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PAGES 13 TO 24
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Piruitta
PART TWO
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YOL. XXXIX.
PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1900.
NO. 12,187.
SiCA.
M mm
MINES OF GREAT WEALTH
Experimental Stage Has
Development
DEEP MINING TO BE DONE IN EASTERN OREGON
Number of Dividend-Payers in the Great Gold Belt to Be Doubled
Within a Few Months Richness of Bohemia Attracts
Capitalists Progress in Other Sections of State.
Oregon has passed the experimental
stage In mining, and entered upon a period
of extensive development and production.
Assays, mill tests, tunnels and shafts,
costing millions of dollars, have demon
strated the vast extent and richness of the
quartz deposits and the placers, though
worked almost continuously since pioneer
days, promise rich returns for many years
to come. The year just ended passes into
history as the greatest year the mining in
dustry of Oregon has ever known. Pros
pectors and investors American and for
eign -were In all sections of the state from
January to December, the one in search
of new ground and the other eager to buy
all claims worthy of the attention of
capital. Every district in the state, -every
locality -where mineral -was known to ex
ist or -where it -was believed to exist, felt
the new life and progressed and prospered
as never before. Substantial as was the
achievement of 1S99, it will be left far
behind by the development of 1S00. The
winter has been spent in making prepara
tions; spring will see work prosecuted
with all the energy which men, money and
machinery can give to It. The Eastern
Oregon gold belt alone promises to add
2000 new claims to its resources before
grain Is cut. There Is room for them In
the belt, and the men to locate them are
already in Oregon.
Under the stimulus of modern machinery
for extracting values, the Eastern Ore
gon belt will this year advance to Its prop
er station as one of the world's great gold
producing regions. Modern equipments
are now being Installed to get out of the
rock all that Is in it Deep mining, here
tofore unknown, is promised this year.
Experts who know the "value of deep
mining will be surprised to be told that
the greatest depth attained to date is re
ported from the .North Pole mine, where
the lowest level is only 1000 feet below the
apex of the mountain, or outcrop of the
surface ledge. The Columbia, for which
$1,500,000 has been offered and not ac
cented. Is down only a few hundred feet.
The great Golconda is still above the 400
foot level. While the gold yield of the
Eastern Oregon belt has been steadily
Increasing for years, the belt has at this
time but eight dividend-paying mines. The
number of dividend-payers will be doubled
within a few months. In addition, the
belt contains about B0 mines which are
being extensively developed. Though they
ship high-grade ore, they are not classed
as dividend-payers. From them great re
sults are expected this year.
Bohemia has emerged from uncertainty
Into the light of permanency and value.
Three years ago it was unknown, and
little cared for. Mining men were wont
to greet the mention of Its name with a
shrug of the shoulders. Today Its rich
ness Is well enough known for American
and foreign capitalists to seek Investments
in Its claims. Stamp mills have been put
up and operated. Bohemia Is no longer
seeking; It is sought.
Santiam Teports a great deal of develop
ment In 1S99, but only z. nominal gold yield.
The Lawler Gold Mining Company, which
owns the principal properties, Is showing
Its confidence In the district by pushing
work on old claims and patenting new
ones.
In Southern Oregon, work on the placers
continues with unabated vigor and quartz
ledges are being opened. Good reports
come also from other mining localities In
the state.
EASTDRN ORDGON GOLD BELT.
Xnxnbcr of Dividend-Paying: Mines
Will Be Increased In 1000.
There are three mineral zones crossing
the territory known as the Baker City
gold fields. Commencing at Seven Dev
ils, In 'Western Idaho, and following a
southwesterly course, is a mineral zone,
varying from 10 to 20 miles in width. In
this zone are found the famous Seven
Devils copper mines, the copper mines of
the Iron Dyke or "Vaughn district near
Ballard's Landing, Or. In the vicinity of
the "Vaughn mine, hundreds of locations
have been made and many ledges uncov
ered. The development has been -slow
on account of lack of transportation.
Following the course southwest, John
son's camp, Ruthburg and Mineral City
are found on the Idaho side of Snake
river; while on the Oregon side, not to
mention In detail the numerous placer
diggings along Snake river and Its tribu
taries, are the Connor Creek mines, Galla
her group. Gold Hill, Gold Ridge, Hum
boldt and Mormon basin, the most notice
able placers being in the Weatherby
placers, where a 550,000 dredger has been
constructed; and Rye valley, on Dixie
creek, where six hydraulic giants are
washing on a bar of gravel 35 feet deep,
which will require a half century to work
out. But there are placers, great or small,
In almost every gulch.
Numerous gold-bearing quartz ledges
are found In this zone in the vicinity of
Lookout -mountain. Gold hill. Gold ridge
and Connor creek. Only a few of these
ledges haye as yet been developed, but
thousands of dollars have been turned
into the channels of trade from what has
been done, and millions more await the
prospector's pick and the investor's cap
ital to bring It forth.
'At the Eagle mountains, about 45 miles
northeast of Baker City, the second mln-
"eral zone starts. This zone has the same
general course as the first The ledges
carry the same general formation, some
being true fissures In granite or slate, and
some a. contact between porphyry and
slate. The average wlith is ahout 15
miles, and extends from the Eagle moun-
Passed and the Era of
Has Begun.
1 tains on the north for a distance of 65
miles In a southwest direction.
I Some of the oldest and largest gold
producing mines of Eastern Oregon are
found in this zone. Among the most
Important are the Union Companion, at
Cornucopia; Sanger mine, at Sanger; rich
placer mines at Sparta, where are also
found very rich gold-bearing quartz
ledges. The "Virtue, located eight miles
east of Baker City, has been worked
since 1F67. The Flagstaff is In the same
district as the Virtue.
Farther on to the southwest are the
mines of Pleasant valley, where a large
amount of development work has uncov
ered gold-bearing ledges which extend for
several miles.
Continuing from Pleasant valley, the
country has apparently been little pros
pected for quartz ledges, but the placer
mines of Burnt river and Its tributaries
Indicate vast mineral wealth stored in
the adjacent hills.
It will here be proper to refer to the
copper ledges opened along Powder river,
about 20 miles northeast of Baker City;
also that coal mines are being opened in
the same section.
No End of Gold.
The third mineral zone has some of the
fame characteristics as" the first two.
Commencing in the Elkhorn mountains
and bearing to the southwest, it continues,
so far as known, for 100 miles, the for
mation being true fissure veins In slate
or granite, or contact between porphyry
and slate, porphyry and granite, or por
phyry and quartzlte, the ores carrying on
the average a smaller per cent of free
gold than In the first and second mineral
zones
A feature of special Importance in this
third subdivision of the mineral territory
is a mineralized ledge of enormous size,
commending with the mines on the north
east slope of the Elkhorn mountains, and
continuing for 20 miles. This ledge has
been opened and Is located for 13 miles,
the main ledge being from 50 to 200 feet
wide, with smaller parallel ledges extend
ing this zone to a width of 20 miles.
Upon this parent ledge are located the
Baisley-Elkhorn, the North Pole, the Eu
reka & Excelsior, the Columbia, the Gol
conda, the Mammoth, the Ibex and many
other mines and prospects. Some of these
mines are among the greatest gold-pro-ducera
of the Northwest.
After passing the Ibex, which is lo
cated near the summit of the divide, vol
canic eruptions have covered the surface
cropplngs of this great parent ledge, and
It Is not so visible on the west slope of
the Blue mountains. However, the same
formation continues wherever mines are
opened, and the ore carries the same gen
eral character. Continuing in a south
westerly direction, the Bonanza group,
Don Juan, Phoenix, the mines of Robln
sonville, and the Greenhorn range, the
Badger, and other mines of Susanvllle,
many of which have been large producers
of gold, and are now among our most
valuable mining properties, prove the
continuation of this great mineral zone.
But all the great gold-producing mines
of the third mineral zone are not found
on this parent ledge, as It is called. In
Cable cove, four miles northwest of
the Golconda, is a group of mines carrying
gold, silver and lead; and large ledges
have been uncovered, with thousands of
tons of ore in sight Continuing south-
e.eeoe9t9eiact9aietaac(s9a(soea
GOLD OUTPUT LAST
The gold output of Oregon in 1899 was $3,285,000.
Following is tr;e yield in detail:
Eastern Oregon gold belt $2,225,000
Josephine county 500,000
Jackson county 250,000
Douglas county 110,000
Bohemia district 100,000
Coos and Curry counties . . . 100,000
Santiam Nominal
Total ......$3,285,000
The estimate for the Eastern Oregon gold belt was
made by O. L. Miller, secretary of the Baker City Cham
ber of Commerce; "for Josephine county, by Arthur
Conklin, editor of the Oregon Mining Journal, Grant's
Pass; for Jackson county, by F. D. Wagner, of Ash
land; for Douglas county, by Hon. John H. Shupe, of
Roseburg; for Bohemia, by R. McMurphey, of Eugene;
and for Coos and Curry counties, by Orvil Dodge, o'f
Myrtle Point.
oo9eo9efi999eeae8iacea8goe9e9ASC
west the Bellevlew, the Monumental, the
Buffalo, the Magnolia, the Cougar, the
Red Boy and the May Queen, with other
partly developed mines and prospects, too
numerous to mention, all bear testimony
of the hidden wealth that is today at
tracting so much attention.
The reader must bear In mind that these
large ledges of gold-bearing quartz, which
are sometimes 200 feet thick, are not all
i pay ore. There are pay chutes In these
large ledges where the values sometimes
rin very high. The most valuable pay
chutes average from 4 to 24 feet thick,
nd the ore runs from 57 to $16 per ton,
j with an average cost of $4. per ton to
mine and milL The high-grade ores are
found in small veins that run from one to
18 inches thick, which have been found
to produce thousands of dollars per ton.
In almost every district timber Is abun
dant for all mining purposes. The third
mineral zone Is also a great timber belt
the mountains and foothills being covered
with a heavy growth of yellow pine and
tamarack. "Very few mine operators need
go off of their own land to secure all
timber necessary. Saw mills are numer
ous throughout the timber belt
Mineralized Territory 8000 Square
Miles.
Since the issuance, by the Baker City
chamber of commence, of the commercial
report on the mining, lumbering, agricul
tural and stockgrowlng industries of the
Baker City gold fields, there has been
much Improvement and progress in the
development of the mines and the gen
eral upbuilding of the country.
The gold fields extend from the mines
of Snake river, near Ballard's landing In
Union county, 75 miles northeast of Baker
City, to Canyon City, In Grant county,
S5 miles southwest of Baker City. The
width will average about 50 miles north
west by southwest, thus giving a miner
alized territory of about 8000 square miles.
Baker City, being situated in the Powder
river valley on the main line of the O.
R. &, N. railroad, occupies the most en
viable position, being in the exact center
of the gold fields, and so situated as to
be the most available point for all com
mercial enterprises.
The mining territory southwest of
Baker Ctty, on the headwaters of Powder
river. Burnt river and John Day river,
and their tributaries. Is divided Into seven
dlstlcts. The Cracker creek district, which
Is on the headwaters of Powder" river,
contains what is known as the slate belt,
In which, are located some of the largest
and best mines In Eastern Oregon. The
slate belt extends from the main divide
of the Blue mountains on the north from
what Is known as the North Pole mine
to the Ibex mine, a distance of five miles,
which is also on the main divide of the
Blue mountains. There are about 25 mining
companies operating In this district. The
principal mines operated are the North
Pole, Columbia, Golconda, Ibex, Bald
Mountain, Mammoth, Mountain Belle, E.
& E., Ohio, Imperial, Free Coinage and
Mormon Boy. The North Pole and Co
lumbia have been steady producers for
a number of years. Their development
work during the past six months shows
remarkable bodies of ore and the mines
are growing more valuable with depth.
The ore In this district becomes freer and
of a better grade on the lower levels
The Golconda mine has been principally
developed within the past two years. The
past six months' development work has
shown It to be one of the best mines In
the district The bromine-chlorine plant
constructed last year, to work the low
grade base ores, Is not In operation owing
to the fact that the ores have become
free milling as depth is gained, and of a
much higher grade. Ore averaging $1 per
pound has been shipped by the carload
within the past three months. A 10-stamp
mill with a four-foot Bryan mill, capa
city 45 tons per day, and eight Johnson
concentrators, have been put in place and
are now in operation. This mine will un
doubtedly be a steady dividend-payer from
this time on.
At the Ibex mine pumping and hoisting
machinery was put In during the early
part of the season, and the mine has been
developed In the most systematic man
ner. The latest expert report on this
mine shows $500,000 worth of ore in sight,
and the ore steadily Increases In value
as the shaft is lowered. A new reduc
tion plant consisting of 20 stamps, will
be put on this mine the early part of next
season.
Negbtiatlons are pending for a new mill
on the Bald Mountain and Mammoth.
Wesjt of the slate belt in this district
the formation is granite, and so far the
development in the granite shows gale
na ores carrying lead, silver and gold.
Five carloads of this class of pre were
shipped from the Imperial mine during
the present season and It averaged over
$100 per ton. With the extension of the
Sumpter railroad into the Cracker creek
district many low-grade properties will
be worked, and the development which
will follow will prove It to be one of the
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YEAR $3,285,000.
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most valuable mining districts In the.
Northwest -
South of the Cracker creek district in
Grant county, on the headwaters of the
middle fork of the John Day, Is the Gran
ite district. The only dividend-paying
mine In this district Is the"' Red Boy,
which Is equipped with'' a 20-stamp mill
and cyanide plant.
During the present season four new
properties have been developed and sup
plied with reduction works. The Little
Giant, located on Clear creek, has a new
20-stamp mill In process of construction.
About 60 men are employed. The May
Queen, located on Silver creek, near the
Red Boy mine, has a news4Q-stamp mill
with power for 20 stamps, and four John
son concentrators, which will be ready for
operation In about 60 days. The mine is
well developed, and is considered one of
the best properties In the district
The Magnolia, located four miles from
the town of Granite, has a new 10-stamp
mill with four Johnson concentrators.
This mill will be ready for operation in
the spring.
The Cougar mine, located near the Mag-
9 9999999a9B999ee9999999999999S99999t9999999999999
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PRODUCTION IN THE EASTERN OREGON GOLD BELT
The following statistics relating to gold production In the Eastern
Oregon belt were prepared by O. L. Miller, secretary of the Baker City
Chamber of Commerce:
Mines With Mills.
Capacity, Value Annual
Name stamps. of ore. output
Bonanza 40 $12 00 $ 400,000
Red Boy 20 12 00 300.000
Columbia 10 15 00 100,000
North Pole 10 10 00 100,000
Golconda 20 20 00 100,000
Badger 20 15 00 100.000
Union Companion .. 20 12 00 110,000
Baisley-Elkhorn .. 20 10 00 120 000
Conner Creek .'. S5 10 00 100,000
Total ?L450,000
Cyanide.
Irregular Producers.
Gold Hill, Gold Ridge, Flagstaff, Virtue-Collateral, Imperial, Ohio, San
ger, Roblns-Elkhorn, and a large number of mines that are in develop
ment stages, ship the ore taken from the workings during the summer sea
son. Estimated output of such mines $ 175,000
Mines "With New Machinery Put In This Season.
. " Capacity, Av. val. "Annual
Name stamps. of ore. output.
Little Giant 20 $10 00 $ 300.000
May Queen -10 12 00 150.000
Magnolia 10 10 00 200.000
Cougar , 25 10 00 350,000
Helmer & Nines 10 10 00 100.000
Starr & Starter 10 10 00 ICO 000
Total ! $1,200,000
Estimated output.
Estimated Output of Mines "Which Are to Have Mtlls In IOOO.
Capacity, Value Annual
Name stamps. of ore. output.
Van Anda '. 20 $10 00 $300 000
Ibex 20 20 00 300000
Mammoth 10 12 00 150.000
Keystone 10 12 00 150,000
Chloride 10 12 00 150.000
Gold Hill .. 10 10 00 100000
Tom Payne .. 10 15 00 150,000
Pocahontas Belle 10 12 00 150,000
Total $1,450,000
The placer output Is sold to local buyers, bankers and brokers, or
shipped to the assay offices at San Francisco, Seattle or Boise.
Local buyers buy per annum, approximately $ 100,000
The banks buy per annum, approximately . 400 000
Amount sent to assay office by miners, at least 100,000
Total $ 600,000
A large quantity is not sdld In this way, but is converted into Jewelry,
souvenirs, etc. '
Summary.
Annual output of mines In operation $1,450,000
Irregular producers . 175,000
New mines, with mills (estimated) 1200 000
New -mines soon to have mills (estimated) 1,450,000
Annual placer output 600,000
Total $4,875,000
O. L. MILLER.
Secretary, Baker City Chamber of Commerce.
nolla, has a new 75-ton cyanide plant,
which Is expected to be ready for opera
tion about February L The Van Anda
group, located on Olive creek, a tribu
tary of Clear creek, has been developed
within the past six months, and Is con
sidered a good low-grade free-milling
property. It has just been capitalized for
$1,500,000, and negotiations are pending for ,
a 20-stamp mill. i
Largest Mine In the Gold Belt. I
The Bonanza district, located about 14
miles south of Granite, on the headwa-
ters of Burnt river, has received much There have been In the entire district, up the property a couple of years ago. The
attention during the present season and to the present date, but eight dividend- Harlow & Stocks group has undergone ex
considerable development work has been paying mines. The eight new mines tensive development and has a new five
carried on. The Bonanza mine was sold above mentioned, which will be added to stamp mill. The Helena mine, which, but
durintr the early part of the season, and
has had 20 stamps added, which gives it
a capacity now. of 40 stamps, or 100 tons
per day. This mine has been a steady
producer for several years It Is regarded
as the largest mlne In the Eastern Ore
gon gold fields.
Several properties In the vicinity of the
Bonanza have been sold or bonded. A
hoisting and pumping plant has been
placed on the Empire group, and sev
eral rich strikes having been made, it is
expected that new machinery will be
ordered for the property the coming sea
son. The Susanvllle district, on the middle
fork of the John Day river, and the
Quartzburg district, on a tributary of the
John Day river, and the Canyon City dis
trict have all received considerably at
tention from prospectors, "and many new
strikes have been reported. Helmer &
Hlnes have put a new 10-stamp mill on
their property near Prairie City. ,
Negotiations are pending for new ma
chinery on the Baisley-Elkhorn mine, lo
cated 14 miles west of Baker City, and
also on the Chloride property, in the Rock
creek district, about 20 miles west of
Baker City. The Pocahontas Belle, the
Carpenter and the Tom Payne and Safe
ty Deposit, located about seven miles west
of Baker City, are all negotiating for
machinery ox reduction plants, to be put
In the coming season. The Big Buffalo,
located about two and a half miles west
of Baker City, Is being developed and a
large vein of low-grade ore has been '
opened up. All these properties are( lo
cated on tributaries of Powder river,
and many prospects have been developed
during the past season with good results.
The Gold Hill and Gold Ridge, the Star
and Starter, the Weatherby Bonanza
aire all free gold properties, located 30
miles southeast of Baker City. A new
10-stamp mill has been placed on the Star
and Starter property, and a new venti
lating plant on the Gold Hill. Negotia
tions are now pending for a new So-stamp
mill to be placed on thp same property, I
as the proprietors report having cut sev
eral good ledges during the present sea
son. The property Is well developed.
Dredging: Night and Day.
One of the most Important improve
ments during the past season has been
the construction of the Pomeroy, dredger
at Weatherby. It cost $60,000, has a ca
pacity of 2000 yards per day and is, oper
ated in the channel of Burnt rlyer, and
unless prevented by .accident, can be
worked night and day throughout the
year.
The Virtue Collateral mine has been
worked during ihe past year, two new
pumps having been put Into the mine,
and upper workings have been retlmbered
and preparations have been made to start
up the old Virtue, which has been Idle
for the past two years. There Is also a
prospect for the White Swan being
pumped out and opened up again. This
property has been idle for some time.
There Is also considerable activity at
Sparta. The Copper Queen property, 20
miles northeast of Baker City, was sold
during the present season, and is now be
ing developed by the new owners, and
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whlch was Immediately sold for $15,000,
and later for $75,000
The Simmons mountain group of mines,
located one mile north of the town of
Cornucopia, has been bonded and will be
opened up ' the coming season. Reports
say that 200,000 tons of $10 ore are In
sight In this group.
In all there have been eight new mills
put in all the districts during the past
season, aggregating 115 stamps. None of
these new properties Is yet In operation,
but all are expected to become dividend-
navfirs hfiforft th veur 1900 la half e-nrm
the dividend-payers next season, thus
aouDimg tne numDer or mviaena-paying
arrangements have already been made
for the erection of a EO-ton smelter.
Prospectors have been active through-
9 9999999999990099999909990909099991
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PRODUCTION OF COAL IN
Oregon. Washington.
YEAR. J , $
o o E- o o C
gl C 31 C
. "" ? . ? ?
...
18S6 45,000 $ 112,500 423,525 $ 952,931
1887 37.696 70,000 772,612 1.639,746
1888 .V. 75.000 225.000 1,215.750 3,647,250
1889 , 64,159 193,077 1.030,578 2.303.238
1890 61.514 177,875 1,263.689 3,429.590
1891 51,826 155,478 1,056,249 2.437.270
1892 34,661 148.516 1,213.427 2,763,547
1893 41,683 164,500 1,264 877 2.920.876
1S94 47,621 183.914 1.106,470 2,578.441
1895 .-. 73,685 247.901 1,191.410 2.577,953
1896 101,721 294.564 1,195,504 2.396.078
1897 107.2S9, 291.772 1,434.112 2.777.6S7
1898 58.184 212.184 1.884.571 3.352,793
1899 S6,051 1264.163 2.1S0.00O S.SSO.lOO
Total 886,190 $2,741,474 17,232,774 $37,804,810
j e
Average Price of Coal Per Ton at Pacific Northwest Mines Since
18S6.
Tear.
1886...
1887...
188S...
1889...
1890...
1891...
1S92...
Oregon.
.. $2 50
.. 2 20
.. 300
..300
.. 2S9
..3 00
..4 29
Wash.
$2 25
2 20
300
2 32
271
231
2 28
Average Number of Persons Employed In the Coal Mines of the
Pacific Northwest.
Tear.
1890...,
1891...,
1892...,
1893...,
1891...,
Oregon. Wash.
208
100
90
no
2206
2447
2554
2757
2662
Estimates of Seattle Trade Register.
tEstimates of W. U. Douglas, of Marshfleld.
99999999999999999999999999
out the- Sparta and Copper Queen districts
and on the west slope of the Eagle moun
tains. About 20 new copper properties
have been located and partially devel
oped. A townsite has been laid out at
the Copper Queen,, and with the erection
of a smelter In this district a railroad to
Baker City will be a necessity, and the
proprietors of the Copper Queen have In
dicated their intention to- build the road.
New strikes have been made In the
Cornucopia district the .most riotable
being the strike In the Bryan group,
mines in one season, will certainly make
a fine showing. A number of properties
have been worked during the summer
season shipping high-grade ore and doing
development work, that are not classed
as dividend-payers. Of this class of
mines there are probably 50 in the entire
district It Is from among thi3 list of
mines that we expect the best results
during the next season. In all there are
perhaps 5000 locations In what Is called
the Baker City gold fields, and from
present indications, there will be at least
2000 more before the close of next year.
O. L. MILLER.
Baker City.
BOHEMIA DISTRICT.
Permanency of the Camp Established
and Great Development Expected.
The Bohemia mining district, located
In the southeastern portion of Lane coun
tyr and partly In Douglas county, though
but little known until two years ago, Is
rapidly gaining prominence among the
noted mining camps of the West Espe
cially has It taken rapid strides forward
during the past year. Eastern and foreign
capital Is becoming Interested. Last sum
mer two quite wealthy English mining
J companies purchased large properties, and
are steadily developing them. Colorado
capital was well represented in the camp
last summer by a number of prominent
mining Investors, engineers and surveyors.
All speak highly of the possibilities of Bo
hemia, its extraordinarily strong and
prominent system of Assure veins, and un-
o equaled natural mining facilities. Some of
the most competent juoges of mines and
mineral formation from Colorado say that
0 J the formation and the quartz and vein
Is , fillings are almost identical with those
of the Cripple Creek district, except that
In Bohemia the veins are much better de
fined on the surface and carry their courses
more regularly. It Is often said by emi
nent mining men that as development pro
ceeds In Bohemia mines will be opened
that will duplicate some of the great
mines of Colorado and British Columbia.
The great porphyry dykes, traversing the
district for miles through the Andeblte for
mation; the numerous fissure veins which
can readily be traced across the entire dis
trict; the several high peaks, some reach
ing an altitude of 7000 feet above sea level,
covered with an Andeslte Breccia capping.
In some instances heavily Impregnated
j with Iron, all tend to prove the volcanic
Porlgin of the district and the unlimited
depth of the hundreds of highly mineral
ized veins or lodes. The dlstrlot being
l ery precipitous, development work so far
has been accomplished either by cross
cut tunnels or by drifting In on the veins,
which, on nearly every group of claims,
gains great depth and dispenses with the
heavy cost and the expense of operating
hoists, pumps, fans, etc. Another Impor
tant feature of the district Is that the ore
and vein matter mostly lies In a honey
combed, loose state, easily drilled and
broken without the use of machine drills,
compressors, etc The general facilities of
the district are such a3 to enable mining
to be carried on at a profit on ore which,
j in many camps, would be of too low grado
to pay expenses.
Three Years' Progress.
Three years ago the Bohemia mines con
sisted of two or three prospects lightly
developed. Now we have the Noonday
mine with a modern 20-stamp mill, eight
Frue Vanners and a 3300-foot tram owned
by a Chicago company. The Champion
mine, with a 10-stamp mill and a 3000
foot tram, Is owned by Wisconsin and
Michigan people. The Muslck mine has
an up-to-date 10-stamp mill with all mod
ern machinery, saw null, several new
frame buildings, tunnel-houses, hotel, etc.,
all of the better clas3, and a good wagon
road in place of the old pack trail which
was the only means of gaining access to
short time ago, was a raw prospect,
has become famous on account of the
production of tons of honeycombed ore
having a yellow cast from the free gold.
The gold Is visible to the naked eyo at a
609999900909909990
O
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
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Tear.
1893...
1894...
1895...
1896...
1897...
1898...
1899...
Oregon.
.. $3 57
.. 3 87
.. 3 36
..2 90
... 2 72
.. 365
.. t3 00
Wash.
$2 31
233
216
200
194
178
178
Tear.
1895...
1896...
1897...
1898...
1899...
Oregon. Wash.
414
2840
2622
254
375
142
t280
2739
3145
3620
999009990000090900909090000
distance of 30 or 40 feet, and glitters, by
candle-light, In the face of the drift from
roof to floor. On this property there Is
a new five-stamp mill with all necessary
machinery for reducing ore.
Last year 15 stock companies were or-
ganlzed, and are now operating in Bohe
mia. Each owns a group of from three to
eight claims, and is represented by mining
Investors from all parts of the country.
Large blocks of stock have been sold In
London. These companies own some very
flattering prospects; the late development
work done on them aggregates several
thousand feet All appear to feel greatlj
encouraged. Some of them have reason to
be quite enthusiastic, especially when their
showings and values are compared with
some of the noted camps of tho West that
have been boomed skywards.
Besides the stock companies, a number of
private companies have been formed that
are doing quite extensive development
work. Such men are Reed & Larrabee
Bros., of Montana, and C. H. Park, rep
resenting a number of English bankers
and mining capitalists, who lately bought
the well-known Vesuvius group of six
claims and the adjoining Harlow & Stocks
group of five claims They have Installed
a Pelton wheel and fan to furnish air for
work on the main crosscut tunnel, which Is
In over 500 feet and Is being pushed as
fast as money and men can do It A num
ber of local companies have developed
their properties with from 100 to 500 feet of
tunnels and drifts and have opened up
some fine bodies of ore. Many of the raw
prospects, still in the hands of prospectors,
and formerly held by dummy locations or
any other way to avoid tho annual assess
ment work, have taken new life and are
being developed by open cuts, shafts ah I
drifts, which Is the best than can be- done
with limited means. Some of the show
ings are wonderful, considering that no
great depth has been gained. The older
mines. In which depths of from 300 to 500
feet have been gained have pretty well
proved the depth and permanency of the
veins of tho camp.
Custom Reduction "Works Needed.
The district 19 sorely in need of acus
tom reduction works of the cyanide, chlor
lnation or some of the later electro-chemical
processes to reduce the almost unlim
ited quantities of ore that could be fur
nished on short notice from the hundreds
of new properties whose owners are not
financially able to put up works of the.r
own, but who have an abundance of oro
ready to break down and deliver to a mill.
In addition are many tons of concentrates,
produced by the different stamp- mills,
that now have to be shipped to a smelter
for treatment Numerous test3 made on
the various ores of the camp have proved
that, with the exception of a few ledges
which carry lead and copper and repre
sent a small per cent of the ore of tho
district, the lato chemical methods of
treating ores would work very successful
ly In Bohemia, and such an enterprise
would start development work on a great
many prospeot3 now lying dormant, and
set in motion a wheel of prosperity that
would be felt and appreciated all over
Western Oregon. R. M'MURPHY.
Eugene, Or.
SAJftTIAM DISTRICT.
Only Development "Worlc Done in
1SOO, and Output Was Nominal.
The Santiam mines, in the Quartzvitle
district consist of several hundred partly
developed claims in the Cascade moun
tains, 20 miles from the town of Gates,
a station on the Corvallls & Eastern rail
road 40 miles east of Albany. They cover
an aiea of about five miles by five miles
In the heart of the Cascade mountains, In
a very hilly section of country, reached
by an Improved trail over an interven
ing mountain. For about 40 years pros
pectors have been Into this region, and
they have never failed to get colors to
show for their trip. At time3 ore has
been brought out that made a good
showing of gold, besides other minerals,
which has raised tho hopes of many and
led them to believe that In this district
wero prospects as good as those In the
paying camps of tho coast Years have
come and gone, and there are many old
timers familiar with the ledges of the
Santiam country who have continued in
the faith, and who continue to believe
that some day thero will be strikes made
here which will attract tho attention of
the mining world, and result In a camp
that shall have a national reputation, and
be a producer of gold in paying quanti
ties. Early Development.
The first to take steps towards making
something of tho mines wa3 the Albany
Mining & Milling Co., organized in 1889
by Albany men, whoso faith in the mines,
based on several years of prospecting by
members of the company, was strong. A
10-stamp mill was put In and the work
of development pushed a3 fast as the re
sources of the company permitted. The
company's operations were seriously
checked by the lack of funds. About tare
years ago W. B. Lawler, an experienced
miner, representing a syndicate, prin
cipally composed of London capitalists,
went Into the mines, purchased several
good claims, improved the trail from,
Gates Into the mines at considerable ex
pense, took In a 20-stamp mill, and with
a large force of men went actively to
work In the development of the claims,
principally the White Bull and the Red
Bull claims. In this work $150,000 is said
to have been expended and about $100 000
in gold taken out, and yet the work was
not sufficiently carried forward to com
plete the development These have been
the main Instruments In bringing the
mines to their present condition
Great Deal of Worlc Last Year.
One who has been Interested in the de
velopment of the mines for many years
makes the statement that the past year
has seen more good oro taken out than In
any one year since the camp was discov
ered. While little has been said, thero
has been active development during tho
entire year on nearly all the leading
claims. The Lawler Gold Mining Com
pany, which owns the principal properties
In the district, has had four or five men
constantly at work during the year push
ing development work of the different
claims, but principally on the Red Bull
and the White Bull mines. Many feet
have been added to the extensive tunnels
and considerable rich ore put on tho
dumps. The 20-stamp mill on the proper
ty was not run last year, the work be
ing entirely of a development character,
and preliminary to nfore active work In
the future.
The permanent character of the mining
operations of this company Is indicated
In the fact that Mr. Lawler has asked
for patents for tho following claims: Red
Bull. Gold Baek, Gold Bug. Gold Finch,
Red Bear, Golden Eagle, Golden Crown,
Gold Hill. Gold Gulch and Gold Cannon,
In quartz; and the Bed Rock, Lawler and
Coarse Cold, In placer claims. The com
pany will be in position to push its mines
by the installation of a complete reduc
tion plant in 1900. It is authoritatively
stated that thl3 will be done.
T. J. Belcher, an experienced miner,