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Show Record and County Commissioner for about 12 years at different times. I first worked on the placers on he San Juan River in 1894, with John Bryce and party at Mexican Hat. We had all necessary 4491 supplies, tools and other equipment. When I arrived at Mexican 4492 Hat Mr. Bryce had three boats there. I was employed by Mr. Bryce at Bluff and went down to Mexican Hat on horseback. After I got to Mexican Hat I followed placer mining on down the river from Mexican Hat to Honaker Trail. We went in the boats from Mexican Hat to Honaker Trail. We carried supplies and equipment 4493 in the boats. I would judge it was 30 to 35 miles from Mexican Hat to Honaker trail the way the river goes. We carried about 1500 pounds in each boat. The boats were about 14 feet long and 7 feet wide. The draft was about 10 inches when loaded. Between Mexican Hat Honaker trail placer miners with their boats would pass us occasionally. I cannot recall their names. They were people from the outside, the same as Mr. Bryce. The people at Bluff did not do much in the way of mining. They were stock men and farmers. The placer miners that I saw pass me had flat bottom boats, built for freighting, pretty much the same as ours. They had their supplies and equipment with them in their boats. Generally speaking there were four men in a boat. I would say I saw 8 to 10 separate parties of miners pass going down the river below our party on that stretch between 4495 Mexican Hat and Honaker trail, with their boats and supplies. I worked down there on the river at that time about six weeks. The boom was still on. It was in the months of June and July. 4496 Our party did take our some gold and it was a paying proposition at that time. J. H. Woods testified on cross examination as follows: When I came out I walked to Mexican Hat and there took a horse to Bluff. 650 |