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spent four days exploring them for a distance of between eight and nine miles. We carried with us altimeters and pedometers, to measure the distance we traveled and had an instrument to take measurements of distance by triangulation, together with such instruments... to make examinations, observations and estimations.

 

"'Our examination revealed' the following facts:

 

     "'1. From the mouth of the cavern we descended about 2,000 ft. There we found a canyon which, on our altimeter, measured about 3,000 to 3,500 ft. deep. We found the caverns to be divided into many chambers, filled... with the usual stalactites (cone-shaped rocks hanging from the ceilings of caverns - Branton) and stalagmites (rocks reaching up from the cavern floor created over a long period of time by the highly mineralized water dripping down from the stalactites directly above them - Branton) besides many grotesque and fantastic wonders.

     “'2. On the floor of the canyon there is a flowing river which... we estimated to be about 300 ft. wide and with considerable depth...

     “'3. ...there is exposed on both sides of the river from 100 to 150 ft. of black beach sand which is very rich in gold values. The sands are from 4 to 11 ft. deep. This means there are about 300 to 350 ft. of rich bearing placer sands which average 8 ft. in depth. We explored the canyon sands a distance of more than 8 miles finding little variation of the depth ad width of the sands.

     "'4. I am a practical miner of many years of experience and I own valuable mining properties nearby which I am willing to pledge and put up as security to guarantee that the statements herein are true.

     "'5. My purpose of exploring the caverns was to study the mineralogy in order to ascertain the mineral