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About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1899)
Wednesday, September 13, 1899. THE SUMPTER MINER. --if, -A' W EASTERN OREGON MINES. Some of the Rich Properties Directly Trib utary to Sumpttr. Some months since the Oregonlan pub lished a list of mines in Eastern Oregon which were then being worked, together with the number of men employed on each property and the name of the mana ger. This list was carefully compiled by F. R. Mellls, of Baker City, and like the loyal citizen of that city which he Is, dumped In the whole job lot as If they were nil at Baker's back door. The in formation given, however, Is interesting and instructive, and with a few explana tory notes will prove accurately enlighten ing to MINER readers at a distance, who are seeking information regarding this golden Wonderland. According to Mr. Mellls' statement, who says his data is not entirely complete, there were then, last March, 160 mines in the district which were being operated; 83 quartz and 77 placer propositions; employ ing 1600 men; 1087 In the quartz mines and 513 on the placer ground. Now, as a matter of fact, of these 160 mines, 56 are directly tributary to Sump-1 i.f -it u-hti-h nl-iri nil unnlip ntr nnr I '"" ......... ,... .... 11 r chased and to which point all machinery is shipped by rail for transportation by wagon over the mountain roads. The geographical location and the topography of the surrounding country render this necessary. These 56 mines, 29 quartz and 27 placer, then employed 647 men, 488 by the former and 159 by the latter. The names of these mines are: QUARTZ. PLACER. Bonanza, Sloan & Hasklll's, Ned Boy, Badger M. & M Co., Badger G. M. Co., Smyer, Humboldt, Onion Creek, California Gulch, Hyatt, Flying Dutchman, Dowuie, , Sumpter, Andrews, Minersville, moved, which are already proven to be as good as the Republic ever hopes to be; yet, down there for four or five years past there has been only a dull little village of two or three stores, a livery stable, hotel, and blacksmith shop, while Republic has within a year grown Into a town of three thousand Inhabitants on the strength of a promising prospect, that has now appa rently fulfilled Its early promise. But Sumpter has already awaken from its long sleep, the rustlers from the north are mi grating southward, and I advise you gen tlemen not to overlook this chance for a gamble, playing the Sumpter card wide open and to the extreme limit." ALL EYES FIXED ON SUMPTER. North Pole, Columbia, Golconda, Eureka Excelsior, l.a Bellevue, PluL-nlx, Bonanza G. M.Co. Pyx, Magnolia, May Queen(Granlt) Carnes, Cougar, Gleason, Ibex, Tibbs, Banzette, Hope Flats, Little Giant, Parker, Imperial, Camp Creek, Princess, French Co's, Keystone Group, Tabor, May Queen(CornpOBull Run, Climax, Three Cent, Handy Andy, McWIIlis, Snow Creek,. Olive Creek, Success Group, North Fork, Evening Star, California, Jay Gould, Parry. Strassburg Group, Quebec. Of course,, these facts and figures are decidedly antiquated at this time and THE MINER regets that it cannot for this Issue revise the list of working mines and number of men employed, bringing It up to date. It can be safely stated, however, that the number of men at work on the properties tributary to Sumpter Is fully 50 er cent greater than Is given above; while the list of properties on which work is now In progress is far from complete. Perplexing; Problem, Interesting Inference. Some- days since, D. C. Johnson, ore buyer for the Puget Sound Reduction company, was talking to a party of min ing men in Spokane; expatiating on the rich mines in the Sumpter district, of course, as he had recently visited this camp. Delivering himself of a mass of favorable-facts and figures, he concluded with this perplexing problem and interest ing Inference: "For the life of me," he said, "I can't figure it out how that town has lain, dormant for. so long a time. There are now directly tributary to it a half dozen developed, mines, distant not more than.ten .miles, and others further re- Unprecedented Demand for Publications Regarding this Favored Region. In a letter to THE MINER, W. H. Hurl burt, general passenger agent of the O.R. & N., says that the demand for publica tions in regard to eastern Oregon is un precedented, that the rail road's supply Is exhausted, and that a third edition of "The Gold Fields of Eastern Oregon" will soon be Issued. The artistic half-tone cuts with which this pamphlet was Illustrated are now in the east and will soon appear in a popular and widely circu lated publication. These cuts were made for the special purpose of Illustrating the descriptive work, those exquisite pen pictures, by Colonel P. Donnn, than whom there Is to day no more facile and entertaining writer of the English language. All who have ever read a line from his Inimitable pen know that whatever the subject, however dull and common place the topic, It is ren dered attractive by his magic touch, and that everything he writes is read with eager Interest by thousands, if only for its literary merits, which abounds In superb descriptions, picturesque phrases, peculiar ly Donanesque comparisons all kinds of rhetorical acrobatic teats. So it happens that with his universally acknowiedg literary ability, aided by the craft of a sKillcd Illustrator and backed by the enterprise and money of the O. R. & N. R. K. Co., at the command of Mr. Hurlburt, he has produced a book that has caught and held the attention of the world, and led it to investigate and covet the boundless mineral wealth surrounding Sumpter, the great gold-poduclng camp of America. Settlers Flocking to Eastern Oregon. "This is the banner year in the taking up of public laud in eastern Oregon," sain S. A.Swackhame., receiver of the U. S. land office at La Grande. Mr. Swackhameris In the city as a lay delegate to the Colum bia River Methodist conference. Contin uing he said: "This Is an indication of both present and future prosperity. All this land that Is being taken up Is being settled upon by homeseekers. People from the pop ulous eastern states are finding that they can secure better land free in eastern Ore gon, Washington and Idaho than they can buy for their money in the east. We have had to increase the clerical force of our office. Mr. Swnckhamer talked encour agingly of the sugar beet outlook in the Grande Ronde valley." Spokane Review. General Brass and Iron Founders and Machinists. Baker City Iron Works GEO. F. McLYNN, Proprietor J J Special attention 1 repairing and rebul Baker City. Telephone Red 161 Special attention given to repairing ana rebuilding kinds of machinery. all e Red Front t NEW FALL AND WINTER IMPORTATIONS Duck and Mackinaw clothing Mackintoshes for ladies or men Rubber Boots and Shoes, Miners and Prospectors Footwear in pio fusion. In Dry Goods, Ladies, Boys or Mens Furnishings your wants can be supplied. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR LINE OF FANCY GROCERIES a TABLE DELICACIES W. C. CALDER, Prop. THE RED FRONT. Sumpttr, Oregon. Sumpter Hardware Company General Hardware, Stoves and Ranges. Mill and Mining Supplies. All kinds of build ers and Plumbers supplies. Agents For Schuttler Wagons.... -ITS. W -k. I eS