February 17, 1910: “FORMER FRIEND IS SUED FOR STOCKS–Widow of One of Discoverers of Big Randsburg Mine Given Judgment Against a Former Friend. Mrs. Frances L. Mooers, widow of one of the discoverers of the Yellow Aster mine, was given judgment by Judge Hutton yesterday in her suit against Mrs. Margaret Rose, formerly an intimate friend. The action was for the recovery of $5000 worth of stock of the Citrus Coal Ranch Company, which Mrs., Mooers claimed was held by Mrs. Rose for her as agent. The money to pay for the stock was given to Mrs. Rose three years ago. Mrs. Mooers testified, adding her purpose was to leave the stock purchased in Mrs. Rose’s name in order that the transaction might remain hidden from her financial agent, J. C. Robinson. Later, she said, when she demanded a transfer of the stock to her own name, Mrs. Rose refused, claiming it was a portion of what was due her for services. Judge Hutton gave judgment in favor of Mrs. Mooers, and added if any money was due Mrs. Rose for services, recourse could be had through the courts. During the hearing, the plaintiff and defendant said they were formerly on friendly terms and had passed several months together in Europe.” — Los Angeles Herald
As The Locomotives Were Phased in The Mules Were Replaced. Collection of Deric English
May 15, 1910: “YELLOW ASTER MINE REQUIRES MORE CARS. Two additional twenty-five-horsepower locomotives and twenty-one more three-ton ore cars have been placed in operation at the mine near Randsburg. This increases to four the number of locomotives in use on the fifteen miles of underground and surface track of the mine. The additional equipment was needed to facilitate the removal of waste and overburden, a sufficient number of can for handling the ore having been in use. The mill at the mine now is treating an average of 500 tons of ore daily. The ore runs from $2.50 to $3 a ton, the entire cost of mining and milling from $1.60 to $1.75 a ton. It is gold ore of an unusually free milling character.” — Los Angeles Herald
September 12, 1910: “HAVE SIMILAR ACCIDENT MILES APART. Two Partners Have Their Arms Crushed by Ore Buckets at the Same Time. SAN BERNARDINO, Sept. 11.—Two miners, close friends, are lying seriously injured several hundred miles apart with almost identical injuries and which were received at almost the same moment and in nearly the same manner. The two accidents occurred Friday afternoon, one at the Shoshone mine in the Fourth of July mountains, where Gustave Morrison, while descending the main shaft was caught between the ore bucket as it upset and the skid way. His right arm was terribly mangled, the flesh being torn to shreds and the bones broken. His friend, C.F. Buys, at the same time attempted to jump from a water bucket in his train at the Yellow Aster. The bucket collided with a pile of timber and his arm was crushed and mangled between the bucket and the engine. The two men parted four months ago. Buys resuming work on the muck train at the Yellow Aster, and Morrison going to the Fourth of July Mountains.” — Los Angeles Herald
December 21, 1910: “WOMAN WHO HELPED MANAGE BIG MINE SEEKS DESERT CHARMS IN CITY. DR. BURCHAM TO BUILD HOME ON HIGHEST HILL Quits Medicine to Develop Great Property— Combines Business with Pleasure. Taught to prize expansive views and to admire wide reaches of hills and lowlands by several years of life in the desert, Dr. Rose L. Burcham soon will occupy a home in this city which crowns one of the highest hills. She has not lived on the desert for several years, but its subtle fascination still has power. It was while she lived there that she learned much about mining and gave up her profession as a physician to participate in the management of the Yellow Aster, one of the great gold mines in California.
This time book, from the Rand Mountain Mining Company dated August 15, 1896, shows on the lower left page, that Rose Burcham had actual experience in mining as she stated in her 1910 interview, with the Los Angeles Herald. Collection of Rand Desert Museum.
“Practicing medicine prepares one for a business life,” said Dr. Rose L. Burcham in her office yesterday, “for it teaches us to keep our thoughts to ourselves and to be absolutely independent.” Dr. Burcham, formerly a physician, on the discovery of the Yellow Aster mine relinquished her practice and undertook the secretary ship of the company, in which she and her husband are interested. “It was essential that one of us should undertake the work,” she said, “for we felt that with our holdings we wanted to be closely in touch with it, and as Mr. Burcham had business engagements and contracts which made it Impossible for him to give his time to the undertaking, I decided to try it myself.
“Did you feel any loss of the high ethical standard which professional men and women claim when undertaking this more businesslike work?”
“No; none at all, for I have a theory that we all naturally gravitate toward that plane where we can do the best work; that is, unless the environment is too strong and we cannot change.”
“Do you ever regret giving up your medical practice, or having to devote so much time to the study of it, since it is not to play an active part in your life?”
“No I think that every hour I studied at my medicine and every day I practiced helped to prepare me for this work.”
“Do you find that your interest in business makes it difficult to have your own home?”
“When women come to realize that home-making does not mean dusting or seeking for one speck of dirt they will perceive that home-making and business life are not necessarily opposed one to the other, but may be easily combined. Of course a strict attention to business does interfere with a woman’s social life to some extent, but society women are very lenient to the busy woman and make excuses for the social lapses in the way of calling, and afternoon teas. They seem willing always to extend a welcome for those less formal affairs, which, after all, are the true evidence of hospitality. Business which thrives is a stern master, but I try to take time for my club meetings, and to enjoy lectures and the theater. These amusements rest and entertain me, and do not exhaust my strength as do the many forms of social entertainment.”
“Proper conservation of your energy is a factor in your success in which your medical knowledge figures best, I suppose?”
“Yes. I realize more keenly perhaps than other women that one of the greatest troubles with the woman in business is that she will not resolutely, give up all the little futile duties of her home. She must be content to enjoy her home as a man does, and trust the actual attention to details to a housekeeper. Just as soon as she does this she becomes a gracious chatelaine, and at the same time a conscientious and careful business woman and she will retain her health.’ As secretary of the mining company Dr. Burcham has great responsibility, and has taken charge almost entirely of the publicity work and the office management of the business. She is one of the authorities on mining matters now, although until recently she was the merest novice in such matters
“Did you ever have any actual experience in mining life, Dr. Burcham?”
Girls returning from Fourth of July celebration in front of Burcham's first home in Randsburg. From the Collection of Roberta Starry, courtesy of Maturango Museum, Ridgecrest, Ca.
“Oh, yes. Indeed; I was the first one on the ground after the discovers of this mine, and went at once to live in Randsburg, where the camp was situated. We lived in tents for a time, and my home was the first to be built by the Yellow Aster Company.”
‘
Did you find many discomforts in that existence?”
“There were many inconveniences, to be sure. Perhaps the greatest of these was lack of water and lack of cooks. We got the water in barrels, but we couldn’t get the cooks at all very often,” and, she laughed, ‘as she continued, “and when we could generally they could not cook. “I enjoyed the life there.” she explained, “because of the wonderful freedom. There was an outlook upon all the world which was inspiring, and never since those years have I found a location in the city which offered me sufficient view, I want to see the sunrise and the sun set. This is a desert habit which I acquired when living at the mining camp, and one I find is impossible to outgrow.”
Dr. Burcham described with amusing force her adventures in the house buying line hue, and explained that each time she had thought herself satisfied and each time found her property wanting in some of the aesthetics qualities necessary to her, “l think I have a location in view now which will insure me a permanent and unobstructed view,” she said; “for it is upon one of the highest hills in the city and commands the situation to the east ,the west and the north, so that each morning and evening I ran refresh myself with the grandeur of the sun as ho rises and sinks from our vision.’ — Los Angeles Herald
January 22, 1911: “RANDSBURG MINES –YELLOW ASTER. During 1910 this mine kept its 130 stamps constantly dropping day and night. The principal features of the year’s work were: the installation of three new seven ton locomotives with 21 three ton cars, and the development of new ore reserves by the stripping down thousand tons of waste; rock each day.
As formerly between 150 and 200 men were employed in the mill, and mine. The ‘ Yellow Aster mine continues to hold its place as one of the foremost producers of gold in California and is the largest gold mine, both from a point of tonnage treated and production, in the southern half of California.
John Singleton, president of the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company, assisted by C. A. Burcham, vice president, is in active charge of the mine.” — San Francisco Call
Photo of the Yellow Aster Administrative Area. Building to the left is the office and residence of one the three founders John Singleton. The building to the right and just above John Singleton’s office is the Company Office. This building is still standing. The building up the road to the left is the residence of Tom Duke, who worked for the mine for many years.—Collection of the Rand Desert Museum
February 26, 1911: “THE YELLOW ASTER MINE AT RANDSBURG, the largest, gold producer in the southern portion of California, is maintaining a heavy production, with 130 stamps in action. From 150 to 200 men are employed. During last year a large amount of development has been carried out and ore exposed by stripping of the overburden at the rate of 1, 000 tons per day. During 1910 three seven ton locomotives and 21 three ton cars were placed in commission on the property to assist in the economical handling of ore. Much of the ore is mined by the glory hole and carving system.” – San Francisco Call
November 8, 1911: “MINER CRUSHED UNDER ROLLING BOULDER DIES. BAKERSFIELD, Nov. 7.—a boulder loosened from the walls of the Yellow Aster mine at Randsburg Saturday rolled over Hans Zoblesky, a miner, crushing him so badly that he died this morning.” — San Francisco Call
November 30 1912: “YELLOW ASTER MINING AND MILLING COMPANY. Twenty five miners arrived here Monday night from Los Angeles by rail having been employed by the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company who are increasing their working force from 200 to 225 men a gigantic ore bin which will give storage room for 500 tons of ore is under construction at the southwest end of the glory hole of the Yellow Aster mine.” — Mohave County Miner
December 8, 1912: “WORKING FORCE INCREASED. The Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company is continuing its policy of increasing the force of miners. Last Monday 27 miners arrived at Randsburg and were put to work immediately. This brings the force of men employed in the Yellow Aster mine up to 250. Little is heard about the’ operations of the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling company, as the work is carried on without the blare of trumpets. From 580 to 600 tons of ore are being milled daily at this mine, which has produced between $8,800,000 and $9,800,000 since its discovery. Development has laid bare a vast tonnage of wondrous wealth, which is being mined with the latest improved machinery, thus lowering operating expenses to a minimum.
In comparing conditions with the last “high tide” in this district, there is another very Interesting and timely thing to consider, that of the advent of cheap electric power. Cheap power will be of assistance in opening up the smaller properties, producing medium grade ore which could not be worked to advantage under f0rmer operating costs. Current for power purposes will be available here by the first of next year, if not before.—Randsburg Miner.” – The San Francisco Call
January 12, 1913: “THE YELLOW ASTER MINING AND MILLING COMPANY, operating the largest mine of the camp and employing more than 250 men, are continuing their policy of expansion and are putting more men to work every week. The 130 stamps in the two mills of this mine are running on ore continuously and are adding daily to the prosperity of the camp.” — The San Francisco Call
February 2, 1913: “THE YELLOW ASTER MINING AND MILLING COMPANY, a Southern California concern operating properties in the Randsburg region the year wound up the calendar year 1912 with a dividend of $50,000. This dividend brought the total disbursements to stock holders for the year up to $120,000, which furnishes a good exposition of the status of the gold mining Industry in<the Randsburg district. Californian” Desert Mine Big Payer– A dividend of $30,000, or 3 per cent on the capital stock of $1,000,000, was paid on November 25 by the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company, bringing the total of dividends paid during 1912 up to $120,000. or 12 per cent. The total dividends paid since incorporation amount to $1,111, 579. The Yellow Aster mine comprises more than 40 patented claims and is equipped with the most up to date machinery. The 20,000 tons of free milling- ore mined monthly are milled in the two stamp mills of the company, of 30 stamps and 100 stamps respectively. The vast ore bodies of the Yellow Aster mine range in width from to thirty feet. Some of the smaller veins are of fabulous richness, assaying from $1.ooo to $20,000 per ton. In most of the ledges some blue quartz heavily impregnated with free gold as well as sulphurets has been found in big veins.
Most of the work is being done in the big, glory hole. The glory hole, shafts, tunnels and miles of tracks are lighted by electricity from a dynamo at the engine house. Four locomotives are used in hauling the ore to the mills and in removing the overburden to the waste dump.
The mills are running continuously on three shifts, the water for the mills being pumped from Goler Wells, seven miles north of Randsburg, and Old Wells, five miles east. Two hundred and fifty men find employment in the mines of this company, year in and year out. The Yellow Astor mine has been in steady operation since its discovery 17 years ago. A record equaled by few mines of the country.
Looking North Out Of the Yellow Aster Glory Hole. Collection of Kern County Museum
The fact that this immensely rich property is still in the hands of the original locators testifies to the fortitude and able management of the officers. The officers of the Yellow Aster Milling and Mining company are John Singleton, president; C. A. Burcham, vice president; Dr. R. L Burcham, secretary.—Randsburg Miner
April 20, 1913: “DESERT MINE PAYS DIVIDEND. Another dividend of $5,000 has been declared March 28 by the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling company, which brings the total since incorporation up to $1,151,789. Four hundred feet above, the * glory hole” of the mine work was started recently from on top of Yellow Aster mountain. About 600 tons of ore and waste are broken down at this place daily. The glory hole of the Yellow Aster mine is without its equal in the state. It is a marvel of -engineering, and practical and economical mine development. A tunnel is being driven through the mountain from the glory hole to the waste dump, which will expedite shipments and at the same time leave the track clear at all times to the 100 stamp mill.”—Randsburg Miner.
Mucking Out the Glory Hore At the Yellow Aster. Muckers were paid $3.00 per day for a 9 hour day. Collection of Kern County Museum
July 6. 1913: “THE FAMOUS YELLOW ASTER COMPANY is maintaining a heavy output and the present year promises to be one of the most prosperous in the history of the corporation. Considerable new equipment has been recently installed and an immense quantity of commercial quartz is being mined by the quarry process. A dividend of $25,000 was declared May 28, bringing the total profit disbursements of this company to $1,161,789.” — The San Francisco Call
July 06, 1913: “In the Randsburg district the Consolidated Mines Company is displaying much activity and the new plant recently installed is handling an excellent grade of ore. The famous Yellow Aster Company, is maintaining a heavy output and the present year promises to be one of the most f prosperous in the history of the corporation. Considerable new equipment has been recently installed and an immense quantity of commercial quartz is being mined by the quarry process. A dividend of $25,000 was declared May 28, bringing the total profit disbursements of this company to $1,161,789. The King Solomon, Butte and several other Randsburg mines are shipping steadily. The: Red Dog custom mill at Johannesburg is handling large consignments of ore for lessees: — San Francisco Call
August 17, 1913: “CHARLES A. BURCHAM discoverer of the famous Yellow Aster mine at Randsburg, Cal., died in Los Angeles yesterday. He was born at Vallejo, Cal.” — The San Francisco Call
While This Form Is For The Return of Gold Bullion It Shows That The Yellow Aster Mining And Milling Co. Actually Miilled Some Copper Ore, the Source of Which is Unknown. Collection of the Rand Desert Museum
September 13, 1913: “YELLOW ASTER IS INSTALLING ELECTRIC POWER. A Randsburg dispatch says a long term contract has been entered between the Yellow Aster Mining Milling company and the Southern Sierras power company whereby the latter company agrees to furnish the Yellow Aster mine with electric power sufficient to operate the mills and various pumping plant the power necessary for the operation of these plants being estimated at 1200 horse power. It will take three to four months to install the necessary equipment. The contract includes the construction of power transmission lines from the Randsburg substation of the power company to Goler Wells and Old Wells surveys for which have already been completed. The material for the pole line is already on the way. The electric motors each of 100 horsepower capacity will be used in operating the 100 stamp mill and 100 horsepower will be required for the 30 stamp mill. At Goler Wells electric motors of 190 horsepower capacity will be installed A relay pumping station between here and Goler will be operated by a 100 horsepower motor, a 130 horsepower will be retained in the operation of the repumping station and 190 horsepower at Old Wells. The extensive tram system of the Yellow Aster mine will be handled with oil burning locomotives as heretofore. With a total disbursement of $40,003 for the first eight months of 1911 the famous Yellow Aster mine has paid in profits to stockholders the sum of $1,180,789 since incorporation. The property since its discovery has been the premier gold producer in Kern County. Recent developments at the Yellow Aster have been exceptionally encouraging and the management is planning considerable work in new territory.” — Mojave County Miner
January 3, 1914: “YELLOW ASTER had 250 men in its employment.” — Randsburg Miner
The Glory Hole at the Yellow Aster "Just shovel the whole mountain into the mill, boys." Collection of Kern County Museum
1915: “YELLOW ASTER, the largest gold producer in Southern California, and one of the noted mines of the State, is located in Sec. 2, T. 29 S., R. 40 E., M. D. M., in the Rand mining district, about 2 miles west of Johannesburg. The holdings, consisting of over 600 acres, are owned by the Yellow Aster Mining Company of Los Angeles; John Singleton president; Roselle Burcham, secretary. Elevation 5200 feet. The vein has an average width of 250 feet, schist hanging-wall, footwall not exposed yet. The country rock consists of granite, porphyry and schist. The workings consist of a shaft 750 feet deep, 12 miles of tunnels, 15 miles of raises, winzes and stopes, and a number of open cuts. Method of mining consists of open cut work, formerly by shaft and tunnels. Ore reserve about 5,000,000 tons of $3 rock. Mine equipment consists of three 7-ton Porter locomotives, 15 h. p. gas motor, machine drills, compressor plant, shops, 130 h. p. gasoline hoist and three air hoists. Reduction equipment consists of 130 stamps and cyanide plant. Steam power costs $12.50 per h. p. Electric power system being installed to connect with line of Sierra Power Company. Tailings stacked on the dump at present. About 500 tons of ore are crushed daily, free milling. Extraction about 98 %. Yearly production $480,000. Production to date (1895-1914) over $8,000,000. Total mining and milling costs $1.55 per ton Water is obtained by pumping from two springs, one at Goler, 7 miles northwest of the mine and another 4 miles northeast; cost about 40 cents per 1000 gallons. About 20,000 b. m. feet of timber per month is required. Number of men employed 175. Monthly dividends at present $5,000. Adjoining mines: Consolidated on the east and Maginnes on the west.” – G. Chester Brown
Yellow Aster Mill Report for Period of January 12, 1915 thru February 12, 1925, Showing a Total of 3004 Tons Processed for the Month. Collection of the Rand Desert Museum
February 6, 1915: “DEAL FOR YELLOW ASTER. Reports are current to the effect that a strong company of eastern capitalists are negotiating for the purchase of the famous Yellow Aster group at Randsburg, and that the old plant will be replaced with a large and modern stamp mill embodying new extraction methods. For years the Yellow Aster has been the leading gold producer of Southern California, yielding splendid profits to owners. Since its incorporation the company has distributed dividends to the amount of $1.241, 789, and is paying monthly profits at the rate of $5000. In many respects it is one of the most economically-operated properties in the State.” – Mohave County Miner
May 15, 1915: “THE YELLOW ASTER COMPANY has their motor engine at work as far as the mouth of the tunnel and in a little time the mules will be turned out to grass, or put to other labor. Larger cars will be procured in a little while holding three times as much as those now in use.
Early Engine at Yellow Aster. This is thought to be one of the earlier motor engines. Collection of Kern County Museum
Two more power drills have been ordered as the ones in use are found to work all right and with economy of labor.
One hundred and fifty one men are now on the payroll, or were a few days ago, the list varies a little, some quitting and some beginning every few days. Under the old regime the pay roll carried 250 names and no more work was accomplished than now. About 500 tons of ore is going through the mills daily.” — Randsburg Miner
September 25, 1915: “THE YELLOW ASTER CONTINUES TO PAY its regular dividend every month and shows no prospects of any discontinuation.”—Bakersfield Californian
February 17, 1916: “FIGHT FOR YELLOW ASTER MINE IS ON AGAIN –Mrs. de Pauw, Formerly Mrs. Singleton, Will Renew Contest. – Los Angeles, Feb. 17 – Three uninterestingly formal legal notices posted on the bulletin board at the court house yesterday proved to be a new declaration of war for the control of the famous Yellow Aster mine, the first gun, in what is declared will be a fight to the finish is an attempt to Mrs. C. G. A. M. de Pauw, formerly Mrs. Singleton, and her husband to regain the management of the mine which once poured its riches into the hand of the late John Singleton.
The notices have to do with the sale February 2 of 8752 shares of stock of the Rand Development Company for claims for which they were pledged. The Rand Development Company is a holding company, each share of it controlling a share of Yellow Aster Company stock. Hence the purchaser of this stock of the Rand Development Company will add nearly 10,000 shares towards a desired majority of Yellow Aster stock.
C. G. A. M. de Pauw admitted yesterday that he had formed a syndicate to purchase this stock from other sources in order to wrest the management of the mine from its present control. He refused to state who composed the syndicate.
Ward Chapman, joint executor with Mrs. de Pauw of the Singleton estate, and who has stood against the election of de Pauw to the presidency of the company, said last night he understood a Mr. Bentel was the chief figure in the syndicate.
DE PAUW LOSES OFFICE – Incidentally it develops that Mr. de Pauw was ousted from his office of vice president of the Yellow Aster Company January 21, and E. D. Mooers elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. de Pauw says he was told he would be ousted unless he withdrew his various suits in the Yellow Aster litigation, which he refused to do. From the other side comes the assertion that he was removed when evidence was acquired that he and his wife were doing all in their power to injure the present management and the company’s interests.” — Bakersfield Californian
February 25, 1916: “LOS ANGELES, FEB. 25 — TWO BLOCKS OF STOCK OF THE RAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, totaling 6253 shares, were bought at auction yesterday at auction yesterday by C. G. A. M. de Pauw, husband of Mrs. Stella M. de Pauw, who was the widow of John Singleton. The de Pauws are jubilant after the purchase, claiming they had gained control of the holding company and through it of the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company.
While the auction was proceeding Mrs. de Pauw, through the attorney George A. Boden, filed in the superior court an answer and opposition to the petition recently filed by the opposing faction for the dissolution of the Rand Development Company.
These two phases of the contest for the control of the Yellow Aster mine presage numerous sensational features to the controversy between now and May 16, the date of the annual election when Mrs. de Pauw will try to make her youthful husband president of the Yellow Aster. Numerous new suits and injunctions are regarded as certainties.
WOMEN RIVAL LEADERS – The fight is essentially one of two women. Mrs. Rose L. Burcham and her friends “have been the directing power in the Yellow Aster affairs; Mrs. de Pauw is determined to wrest the mine, of which John Singleton was a third owner, from Mrs. Burcham. “We have gained control.” Said Mr. de Pauw yesterday afternoon. “We will not disclose just how much stock of the Rand Development Company we control. Let them wait for the show-down. If they should succeed in dissolving the holding company, then we will have a majority of Yellow Aster stock.
“The de Pauws have not gotten control of Rand Development and they cannot.” Declared Albert Tucker, president of the Yellow Aster Company last night. “If the Rand Development company is dissolved they will have no show at all to control Yellow Aster.”
Spirited bidding marked the sale of one block of 4000 shares of the Rand Development Company in the lobby of the Title Insurance and Trust Company building. A representative of the opposing faction alternated with de Pauw in the bidding, but de Pauw got the block for $10,200 and with it an assignment of the claim for $20,410.97 against the C. A. Burcham estate for which it was pledged.
The second block, 2153 shares, went to de Pauw for $1,000 on the first bid and with it a claim against the Burcham estate for $10,003.40. In addition an extra claim against the same estate, held by A. L. Drew, to the amount of $1,000 con-assigned to de Pauw without consideration, as part of the understanding on which the stock was offered for sale. The result is to give de Pauw deficiency claims of about $25,000 against the Burcham estate.
NEED 9000 SHARES MORE – The de Pauws now hold 22,400 shares of Rand Development Company stock and will have to control some 9,000 shares more to be able to vote the majority stock of Yellow Aster with the Rand Development Company owns. They are not disclosing where they will get that stock. Mrs. de Pauw alleged in her answer yesterday, opposing the dissolution of the Rand Development Company, that she agreed in December to the dissolution only on an agreement that now new stock pool be formed. Monday Mrs. Rose Burcham, Ancker, and E. D. Moos formed a pooling agreement, hence Mrs. de Pauw’s change of front on the dissolution agreement.
The mystery of the syndicate that is backing the de Pauws was solved yesterday when Theodore F. Bentel, an investment broker, admitted that he had interested Eastern and local capital in the syndicate. “I have carte blanche to get enough stock to control the Yellow Aster mine and I propose to do it.” Bentel declared.” – Bakersfield Californian
April 22, 1916: “BAD FAITH CHARGED IN BATTLE OVER ASTER MINE – Los Angeles, April 27 – Charges of bad faith and deception tendered the hearing yesterday before Superior Judge George L. Jones of Nevada county of a petition for the dissolution of the Rand Development Company. The corporation hold a controlling interest in the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company.
One faction is headed by Mrs. Rose L. Burcham, widow of C. A. Burcham, one of the founders of the company. The other is headed by Mrs. Stella M. de Pauw, widow of John Singleton, and the other founder.
Rand Development Stock Certificate- Collection of Rand Desert Museum
July 17, 1917: “ T. A. STANLEY, expert in crushing and screening exploitation, was in town this week, looking after some installations for the Yellow Aster Company. ” — Bakersfield Californian
July 17, 1917: “J. H. FARRELL, managing director of the Yellow Aster Mining Company, arrived on Monday in the interests of his duties connected with the big mine on the hill and its various other properties now being operated in this district. ” — Bakersfield Californian
The Yellow Astor mine is one of the largest gold mines in the world. At the present time about three hundred men are employed there.” –Bakersfield Californian.
September 5, 1917: “YELLOW ASTER NOW WORKING TUNGSTEN PROPERTIES—The Yellow Aster Mining Company is exploiting a placer tungsten property just north of the Blackhawk on the road to Atolia, says the Golden State Miner of Randsburg.
The property adjoins what was known as the Calhoun lease last summer.
The Yellow Aster Company received a new or crusher and three carloads of machinery to expedite work in connection with their new crushing and screening plants on the hill. The work of removing the old 30-stamp mill is progressing by the aid of many carpenters who have been required to consummate the work.”—Bakersfield Californian
November 14, 1917: “DEEP DESERT MINING—Two items of great importance to Randsburg and to mining men appear in the Golden State Miner’s latest issue, indicating as they do that deep exploration will give permancency to mining on the desert, and will produce wealth even greater that that which has been uncovered by shallower operations. Says that paper:
“D. A. Blue is showing some fine specimen ore that has been taken from the lower levels of the old Blackhawk mine, now operated by the Yellow Aster Company. The samples were taken from a 14 inch vein and are beautifully flecked with little nuggets of pure gold larger than mustard seeds, making a striking contrast in the matrix of blue calcite quartz in which the gold was precipitated.” An the Miner adds: “Deep mining in this district will ultimately disprove the fallacious notions that gold values are found only in the upper, of later strata of our quartzified formations.”
The second item has to do with the tungsten deposit at Atolia, the same authority saying: “A huge piece of tungsten ore (scheelite) was recently taken at a depth of 800 feet, from a vein of one of the Atolia Mining Company’s claims, known as Churchill No. 1. It weighed considerably over a ton and assayed over 60%. It had to be cut down so that it might be raised to the surface in the “skip” used at the incline shaft. This indisputable proof of permanent and enlarged high grade ore bodies, as depth is attained in the Atolia field, has been shipped to the Smithsonian Institute at Washington D. C.
The great enemy in deep mining in Kern county mines in the olden times was water, but that element does not interfere with work in the Randsburg region. Many a good mine along the Kern river was abandoned, even though producing great wealth, because of inability to care for the water. Randsburg will have no such problem to face, and nothing will stand in the way of exploiting those lower levels whose richness in minerals is being daily demonstrated. A quarter of a century hence, Randsburg will still be the center of a rich mining region.” — Bakersfield Californian
November 20, 1917: “The Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company, under the direction of F. H. Farrell, has about completed the placing of new ore crushers, screens and conveyer belts for greater efficiency. About 150 men are not on the pay roll. The Black Hawk group, recently acquired by the Yellow Aster Company, has electrical equipment for hoist, compressor and —–. The main shaft has been sunk 100 feet deeper. Greater production of ore will follow this development”—Bakersfield Californian
November 20, 1917: “THE BLACK HAWK GROUP recently acquired by the Yellow Aster Company, has electrical equipment for hoist, compressor and lights. The main shaft has been sunk 150 feet deeper. Greater production of ore will follow this development. ” — Bakersfield Californian
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