richer developments than have been made anywhere for
years. The Centipede lead, which passes through the center of Gold Hill, is
about twelve feet wide, and specimens pulverized in a mortar yield at the
rate of $300 to $500 per ton. No quicksilver was used, but only a gold-pan,
so that much of the fine gold was lost. A close assay would doubtless show
an average of $500 per ton. The Centipede, in Mr. GaskelFs opinion, is the
mother vein of the district, as its length — already discovered eight miles —
and richness would seem to indicate. The ledge is composed of rose quail z,
with an iron stain. Mr. Gaskill and his company have also located and
denounced six other ledges, as follows : Mescal, one mile-north of the Cen-
tipede; Bonita, on Burro Hill, adjoining American gulch; Oro Fino, on
Gold Hill; Gold Queen and Cholla, both at the head of American gulch.
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 9
Several more locations have been made by the same parties, and other
ledges have been located by a company of ten organized in Ensenada.
"On Saturday, March 2, 1889, there were 300 Americans in Santa Clara
Camp.
"Many Mexicans have brought their wives and families, and intend to
stay here till they make their pile. The camp is strung along Mexican
gulch for two miles, the Mexicans occupying the head of the gulch and most
of the Americans clustering 'at the foot, around the camp of Messrs.
Edwards and Anderson, who are among the pioneers. The wbole district
presents a busy scene, and work is going on in all directions. Gold is found
in every pan, and enthusiasm in every camp. No one is to presume that
all are getting rich ' hand over fist,' striking pockets at every blow of tbe
pick, etc., or tbat this differs from the ordinary mining camp. On the con-
trary, many are barely paying their grub, and occasionally an unfortunate
argonaut is encountered who came here on great expectations, and who is
forced to apply to his fellow miner for rations. But these are exceptional ;
tbe majority are making good wages, and $25 to $100 per day is not uncom-
mon. As was remarked by Charles Bennett, the richness of the diggings is
so wonderful that the average prospector, if he does not find nuggets by the
panful, throws it away in disgust, not stopping to wash out the fine gold.
All gold taken out- here is very coarse, in size from a pea to an- inch in
diameter. Color has been found in every gulch so far prospected, and even
on the hills near a ledge a panful yields ten cents of gold.
" There is room here for 1,000 prospectors, and it would take that num-
ber of men three months to prospect this district, irix miles to the south-
east of Alamo butte, which is the base of all measurements here, the Lopez
brothers are opening a ledge of promising ore. There are several fine
locations for mill sites near their mine, with water (temporary) in the
adjacent canon. The extent of the district is wonderful, and it all promises
equally well. If half is realized which now appears on the surface, this dis-
trict will excel anything discovered since 1849. A healthy sign is found in
the way the veteran prospectors are sticking to this country. They do not
say much but their silence speaks.
"A word to new comers : Let all bummers and gamblers stay away.
The police force is well organized in this camp, perfect order is maintained,
and no lawlessness, claim-jumping or other customary mining camp antics
will be tolerated. All peaceable prospectors, willing to work, will find a
welcome and plenty of room and material. All outfitting should be done in
Ensenada or San Diego, as grub and tools cannot be obtained here. Fresh
beef can be had, however, at 25 cents a pound, and an enterprising Mexican
has established a portable blacksmith shop.
" Gaskill, Bennett & Co. have located seven ledges, and work will begin on
them as soon as tools and machinery can be got on the ground. It is my
opinion that the best pay for this camp in the future will be from the quartz
10 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
mines, although it will be many a month before the placers are exhausted.
The men with whom I am camping have taken out of one hole, five feet
deep, eight feet long and six feet wide, something like $200. This was done
in about four days, and no pockets have been struck. They are down to bed-
rock, and great hopes are entertained for the next few days' Work.
•' Bennett, McGrath & Co. have located a gold quartz ledge in American
gulch, below the junction of American and Mexican gulches, and named it
" The Feverish Hornet." It is a rich strike.
" Now is the time to come if work in the placers is contemplated. As I
write reports come in of rich quartz finds near the Lopez mines, and this
afternoon four parties in Mexican gulch took out over $200, one nugget
weighing $28. Several pockets have been struck during the day, but it is
difficult to ascertain the amount, as the boys are not quick to give away
their affairs. It is sufficient to say that this is the most promising gold field
on the coast. I. E. B."
M. W. Wallace returned from the Santa Clara gold mines on March 8,
1889, and said to a Union and Bee reporter :
"I saw a number of rich finds. Those who are working with the pan
are taking out all the way from $10 to $50 per day, and some have gone as
high as $300. I saw a Mexican take out a large nugget which I should
judge weighed between four and five ounces. He was offered $100 in Mex-
ican money for it and refused to accept. A moment later I heard him offer
to sell his claim for $150. He found no purchasers, as there were plenty of
claims near by just as good, and he wanted to sell because five ounces is
more than enough for a Mexican miner for a week."
W. C. Van Arnam and J. C. Amend t have returned from Santa Clara.
They are very enthusiastic. Both say there is not the slightest doubts as to
the wonderful richness of the region. Of that they are satisfied. They say
that the Mexicans who have been longest at work in the diggings are taking
out gold to the extent of $15 a day each. They say that there is a great lack
of mining implements and that there is a crying want for rockers.
They say it would be well for all to come well provided with such tools.
As to the richness of the ground there can be no doubt, and this is exem-
plified by the fact that many Americans who are working, and simply as an
experiment too, the ground abandoned by the Mexicans, pan out from 25 to
50 cents to the pan, with which the old miners now seem to be perfectly con-
tent. Indeed, they wink their eyes, as much as to say: "When these duff-
ers get through, we'll have a picnic." A Mexican took out $1500 in two days
in the space of eight feet square. Very rich quartz lodes are being dis-
covered, and they promise even more than the placers. There is no doubt
of the richness of the placers; the only question is: How extensive are
they?
Ex-Governgr Ryerson says that the largest nuggets weighs "only 10
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 11
ounces, lacking 80 cents. The lump has been exaggerated to 27 ounces by
some one, land has so appeared in the papers. It is also an exageration to
say that miners are shaking nuggets off the grass roots or using a plow to
turn them out of the ground as one might picture. I think it is also an ex-
aggeration to say that everybody is finding gold. I believe that more who
go down will not make expenses than will go and get a stake. I am certain,
however, that all prospectors who know how to prospect for gold, where to
get dirt and how to get it out after they get the dirt in the pan, will make
money, and good money. I don't believe that more than one in ten who go
down to the fields know how to do this, and therefore I believe that about
nine in ten will come back broke, or at least dissatisfied."
H. H. Douglas, of the Ensenada Commission Agency, and who has had
several years' experience in the mines of Arizona, visited the new mines the
first of the week. The Telemeco, the Ulise and the Princess, all on the
same vein, and the Crusinero, Grande and Grandota on another streak,
which are three to six feet rose quartz croppings all in the Los Alamo Basin,
are, in his opinion, the best ledges yet found. He said if he owned any of
them he would sink on them. He thought the district would be particularly
valuable as a quartz mining district, although the placers are good as long as
water lasts.
S. Lidy is in from the new diggings. He reports that those who are
working are doing well on the average. Will Cochrane, he says, located a
placer claim in one of the many little gulches near camp, and while work-
ing it discovered a blind lead which prospects very rich. When his discovery
was made known, 150 men flocked into the gulch and are thoroughly pros-
pecting it.
Emil Quarre received a letter last week from Pigot, formerly proprietor
of the Commercial restaurant, who is now at Ensenada, and in that letter
Pigot more than confirms all that has been said concerning the richness of
the diggings. Pigot advises Quarre to come south at once, so as to be
among the first in vhe field.
12
LOWER CALIFORNIA.
HARBOR OF SAN QUINT1N
LOWER CALIFORNIA.
xpfffef-is (jT" 1 -.-, ^f'^ry
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 13
THE RUSH TO THE MINES.
Such news as the foregoing produced the profoundest sensation. Each
day brought a seeming confirmation of the truth of the reports, and the
rush to the mines began. First, all the male population of Ensenada went.
The surplus population of San Diego followed. The following telegrams
and letters tell the story well :
Santa Clara Mines, via Ensenada, March 5, 1889.
[Special to the Los Angeles Tribune] — Your reporter on arriving at the
Santa Ciara mines found the camp containing about three hundred persons,
with the gold fever running high, but otherwise very orderly.
The camp is about forty miles from Ensenada over a good wagon road
via San Rafael, where hay and grain can be had, the first at 1^ cents and the
latter at 4 cents per pound.
I find the diggings so far confined to one gulch about two miles long,
the pay dirt averaging 25 feet in width. The gold is found in this gulch in
a thin deposit of sand and gravel. I find that there are several other gulches
of a similar character which when prospected will be found equally rich
with the one now being worked. Everybody is in a rush, and the character
of the work is such that no provision is made for the saving of the finer
particles of the precious metal, and the washings of both rocker, pan and
bateo show nothing but coarse nuggets, many of which weigh as high as $5,
$10, and some even reach the size of $20 pieces, and I am told that men are
making as high as $20, $50 and even $100 per day in favorable localities.
Be this true or false, one thing is certain, all who are here are satisfied and
no one leaves except when compelled to do so for the purchase of supplies.
I also visited fourteen quartz ledges which have been located. Nine of these
are rosy quartz considerably honeycombed, showing the presence of iron —
that sine qua non of gold-bearing quartz — in considerable quantity. These
ledges vary from two to six feet in width and lie between a slate and por-
phyry contact. Free gold is seen quite frequently in these ores. The geo-
logical formation, as I said before, is slate and porphyry, with a syenite
butte in the center of the camp, rising 400 feet above the surrounding
country. Like all new camps where the gold excitement runs high, every-
thing is very scarce and everything very dear. Water, timber and gold
seeming to be the only things that are plentiful and easily obtained. Per-
sons coming here should be sure to supply themselves well with tools, bed-
ding and provisions. Not failing to remember that they must also start
with sufficient coin to pay the duty on their teams and outfit when crossing
the line, as Mexico, like our own country, believes in a protective tariff. I
will send you fuller details when I have had time to make a fuller investi-
gation.
14 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
San Diego, March 7, 1389.
The gold fever grows in excitement hourly. Nothing else is heard of on
the streets except wonderful finds of nuggets, which add fuel to the fire. All
want to go, and many are making all sorts of excuses to close up their
business here and get away as soon as possible. Many are going with
scarcely enough to take them to the land of promise, and to those without
some means the earnest advice is again given to consider well before going.
It is absolute folly for any man to go unless he is well equipped for a month
at least. The rush is not phenomenal by any means, considering the nature
of the reports that are being received. In a mining country such reports
would mean a perfect stampede, and if 10 per cent, of the people who went
in would succeed it would be considered unprecedented. If one man in ten
d^es well — and there is reason to believe that two men out of five will suc-
ceed in this boom — the region will form an interesting portion, of the
mineral-producing history of America.
The exodus has begun in earnest, however, and men are going to the
mines, and going in. the most fantastic manner. The roads are lined with
them, and a motley crew they are. One party of ten is on the way, with a
wagon loaded heavily with their outfits. They have no animals to draw
their vehicles, but four of them have improvised harness and are pulling,
while the others in turn push behind.
A correspondent of the San Diego Union and Bee wrote :
bANTA Clara Mines, Tuesday March 5, 1889.
Since my last letter about 100 Mexicans and equally as many Americans
have arrived. Ensenada is almost depopulated of the male population, and
a great many are here from San Diego. A number of persons have left in
disgust, as they term it, but they are of the sort that would leave heaven in a
week if they did not get ice cream three times per day. What I said in my
first letter regarding the mines I want to reiterate.
There is lots of gold here, and it is not confined to any particular local-
ity. Four gulches have been worked up to this writing, and gold in colors
and nuggets has been taken out in all of them. Men who know nothing
whatever about mining come here with a garden hoe and greasy dish pan to
rake up a fortune in a day. They generally dig a hole about big enough to
bury a cat in, and finding nothing, sit down and curse. Others come decked
as if they were starting on an English chase, their wagons are loaded with
all the delicacies imaginable, and before camp is made they are digging
away as if the mountains were to be turned over. This class generally lasts
until their grub is gone, and all the work they do is on the day of arrival.
There is still another class who accomplish nothing and go away kicking.
They are what are called by miners " coyotes," or pocket robbers. This
set will work in no one place more than an hour at a time. Every time a
nugget is found in ear-shot of them, they "pull up stakes" and rush to the
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 15
the scene. They come into camp tired and hungry after a day of useless en-
deavor, and that graduates them for camp loafers, or sends them home
grumbling. Too many people have false ideas about mines and mining.
Gold does not grow on trees, but under the grass, the ground and rocks. It
takes work, and the hardest work that is known, to reach the precious
metal. I make these introductory remarks so as to bring the cold facts be-
fore your readers. I am cooking for five men and myself, and you can bet
your chance for the " Pearly Gates " it keeps me hustling. My grub gave
out and I had to come down off the plug-hat perch. The only loafer is a
fellow with the ready cash, or the sport who wants that cash.
San Diego, March 7, 1889.
[Special dispatch to the Evening Express.]— The mining news contin-
ues most favorable, and San Diego has the appearance of the palmiest days
of the boom. The streets are rilled with strangers outfitting for the mines
and with wagons and pack mules loaded with miners' outfits. An average
of 600 men have left daily for the mines during the last four days, and to-
day more than that number start. Help at the hotels and restaurants have
largely left, and two-thirds of the force on the Cuyamaca Railroad are gone.
Two hundred and fifty men came in on last night's train. The best
indication regarding the value of the mines is that no one has returned except
to replenish grub stakes. The telegraph operators have also joined the pros-
pectors.
Eight hundred men were camped at Tia Juana, awaiting clearance from
the custom house. Ensenada is practically deserted by males. W. C'
VaniArman and J. C. Amendt of San Diego, who were among the first at the
mines, arrived at Ensenada last night. Both are very enthusiastic, the only
question being how long will the placers last. Fifteen good rich ledges have
already^been discovered and promise a permanent camp.
Experienced Mexican miners average $15 a day with crude tools. Book-
ers are very much needed. Numerous other valleys are to prospect when
the present find is exhausted. One Mexican took out $1500 in two days in
a pocket eight feet square, and 25 to 50 cents a pan is made by Americans
who|wash over the ground after the Mexicans.
The largest nugget found yet weighed ten ounces. The gold is very
pure and assays 13 carats. Of course it will be well to remember that the
majority who go, even if the camp is good, will not even pay expenses.
Only experienced miners stand a good show. Tenderfeet will do well to
hesitate, especially before leaving a gcod business at home. Gold dust is
coming in quite freely. Plenty of wool and grass are found at the mines.
Grub is scarce and the valley being 4£00 above the sea the weather is cold.
A stage line*now runs from San Diego, making the trip in three days. D.
San Diego, Cal., March 7, 1889.
[Special dispatch to the Evening Express. j — Hundreds of men are leav-
16 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
ing here, and the roads are lined with them and their vehicles. No convey-
ance however shaky is refused, and a man with a road cart and a tough
broncho thinks he is well off. One party of ten managed to get hold of a
wagon, but as they could not secure horses they took turns, four at a time,
in hauling the affair. The crowds are kept waiting, to their great disgust,
at the line, where their goods and outfits have to be overhauled by the
custom house officers, and Tia Juana is consequently surrounded by the
camp fires of those waiting to cross the line or of those who have already
cleared.
The great trouble seems to be that many are starting off for the mines
with barely enough provender to carry them through, and when they arrive
it is more than likely that many of them will suffer greatly from the scarcity
of food and raiment. One set of men, whose looks show them to be tender-
feet of the tenderest kind, started out from here yesterday with hardly grub
enough to take them across the line, and with no more clothes than the thin
apparel they wore during the winter here.
OTHER MINES.
The mines of Lower California are yet to be developed, but the moun-
tain ranges contain various minerals, such as silver, copper, iron and coal.
Gold has been found on the coast and in some of the valleys, and already
mines in several localities are being successfully worked. The International
Company has already discovered a large deposit of iron ore twelve miles
south of Todos Santos bay, and two large veins of coal closely approaching
Pennsylvania anthracite. Among other mineral deposits have also been
found marble, red sandstone, hone stone and alabaster, and at San Quintin
bay there is a large deposit of salt. Ten miles from Ensenada is a fine de-
posit of iron, which will cause the erection of smelting works, and give em-
ployment to several hundred men.
Take the" San Nicolas mine. In the early days this mine kept from
twenty to fifty men constantly at work with eighteen rastras. Each rastra
turned out from $18 to $75 per week, runing in the fashion of the natives —
from 9 or 10 a. m. till 3 or 4 p. m.
.The San Nicolas Company has put a practical and experienced miner
in as superintendent. They have twelve men at work. The mill is
expected to be ready to start up in a few days.
The International Mining Company have twenty-five men at work at
Valledares bringing in the water. A good man of experience has been sent
there to take charge of the work. The mining engineer has been there and
examined the mines and believes there is good pay to be taken out. The
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 17
Company has also put men at work on four other mines with good pros-
pects.
In all the placers good work is being done in a small way, but enough
to show what might be done on a much larger scale.
The International Mining Company have a force of men at work on the
sulphur mine near the Colorado Eiver. One of tbe best miners on the Pen-
insula, who has just been there, says that he believes it to be a property of
great value — sulphur without end.
The Lisalda gold mine, which is a short distance below the interna-
tional boundary, beyond Tia Juana, Lower California, bas been bonded for
six months by a syndicate. This is one of the best properties on the penin-
sula, the assays showing from $30 to $400 a ton. Gold and silver ore is
taken from a six-foot vein with 300 feet of working. The ore will be
shipped to the National City reduction works. This is the well known
Cuerro Venadas mines, fourteen miles south of the boundary line and about
four miles from either the proposed Coast or Inland line of the Peninsula
railway.
Lugo Bello has denounced a newly discovered mine near the Sauzal
road, about a mile and a half from Ensenada, which has been named the
" Noche Buena." This new prospect is a perpendicular iron-capped ledge of
about three feet in thickness at the top and increasing to four and one-half
feet in thickness at a depth of eight feet, to which depth the vein is bared.
A good start has been made towards opening a tunnel and clearing a
road from the ledge to the Sauzal road. No test has yet been made of the
ore, but a quantity was forwarded by Mr. Bello to parties in San Francisco a
a few days since, and its value will soon be known. The ore is composed
largely of iron, with no doubt some gold and silver.
The San Francisco mine, near the St. Nicholas, has three true fissure
veins. A seventy-foot horizontal tunnel has so far developed three distinct
pockets ; the last one yielded $12,000.
There are valuable gold placers in the foothills east of San Quintin,
which are fully as rich as those of San Rafael or Santa Clara. The Mexi-
cans work them in a quiet way a few months each year, taking out sufficient
gold for their necessities.
I Near Santa Gertrudes mission, sou th of _San Quin tin, are very rich gold
placers. Being in the arid zone of the peninsula on the eastern slope of the
Sierra Madre, they are difficult to work on account of lack of water, except
in the rainy season. The mines on the western slope of the Sierra do not
have this difficulty.
18 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
THE ROUTE TO THE MINES.
By reference to the map of the Peninsula of California on page 36, the
Santa Clara gold mines can be easily located. In the upper left hand corner,
within the boundary of the United States of America, is the city of San
Diego. Down the coast, just below the 32d parallel of latitude, is the
Ensenada de Todos Santos (Bay of All Saints — 30 called because dis-
covered by the Spanish on that day 287 years ago). Here is the town of
Ensenada, the capital of the Upper District of Baja California, having a
population of some 3,000, and is the residence of Governor Don Luis E.
Torres. About 45 miles southeast of Ensenada, over the first range of
mountains, which in themselves are only the foot-hills of the Sierra Madre,
is the little valley of Santa Clara, named for the holy abbess of the Italian
convent of Porciuncula. Yet so small is this valley that it is not mentioned
in either Books B or C of the Field Notes of the survey for the International
Company ; nor is it marked on any of their large maps, and very obscurely
on one of their small maps.
From Ensenada there is a road going southerly through the Maneadero
valley, then easterly through the La Grulla valley and over the mountain
divide into the Santa Clara valley, a total distance of about 45 miles. From
Ensenada to La Grulla is a line wagon road over which a team can trot the
whole distance ; and from there on is a wagon road over the divide
between La Grulla and Santa Clara valleys.
There are two ways of reaching the Santa Clara gold mines:
1. By steamer from San Diego to Ensenada, 67 miles; thence by team
to Real del Castillo, 30 miles; thence to Santa Clara about 35 miles; total,
142 miles.
2. By team or stage direct from San Diego. From the latter place to
Tia Juana is about 14 miles. The town of Tia Juana(Aunt Jane) is situated
on both sides of the boundary line between the United States of America
and the United States of Mexico. Here are the custom house of both
republics. Having unwound and wound up the red tape satisfactorily to the
Mexican republic, the traveler can continue his journey. The mines are
about 90 miles from Tia Juana.
The road is excellent all the way except in one place between Vallecitc s
and San Rafael. Here for about ten miles there are a good many gulches.
After leaving Tia Juana the first settlement is at Canacio valley, 15 miles.
There are only one or two houses here. Fifteen miles further is the Valle
de los Palmos. Here is a hotel, stables and corrals. This fertile valley is
owned by a company, with Ex-Governor Eli Murray, of Utah, at the head.
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 19
Then comes Vallecitos (little valley), the manor of Ex-Governor George
Ryerson, a Texan by birth, an American by descent, the predecessor of Gov-
ernor Torres, and a resident here for 35 years. The road passes close to his
flour mill, which is kept running on the wheat raised here. The road con-
tinues through the picturesque Burro Canon into the Gaudalupe valley,
the ranch of T. L. Flowers, an American who has lived here a great many
years. Here the road forks, the right hand branch, returning to the coast,
leads to Ensenada. At the south end of the valley are the ruins of the old
mission of San Miguel.
The left hand road is followed to the mining town of Real del Castillo,
in the San Rafael valley. At this town is an. old stamp mill. Here Col.
Theophilus Masac has a mining concession from the Mexican government,
embracing an area of 115.82 square miles, or more than 74,000 acres. The
road passes through Col. Masac's concession to the Santa Clara mining dis-
trict, which adjoins it on the south. The stage coaches should make the trip
from San Diego to Santa Clara in 25 hours. The route and the mines are
•plainly marked on the map on page 36, which was specially sketched for this
book.
The best of it is that Santa Clara valley does not have all the gold
mines of Baja California, as will be seen by reference to the map, which
marks other known gold fields.
San Diego is reached from all parts of the United States by the Santa
Fe railroad. The Pacific Coast Steamship Company have a line of steamers
running there from San Pedro and San Francisco. The International Com-
pany's steamers make three trips per week between San Diego and
Ensenada.
Ed. C. Burlingame of Los Angeles, has establ shed a line of freight
teams between Ensenada and Santa Clara, and will give rates on transporta-
tion^ goods.
A line of stages run daily from San Diego, via Tia Juana and Real del
Castillo to Santa Clara.
Persons coming to the mines from El Paso or San Francisco take the
Southern Pacific railroad to Los Angeles and then proceed to San Diego
either by^rail or steamer, direct to Ensenada by steamer.
20 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
TABLE OF DISTANCES.
From ENSENADA to— miles.
Santa Clara -42
Real del Castillo 30
San Rafael valley 25
Jocolitos via Real del Castillo 4">
Juarez " " and Jocolitos 7">
Camp National " " Hanson's 75
Socorro " " Valle Trinidad 160
Valle Trinidad " " Santa Catarina 110
Santa Catarina " " Sangre de Cristo 90
Mouth of Colorado river via Valle Trinidad 200
Valledares via Real and " " 140
Rosarito " " " " " 20(»
Agua Dulce " " " " " 250
" " " Santo Tomas and San Quintin 230
San Quintin overland 161
" " by water 110
San Pedro de Martir pine region 200
San Telmo 101
Camalu 121
Colnett 100
San Vicente Old Mision 66
San Isidro via San Vicente 81
" " " water 54
San Vicente valley and mesa 86
Salado 81
San Antonio valley 78
Santo Tomas 36
" " landing, by water 25
From SAN QUIN1IN to—
Rosario 38
San Fernando 98
Agua Dulce 150
San Carlos via Rosario and seashore 88
San Ramon 27
Camalu 40
San Telmo 60
Collnett 75
Valledares 75
Rosarito 68
San Pedro de Martir pine region 120
From SAN DIEGO to—
Ensenada by water 67
" land 110
Real del Castillo 100
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22 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
CHAPTER II.
Mexican Revenue Laws — The Free List of the Government — Mexi-
can Import Duties — The Free Zone — Mexican Export Duties —
List of Ports (Custom Houses) For the Coasting Trade —
Passengers and Baggage — How Revenue Offenders are Pun-
ished — The Free List of the International Company.
MEXICAN REVENUE LAWS.
While the tariff is a very simple question politically, it becomes very
intricate and complex upon application because of the almost infinite differ-
ences in character of the many and various objeets which it affects. That
a tariff is necessary for a revenue or is protective to certain classes are prop-
ositions easily understood and to which common assent is readily given, but
to know how much it costs to get across the national boundary line into
Mexico involves either considerable study of the consular reports before
hand, or direct application with the bill of goods in hand to the Mexican
consuls. The latest revised lists of the Mexican tariff may be obtained by
addressing a letter to the Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. The Mexi-
can tariff is peculiar. Not only is there a national tariff, but there is also
an inter-state tariff, different States having different rates. Besides there
is a special duty for the Federal District (formerly known as the State of
Mexico) and the Territory of Baja California. Even some of the cities have
a tariff, while the Zona Libre (described elsewhere) has a very low tariff.
The Mexican tariff laws are not uniform, neither are they always enforced
with the same vigor.
The traveler who crosses the national boundary line into Lower Cali-
fornia, goes into another republic, having a different government, laws and
administration from those of the United States of America. The following
pages have been carefully compiled from the latest published circulars on
that subject, and will serve for general information :
The duties of the revenue officers of Mexico are surrounded by fully as
much red tape as those of America. The better way for any who intend
shipping or taking any goods into Lower California, is to apply personally to
the Mexican consuls in Los Angeles or San Diego, where the latest informa-
tion in a continually changing law can be obtained, and where the neces-
sary legal requirements can be performed. The tariff is continually chang-
ing. Even now the present tariff is being revised. Below are the free lists
as last published :
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 23
THE FREE LIST OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Animals of all classes, living, except altered horses ; apparatus for ex-
tinguishing fires, with six charges of liquid ; arsenic, white ; asbestos, in
powder; acids, sulphuric, chloro-hydric, phenic ; anchors, with and without
chains for vessels.
Bags, common, of all materials; barrels and pipes (.casks), when empty;
books and music, printed and not bound ; boxes, common, of wood, nailed
together or in pieces; bricks of refractory earth.
Cable, of aloe or hemp, measuring from three centimeters of diameter
to 94 2-10 milimeters of circumference; caustic soda; chloride, bisulphide
or trisulphide of lime; clay, sand and blotting sand; clocks for towers and
public buildings ; coaches and railway cars ; coal of all kinds ; cork, in bulk
or in sheets; crucibles of all materials and sizes.
Eggs; emery, in powder or in grain; engines, steam, locomotives and
other things necessary for building railways.
Firewood ; fish, fresh ; fodder, hay.
Glycerine, odorless ; gold, silver and platinum in bullion or in dust.
Hops; houses of wood and iron, complete; hyposulphate of soda.
Iron and steel rails for railways; iron with hooks for making packages;
iron hoops with rivets for the same objects ; iron or lead tubing of all
dimensions.
Knives, hatchets, scythes, sickles, rakes, shovels, pickaxes, spades, hoes
and mattocks of iron or steel for agriculture.
Letters, plates, spaces, vignettes, type and other necessary articles for
printing; lime (common), hydraulic lime or Roman cement.
Machinery and apparatus of all kinds not specified for manufacturing,
agriculture, mining, the arts and sciences, and their separate parts whenever
these cannot be used separately; masts for vessels ; money, legal, of gold
or silver.
Oars for boats ; ores.
Periodicals and catalogues, printed; plants, living, and seeds for horti-
culture; plows and plowshares; poisons used m preparing skins; powder,
wicks, fuse and explosive compounds for mines ; pumice-stone.
Quicksilver.
Rags, paper clippings and pulp of all kinds for paper-making; refrac-
tory earth.
Saltpetre, whether nitrate of potash or soda; slate for roofing, from two
to three millimeters in thickness ; Spanish white ; steel, bars of round or
octagonal, for mines; stones, precious; sulphate of ammonia: sulphate of
copper.
Tiles, earthen, of all kinds ; tin, in plates up to forty centimeters in
length by thirty-eight inches in breadth, not stamped or painted; timber,
building.
Vaccine ; vessels of all kinds when nationalized or sold.
24 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Wire, barbed, with staples for fencing; wire cable, of iron or steel, of
all thickness ; wire, copper, insulated with any material for electrical light-
ing, whenever the diameter of the wire, by itself, is up to No. 6 Birmingham
measure, and the destination of wire is shown ; wire, telegraph and telephone
intended for said purpose.
MEXICAN IMPORT DUTIES.
Following is a list of some of the more important articles for miners,
carefully compiled from the last published report of the Department of
State at Washington, D. C. :
COTTONS.
Name of Article. Weight, Measurement or Number. Rate of Duty.
Canvas, net weight, kilogram* $ 65
Clothing, ready made, legal weight, kilogram 2 50
Collars and cuffs, net weight, " 3 60
Corsets, net weight, " 1 90
Cotton cloths, square meter* 11
Coverlets, blaukets, etc., net weight, square meter 75
Cravats, net weight, kilogram 1 90
Curtains (cotton) except net square meter 20
Elastic, of cotton and India rubber, net weight, 4 centimeters. 70
Suspenders, legal weight, kilogram 65
Handkerchiefs, square meter 16
Shirts, net weight, kilogram 1 30
" linen," " $3 80@7 00
- Socks, underclothing, etc., kilogram 1 75
Thread of all kinds, net weight, kilogram 1 60
Umbrellas, each 60
WOOLENS.
Brussels carpets, square meter 1 60
Woolen clothing ready made, net weight, kilogram 5 50
Woolen coverlets, square meter 1 70
Woolen underclothing, net weight, kilogram 2 10
Endless belting (felt or wool) for machinery, net w't, kilogram 06
Felt of wool (in pieces'! net weight 25
Woolen gloves, net weight, kilogram $2 00@4 00
Woolen underclothing net weight, kilogram 2 20
Umbrellas (woolen), etc., each 1 00
Woolen goods of all kinds, net weight, kilograms $1 05@4 80
NUTRITIOUS SUBSTANCES.
Barley, gross weight, kilogram 04
Beer and cider in bottles, net weight, kilogram 30
Beer and cider in barrels, net weight, kilogram 20
' See table of metric system.
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 25
Bitters, net weight, kilogram 30
Brandies, " " . . . 75
Butter, " " 25
Cheese, " " 15
Cinnamon, " " 1 10
Cloves, " " 65
Coffee, " " 10
Condensed milk, legal weight 25
Confections, " kilogram 1 55
Corn meal, gross weight, " 01
Crackers " '• 15
Fish, dried, salt, etc., " 12
Fruits, dried, etc., net weight, " 10
Lard, net weight, kilogram 20
Molasses or honey ,[net weight, kilogram 08
Oats, gross weight, kilogram 01
( 'live oil, net weight " 20
Onions, fresh, gross weight, kilogram .... 03
Pepper, net weight, " 25
Pickles, legal weight, " 50
Potatoes, gross weight, " 03
Preserves, legal weight, " 80
Rice, gross weight, " 08
Sardines, legal weight, " 15
Salt, table, gross weight, •' 06
Sausages, net weight, " 25
Sugar, gross weight, " 15
Ham, net weight, " 25
Tea, " " 80
Vinegar, " " 06
Wheat, " " 05
Wine, " " 20
STONE WAEE.
Bottles, empty, gross weight, kilogram 03
Crockeryware, etc., " '• 15
Crucibles, " " 01
Demijohns, all sizes, " " 03
Gypsum, ' " '• 12
Lime, " " 01
Mirrors, to 30 centimeters, gross weight, kilogram 25
Whetstones, gross weight, " 10
Window glass, all kinds, " " 25
METALS, ETC.
Alloy, gross weight, kilogram 1 25
Bars of steel for mines, cylindrical and octagonal, gross weight
kilogram 01
Cable iron, gross weight, kilogram 01
Copper, pigs,
Cois, iron,
Furniture, iron,
" brass
Iron, pigs,
01
25
25
30
01
rolled, sheet, etc., gross weight, kilogram 10
26 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Iron of all qualities in bulk, bars, plates, etc., gross weight,
kilogram 07
Knives, picks, pans, etc., gross weight, kilogram 01
Lead in blocks or sheets, " " 07
Nails of all sizes, " " 13
Needles, " " 35@95
Pens, steel, " " 95
Scissors, all sizes, " " 07 @35
Steel, " '< 07
Tin plate, all sizes, " " 07@35
Tools, iron, brass, etc., " " 10
Tubing, all dimensions, " " 01
Wire, all classes, " " 10@2 50
NOTIONS.
Bellows, all kinds, gross weight, kilogram 10@30
Belts, not with gold or silver buckles, gross wt., kilogram. .50@2 50
Brushes, gross weight, kilogram 30
Combs, all classes, gross weight, kilogram 25
Cork, in bulk or sheet, " " 07
Curtains, " " 35
Emery, powdered, " " 08
Flasks, all kinds, " " 30
Ink, " " 25
Lamp shades, " " 65
Lanterns and lamps all kinds, gross weight, kilogram 30
Lead pencils, gross weight, kilogram 20
Matches, " " 1 25
Oil cloth, " " 30
Sandpaper, " " 06
Sieves, " " 20
Sponges, all kinds, " " 30@1 25
Whips, " " 65
Wicks, " " 30
MACHINES, ETC.
Clocks, all kinds, gross weight, kilogram 45@1 25
Machines and apparatus of all classes, not specified, for indus-
try, agriculture, mining, arts, etc., gross weight, kilogram 0^-
Sewing machines, gross weights, kilogram 05
Watche.-, all kinds, each 50@14 00
CARRIAGES.
Vehicles of all kinds, each $10 00@66 00
AMMUNITION.
Lead, gross weight, kilogram 07
Powder, for mines, gross weight, kilogram 01
" arms, " " 1 10
Guns, all kinds, " " 82@ I 25
W T icks and fuse for mines, gross weight, kilogram 01
WOODS, ETC.
Barrels and boxes, empty, gross weight, each 05
Casks, etc., " " 06
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 27
Cols, wood etc., " " 16
FumLure, all kinds, " " 15@35
MISCELLANEOUS.
Blank books, gross weight, kilogram '96
Books, " " 1 00
Documents, all kinds, gross weight, kilogram 65
Paper, " " " 07@65
Plaving cards, " " 1 05
Belting (leather) " " 50
Boots, cowhide, pair 1 50
" calf, " 2 50
Bridles, gross weight, kilogram 65
Gloves, net weight " 3 25@6 00
Carriage harness, gross weight, kilogram 1 50
Leather, all kinds, net weight, " 1 55
Shoes, pair 45
Acetates, all kinds, legal weight, kilogram 15
Acids, " " 25@1 10
Alcohol, net weight, " 90
Cyanide of potash, legal weigh " 08
• • Drugs, " " 75
Indigo, gross weight, " 1 35
Brooms, " " 03
Dynamite, " " 01
Geldings, each 40 00
Hats, all classes, each .25@1 05
Ice, gross weight, kilogram 01
Petroleum, gross weight, kilogram 01
Soap, " " 18
Tobacco, ret weight, " 68@2 75
Tents, gross weight, " 20
It will be well to remember that these rates are subject to constant
change, and that many of these things are free of duty to the colonists of
the International Company of Mexico.
28 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
THE FREE ZONE.
The free zone extends along the whole northern frontier of the Mexican
republic, for a distance of twenty kilometers (12^ miles) south of the bound-
ary line between the American and Mexican repuhlics. The concession of
the free zone consists in certain prerogatives that goods imported into it
enjoy in their dispatch and traffic. Goods imported into the free zone, if
not dispatched immediately, may be deposited in warehouses after going
through all the numerous forms of red tape, and being sealed. If taken out
within six months the duties of the tariff only will be charged ; if taken out
after that time five per cent additional to the duties themselves shall be
paid. Upon the withdrawal of goods from the warehouse for consumption
in the free zone only three per cent of the total of duties for importation
shall be collected, of which 1.75 per cent, goes to the national treasury and
1.25 per cent, for the local municipality where the importation is made.
Goods may be transported anywhere in the free zone under certain limited
permissions. Goods may be internated * from the free zone under certain
rules, and a cash payment of the duties of the regular tariff.
The object of the free zone in having such a low tariff is two fold : first,
to discourage smuggling; and, second, to encourage settlement by the sup-
posed resultant correspondingly low prices of the necessaries of life, a mis-
take made upon an error wide spread by college professors who study books
and not markets.
MEXICAN EXPORT DUTIES.
All national products, effects and manufactured articles are free from
duty on their exportation, with the exception of those which are or may be
especially taxed by laws.
The exportation of national antiquities is prohibited.
The re-exportation of foreign goods, without payment of fiscal duties,
shall be allowed only in the case of those goods that are deposited in the
warehouses established by the government in the maritime and frontier
custom-houses of the Mexican republic.
From the Spanish internacion, meaning to introduce into the interior.
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 29
The same general red tape applies to exportation that does to importa-
tion.
The law of November 3, 1880, as modified by various circulars, remains
in force and imposes the following duties :
Gold in whatever form, one-fourth of one per cent.
Silver, in whatever form, one-half of one per cent.
Coined gold and silver having already paid at mint is exempt.
Orchil, $10 per ton of 1,000 kilos.
Wood for construction and cabinet work, $2.50 per esterio"(31.34 Amer-
ican cubic feet).
PORTS FOR THE COASTING TRADE.
The following are the ports for the coasting trade in Baja California:
Muleje, San Jose del Cabo (La Paz custom house), Isla de Guadalupe (En-
senada de Todos Santos custom house), Bahia de Magdalena andTia Juana.
PASSENGERS AND BAGGAGE.
The following is quoted from Sutton's Tariff Laws of Mexico, edition of
1885 :
Passengers are obliged to present their baggage to the custom-house
inspector. If they have dutiable articles, they shall also have a written
manifest.
Clothing for personal use, if not excessive, and whose quality is in the
judgment of the administrators, according to the circumstances ©f the pas-
sengers, shall be considered as the baggage of a passenger, and free'of duty.
The objects which they wear, or for their use, as a watch, chain, buttons,
cane, etc., and one or two fire arms with their accessories and one hundred
charges.
Professors or artisans can carry free from duties the instruments or tools
most essential or indispensable to exercise their profession or trade.
The administrator can permit with each male passenger, if adults, the in-
troduction free of duties, 99 cigars, 40 packages of cigarettes, and half a kilo-
gram of snuff or chewing tobacco.
A circus or opera troupe are also permitted to introduce free of duties
their costumes and scenery.
The duties on household furniture used is to be diminished according to
the damage.
Personal searches shall only be made in exceptional cases, and by
another of the same sex, when there is very specific [information, and shall
not be made without advising the administrator.
30 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Passengers shall pay nothing for search of baggage, except duties and
sealing.
The search of baggage shall be made in a convenient and secure place
gradually, and of each passenger, one after another, without offensive dis-
tinction and strictly in turn. The administrator shall be careful to hasten
service when possible, so as not to detain them longer than necessary.
It is prohibited under the strictest responsibilities of subordinate em-
ployes to take the private papers of the passengers, titles of profession or
property, books, documents of accounts, etc. Their examination shall be
limited to what is indispensable to ascertain that there be no dutiable
effects.
Administrators of custom houses shall take care that their employes
treat passengers with politeness and urbanity ; make them understand
before the inspection of their baggage the obligations which custom house
laws impose upon them ; not permitting subordinate employes to make
inspections alone, but that some superior officer superintend them.
Passengers shall not be permitted to commit faults of attention or
respect either to the ground on which they stand or the Mexican govern-
ment, and for committing such faults they can even be consigned to the
local authority for merited punishment.
Passengers may be permitted to rearrange or revise their baggage or
effects.
Custom house inspectors shall take care to have this chapter (Chapter
IV) printed in French, English, German and Italian, in separate copies for
each language, and in each one all the Spanish text, that it may serve as a
notice to passengers who come to the country. Care shall be taken to fix
these notices in public places, principally where the inspection of baggage
is made.
If amongst the baggage of a passenger entering only the Zona Libre
(free zone) there should come any package of goods whose value exceeds
$100, their owner must bring them, covered by their respective consular in-
voices, in order that all the proceedings may be taken in this case that are
specified for importation.
The inhabitants and travelers along the American frontier are permitted
to cross a horse or carriage without payment of customs duties, provided
that the person who brings them comes with the intention of returning
with the horse or carriage the same or the following day.
The requisites for exportation shall not be required of the inhabitants
of the Zona Libre who may cross a gelding or a carriage to American terri-
tory only for a little while, nor shall customs duties be collected for said
horses or carriages upon their return to the Zona Libre.
The owners of carts or carriages that pass from the American territory
to the Zona Libre for a certain period of time must solicit from the admin-
istrator of the custom house the respective permit, securing satisfactorily
the duties of importation, that, in case they have not been returned to the
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 31
place of departure at the expiration of the specified term, they may pay the
corresponding duties. Said terms shall in no case exceed six months.
HOW REVENUE OFFENDERS ARE PUNISHED.
The violations of the Mexican tariff law are classified into smuggling,
fraud, contravention and error, for which the penalties are confiscation, pay-
ment of double duties, fine, imprisonment, and, if of officials, suspension,
discharge, disqualification and dishonor. Punishment is also provided for
bribery. The penalty for smuggling is a total loss of goods and from six
months to five years' imprisonment; accomplices get half the penalty. The
penalty for fraud is disqualification and dishonor and from six months to
five years' imprisonment for Mexican officials; others, from six months to
four years, together with the payment of double duties upon the goods falsi-
fied, and a fine of from $200 to $3,000. The penalty for bribery is from six
months to four years' imprisonment, a fine equivalent to double the bribe
discharge and disqualification for an official, and the private individual suf-
fers the same fine and imprisonment. Contraventions are punishable only
by amendments, and errors are punishable only by fines.
Fees. — For goods less than $100 in value no papers are necessary, but
for larger amounts a written manifest must be had, made out by a custom-
house broker, and stamped and verified before a Mexican consul, costing
from $25 to $40.
FREE LIST OF THE INTERNATIONAL CO.
The following list of articles are allowed free to colonists by the Com-
pany, until the Government of Mexico furnishes the free duty list :
1, fresh garlic; 2, peas; 3, rice; 4, oats in grain; 5, sugar; 6, coffee ;
7, seed barley, wheat and all other seeds; 8, onions; 9, beans; 10, chicken
peas; 11, bacon and salt meats not canned; 12, lentils; 13, corn; 14 lard-
15, potatoes ; 16, table table ; 17, tea of all kinds ; 18, geldings ; 19, brooms •
20, working tools of all kinds; 21, stoves (only one for each family) ; 22
bricks ; 23, used furniture ; 24, agricultural implements ; 25, machinery of
all kinds and lumber for building; 26, corn meal and oat meal; 28, steel
for repairs; 28, ropes ; 29, syrup; 30, pastes, maccaroni, etc. ; 31, tents; 32
baking powder; 33, wagons; 34, harness (only when brought together with
horses and mules; 35, condensed milk; 36, dried fruits; 37, nails.
The quantities allowed for each person per month, are as follows:
Oat or corn meal, 5 pounds ; sugar, 15 pounds ; coffee, 10 pounds •
beans, 15 pounds; corn, 10 pounds; lard, 10 pounds; salt, 6 pounds; tea 2
pounds; bacon 15 pounds; paste, maccaroni, etc., 1 pound for each family
syrup, two gallons for each family; baking powder, 1 pound for each per-
son; condensed milk, two cans for each person.
32 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
CHAPTER III.
Origin of Mexican Mining Laws — Powers of States — Rights of For-
eigners — Ownership of Mines — How to Denounce — Extent of
Ground Granted — Degree of Inclination — Placer Measure.
Forfeiture — Laav of June 6, 1887 — Fees.
MEXICAN MINING LAWS.
The mining laws of Mexico have been translated into English by sev-
eral eminent legal authors among whom there is none more competent
than Frederic Hall, Esq., of Los Angeles, by reason of natural ability, thor-
ough education, and long experience in Mexico. Hall's Mexican Law has a
national reputation. Rockwell and Hamilton are also authors in that line.
Origin. — The Mexican mining laws are descended from the Roman
and Spanish laws.
The Supreme Court of Mexico has held that the several states have
power to legislate on miaing. The states have generally availed themselves
of this privilege. It is thus easy to ascertain in any state the proper author-
ity to whom the denouncer must appeal in order to obtain his rights and
title by virtue of a denouncement.
Mines may be owned and worked by foreigners who may divide their
mines into as many shares as they deem proper.
As the fee (perpetual right) in mines is not granted to the denouncer
they cannot be sold on judgment.
Mining districts are provided for by law. The miners vote for the offi-
cials of the district.
All mines are the property of the state. Mines are held on two condi-
tions :
First — That the grantees pay whatever may be demanded of them by
the state.
Second — That they operate the mines according to law.
How to Denounce. — The discoverer acquires three portions (pertenen-
cias) in the principal vein in one or more mineral mountains wherein no
mine or shaft has been opened, and a portion in new veins. He must fix
on and make his portion within ten days. He may hold two portions (per-
tenencias)in a new vein in a mountain known as worked, if specified within
ten days. Corporations may have four portions.
To denounce a mine, the discoverer must present a written statement
FOR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 33
to the qualified officer of the district, or if none is there, to the nearest
thereunto. The statement must specify :
1. The name of the discoverer.
2. The names of his associates, if any.
3. The place of his birth.
4. The place of his habitation.
5. His profession or employment.
6. The most particular and distinguishing features of the tract, 'moun-
tain or vein of which he claims the discovery.
All of which must be noted in a register by the district official as well
as the hour in which the discoverer presents himself. The written state-
ment is then returned to the discovere, and notice of its objectand contents
are affixed to the doors of the church, the government houses or other pub-
lic buildings for the sake of notoriety.
Within ninety days the discoverer shall cause to be made in the vein or
veins so registered a pit of a yard and a half in diameter or breadth and ten
yards deep. It is then in order for officials to visit the mine to determine
the course, direction, size, inclination and character of the vein, and its
mineral, of all which an account is taken, and added to the statement in the
district register. The discoverer's portion is then determined and possession
is immediately given him, and he incloses his determined portion by stakes
at the limits ; after which an authentic copy of the proceedings is delivered
to him as a con-esponding title.
Within the ninety days only will judgment be given to the best
claimant.
In case of doubt as to who is the first discoyerer it is decided in favor of
the one who has first registered.
Abandoned mines may be denounced in much the same manner.
Placers are denounced in the same manner as mines or veins, the same
being understood of all species of metal.
No employes can denounce a mine within a thousand yards of his em-
ployer's mine, but they have permission to do so provided their employers
shall ratify the denouncement.
No one shall denounce a mine for himself alone, if he has previously
had partners in the transaction. The denouncer shall declare such part-
ners in his written statement, under penalty of losing his share thereof if he
fail so to do.
Extent of Ground Granted. — On the course and direction of a vein
may be granted to every miner 200 meters taken on a level, and meas-
ured in a square.
If the vein is perpendicular to the horizon a hundred level meters shall
be measured on either side of the vein, or divided on both sides, as the
miner may prefer. In all other cases, where there is greater or less degree
34 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
2 "
" 6
2 "
" 9
3 "
"
3 "
" 3
3 "
ii g
3 "
" 9
4 "
"
of inclination (dip), the measurement shall be made according to the follow-
ing rule :
If to one meter perpendicular the inclination be from three fingers to
two palms, the same hundred meters shall be allowed for the square, as in
the case of the vein being perdendicular.
Degree of Inclination. — If to the said perpendicular meterjthere be an
inclination of —
2 palms and 3 fingers, the square shall be 112^ meters.
' " " " " 125 "
< <( it a a 1371 "
11 t, 15 Q
,1 u t. tt a 162 £
II a tt tt 17 5" a
" " " " " 187 £ "
11 a .1
who as late as- 1700 made California an island, and who shoved their mysti-
cal waste on the peninsula, will have to find another abiding place — jii the
maps.
The Colophon of the "World. — With a soil so rich and well watered'
and so genial a clime, it is only the question of time, and not long either,
when the great valleys and broad mesas of the peninsula will be occupied by
a soil-delving and cultured people. Her grand harbors indicate her future
commercial greatness. With the country fully populated, and it can sustain
a dense population, with its cities which will grow by its harbors, with a clime
which is a help instead of a hindrance to work, it will, with Southern Cali-
fornia, whose climate and soil are identical, be the colophon of the world —
hindermost only in the sense of time. Here will be the grand culmination
of the world's civilization. Here the arts and sciences will attain their
highest perfection.
"Times noblest offspring is the last."
FOE MINERS AND SETTLERS. 45
CHAPTER V.
The Metric System — Glossary of Mining Terms — Glossary of Span-
ish Mininc Terms — Territorial Directory — Annual Eainfall —
Advertisements.
THE METRIC SYSTEM.
Mexico adopted the metric system in 1857 for all weights and measures
except money. In the United States of America, while allowable, it is prac-
tically applied only to money. The standard units of the metric system
are :
A meter — which is 39.37 inches.
An are — which is 1-10 less than four square rods.
A liter — which is 1.05 quart.
A gramme — which is equal to 15.4 grains.
Changes from the standard units are according to the decimal scale of
tens, making it the most natural and easy system of computation in the
world.
The descending changes are designated by prefixing the Latin ordinals
to the names of the standard units and the Greek cardinals for the ascend-
ing changes. Deci, express the 10th part; centi, the 100 part; and milli
the 1,000th part. Deca expresses 10 times the value ; hecto, 100 times ;
kilo, 1,000 times and myria 10,0000 times.
Thus a kilogram, so often quoted in the tariff, is 2 1-5 pounds avordu-
pois. A kilometer is nearly 5-8 of an English mile. A centimeter is is .39
of an inch. A hectare is nearly 2-| f.cres. A litre is a gallon and .45 of a
gill.
GLOSSARY OF MINING TERMS.
Adit — a horizontal tunnel to drain mines.
Bed — a seam or horizontal vein of ore.
Bob — the beam of an engine or pump. p
Bottoms — the lowest workings in a stope level or elsewhere.
Cage — the band of a whim, or the elevator.
Country — the strata or rock through which the vein or lode passes.
Crushing — grinding the ore without water.
Dead ground — a portion of a lode where there is no ore.
Dip — direction of a lode or vein.
Drift — an excavation made for a road underground.
Driving — digging horizontally.
46 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Foot-wall — the wall under the lode.
Hanging wall — the wall over the lode.
Horse — dead ground.
Levels — galleries on the lode.
Lode — a regular vein of metal.
Run — direction.
Shaft — a pit or sump.
Smelting — reducing the ore hy fire.
Stope — a horizontal bed; ore adjacent to the levels; to stope, to excavate
horizontally, layer after layer.
Spar — quartz.
glag — melted mineral refuse of a smelter.
String — a small vein.
Sump — a shaft or pit.
Tamping — material (dirt or soft stone) placed on gunpowder to confine its
force.
Whim — a hoisting machine.
Winze — a shaft on a lode connecting one level with another.
SPANISH MINING TERMS.
[Spanish is a purely phonetic language; the Spanish j always has the
power of the English h.J
Acero — steel.
Ademador — a mining carpenter.
Agua fuerte — nitric acid.
Alimentos — a grub stake.
Arrastra — a primitive mill for crushing ores.
Azogue — quicksilver.
Azufre — sulphur.
Aviador — he who supplies funds for working mines.
Barranca — a ravine.
Batea — a bowl or miner's pan.
Bonanza — a rich find in a mine.
Borrasca — the opposite of a bonanza.
Caballo — a horse.
Cal — lime.
Caliche — calcareous matter.
Cerro — a hill.
Chino — pyrites.
Cobre — copper.
Cuerpo — lode.
Denuncio — to denounce.
FCR MINERS AND SETTLERS. 47
Dedo — the twelfth part of a palmo.
Ensaye — assay.
Fanega — 1.599 of an English bushel.
Fanegado — an extent of land ; 90^ fanegados are equal to 100 English acres.
Frente — the extremity of an adit or other level.
Frijoles, beans.
Granada — a garnet.
Grasas — slug.
Hacienda — farm, manor, estate; establishment for reducing ores.
Hechado — dip of a lode.
Hierro — iron.
Hierro colado — cast iron.
Hierro labrado — wrought iron.
Intervenor — an inspector representing the interests of proprietors by whom
appointed, or of the arivador.
Marc — eight ounces.
Mojon — a landmark to designate the limits of pertenencias.
' Muertras — samples.
Onique — onyx.
Oro — gold.
Palmo — quarter of a vara, or old Spanish yard.
Patio — a court yard.
Pepitas — gold or silver nuggets.
Peso — a dollar.
Pertenencia — a miner's claim, 112^- to 200 meters, according to the underlay
of the vein.
Pena — rock.
Plomo — lead.
Polvoro — gunpowder.
Poso — a well, pit or shaft.
Quarzo — quartz.
Quilate — a carat.
Real — ^ of a dollar, a California " bit ;" also a mining district.
Sal — salt.
Serape — a kind of blanket.
Vara — a Spanish yard, nearly 33 English inches.
DIRECTORY OF FEDERAL OFFICES.
General Government of Mexico. — President, General Porfirio Diaz;
Secretary of Foreign Affairs, I. Mariscal ; Attorney General, Joaquin Bar-
anda ; Secretary of War and Navy, General Pedro Hinojosa ; Secretary of
the Treasury, M. Dublan ; Secretary of State, Manuel Romero Rubio ; Secre-
tary of Public Works, Colonization and Commerce, General Carlos Pacheco.
48 LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Territorial Government of Baja California. — Governor, Gen. Luis E.
Torres; Secretary, Francisco Mufioz ; Keeper of Archives, Miguel Santos;
Amenuensis, Eosario F. Cota.
Custom House of Ensenada. — Collector, Castillo Romero; Cashier.
Manuel Gomez Montano ; Appraiser, Miguel Calvo y Arias; Commander of
Custom House Guard, Jose A. Eubalcava.
Captain of the Fort — Juan B. Verde.
Custom House at Tia Juana. — Collector, Francisco A. Flores.
District Court. — Judge, Jose Eeyes Spindola; Secretary, Clemente
Galindo Campos; Promotor Fiscal, Francisco Espinosa.
Court of First Instance. — Judge, Pedro Rendon ; Secretary, Jesus M.
Cadena; Agent of Public Minister, Genero Lamadrid.
Civil Judge. — Frederico Palacio.
Federal Rural Troops. — Commandant, Pedro Miramontes.
Government Telegraph Offices. — Todos Santos, Superintendent, J.
Palafox ; Real del Castillo, T. Lamadrid ; Local Postoffice Administrator, J.
M. Gonzalez.
Revenue Stamps. — Sub-administrator, Carlos Guijosa.
Public Schools. — Teacher of girls' school, Luisa Narcio; teacher of boys'
school, Jose M. Lanz Zavala; English school, Mrs. Z. E. Gray, principal,
and Mrs. A. Ramus, assistant.
Municipality of the Northern Section of the Territory. — Second
Alderman, Emilio Legaspy; third, Antonio Feliz ; fourth, Solano Amador ;
fifth, Jesus Rivera; sixth, Victoriano Warner; seventh, or Attorney-General
of the Town, Luis Mendelson ; Treasurer, or Municipal Collector, A. Villa-
rino.
ANNUAL RAINFALL IN LOWER CALIFORNIA.
Taken from the daily record as kept at Ensenada by Col. D. K. Allen,
Land Inspector of the International Company:
YEARS. INCHES.
1878-1879 15.50
1879-1880 17.75
1880-1881 15.25
1881-1882 9 50
1882-1883 42.00
1883-1884 18.10
1884-1885 32.05
1885-1886 - 27.15
1886-1887 24.10
1887-1888 25.50
Total 226.90
Average 22.69
The amount of rainfall so far this season has been 18 inches.
St. Nicholas Mill Shipments. — The mill has been running about five
weeks, during which time two clean-ups have been made; the first return
being $2,143.92. The second gold brick has gone forward, weighing 95
ounces. The value is estimated at $1,600. The third is expected about the
20th of March, 1889.
TJrIK DIRKCT LINE
-TO THE
GOLD FIELDS OP LOWER CALIFORNIA,
-IS VIA
To San Diego, California.
THENCE BY STAGE LINE TO THE MINES, 125 MILES DISTANT, OR BY STEAMERS
from San Diego to Ensenada, there connecting with stages for the mines, forty-five
miles distant,
Through Pullman Palace Sleeping Cars and Through Pullman Tourist.
Sleeping Cars run daily from Chicago and Kansas City to San Diego,
For rates of fare and all information, apply to any of the agents of the
SANTA KK SYSTEM,
OR TO
W. F. WHITE.
Trf. Mgr. Santa Fe Route,
Topeka, Kansas,
GEO. T. NICHOLSON, G. P. A., A. T. & S. F. K. K., Topeka, Kan
H. B. WH.KINS.
G. P. A. Cal. Sou. and Cal. Cent.
Los Angeles, Cai.
E. BLAINE,
G. P. A.,C. H. F. &C. Ry.,
Chicago, 111.
W. A. BISSELL,
G. P. A., A. &P. R. R.,
San Francisco.
Ml
THE
OLtD SEMABLiE
St. Nicholas
SiMHJMSiMlNE;
M INK!
— AND THE —
San Francisco,
Located two miles north of the mining town
of Real Del Castillo, 32 miles east of Ensen-
ada, communication by Stage and Telegraph, the present company under the title of
The Consolidated St. Nicholas and San Francisco Gold Mining Company, of
Lower California, office 1318 D. St., San Diego, have three shafts at the ST. NICHOLAS ledge
(which varies in width from 5 to 10 feet). One at a depth of 90 leet, one at 80 feet, and the third
being intended for the main shaft is down 45 feet, having developed the same as the two former
shafts, ore varying from $L5 to $300 per. ton. The equipment of the mine consists of Boiler and
Engine, of 40-horse power, a heavy 10-Stamp Mill, 1000 lbs. to the stamp, a large Dow Pump, Bat-
teries, Reduction Works, Blacksmith Shop, Boarding and Lodging Houses, all tools, offices, etc.
The MILL now in operation has made three clean ups, aggregating $5000, making a magni-
ficent showing. The outside plates alone paying the expenses of mining and milling.
The SAN FRANCISCO MINE owned by the company is claimed to be as good as the
St. Nicholas, but less developed. A lease or sale of a one-half interest in this mine is contem-
plated, and capitalists will do well to investigate and secure an interest in this valuable prop-
erty. Ex-Governor Ryerson, of Lower California, J. P. Wallace, of the Standard Iron Works, San)
Diego, Cal., Col. Payne, of the Los Angeles Tribune, have examined and are conversant with
these properties.
h
60 AND 62
H. mniH street,
yT>^ LOS ANGELES,
^ CAL.
V^
s
LARGEST
SHOE STORE
%
-IN-
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
OUR
ISS BOOTS AND
Are Made out of Selected Stock to Order.
The f>e£t iii the >ik^ket,
Our $3.00 Shoes, in all Styles, the Best on Earth,
Express or Mail Orders Promptty Attended To.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
015 832 229 8
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