Lot
109 
(San Bernardino) Salt Springs 1863-64 John Scott Correspondence, of 14 letters to wife, six with original hand-carried covers addressed to Los Angeles and endorsed "Care M.W. Childs", letters mentioning gold excitement and miners, running an engine (probably for the mill) mention train passing through to L.A. (likely the method of travel for the correspondence), Mormons and Indians, a couple letters datelined from Amagosa, etc.; covers with opening tear at sides, otherwise Very Fine, an interesting correspondence from Salt Springs. Estimate $300 - 400.
The earliest recorded gold discovery in San Bernardino County occurred at Salt Springs, at a point on the Santa Fe-Salt Lake Trail. In 1863, the Amargosa Gold and Silver Mining Company of San Francisco acquired the mines at Salt Spring and in the fall of 1863, they installed a new mill that "met with good success for over a year." The company, however, went broke and the mill was sold in a sheriff's auction to Augustus Spear. On October 29, 1864, news broke in Los Angeles concerning the death of three men who were caretakers at the property. One of the men, had been killed by Indians, and the mill had been burned. The other two men were found 20 miles away, having committed suicide by putting bullets through their skulls. Two months later on December 4, 1864, Dr. J. A. Rousseau's party passed the mine and saw the destroyed mill. There were 4 buildings standing at that time. In the middle of the 1860s, a new company took over the mine and operated it successfully for a couple of months. Yet, even though they later were reported to have grossed $11,000 from one ore blast of two tons of ore, and during a period of one month, the five-stamp mill produced $58,000 in gold.
Realized: $425