THE SUMPTER MINER.
u
VOL I.
SUMPTER, OREGON, JANUARY 17, 1900.
NO. 19.
PROSPECTORS'
PARADISE.
THIS DISTRICT SO CHARACTER
IZED BY A VETERAN.
H Reports Suit a Stampede From Brit
ish Columbia. Enquiries Come By the
Hundreds From AU Over Ike West.
Large Advance Guard Already Arriv
ing. Safer to Invest Here Now Than
it Was Eight Months Since.
Last fall when Col. Topping, the wide
ly known Trail, B. C, mining man, came
to look Into the merits of theSumpter
mining district, he brought with him a
veteran prospector, who had operated In
all the great camps of the West. The
first day out in the mountains he located
five promising ledges. He prospected for
some days, and his first favorable Im
pressions were confirmed and Intensified.
And then he wrote to some of his British
Columbia friends what he thought of the
country, characterizing It as the pros
pectors' paradise. News of this character
spreads rapidly among mining men, trav
els almost as fast as ordinary evil report.
Colonel Topping 'returned from Trail
and Rossland this week. He reports that
In mining circles all through British Col
umbia the fame of this district has spread,
and that hundreds of men are preparing to
come here during the next few months.
In this connection he said: "This is the
best camp for quartz mining I have ever
known, in all my thirty-three consecutive
years of mining."
And this is the tenor of reports from
every section of the West. The Town
site company is flooded with enquiries and
requests for Information about the camp
and district. They come from all mining
regions, Arizona, California, Nevada,
Utah, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Wash
ington, British Columbia and the Black
Hills.
The postmaster and THE MlNKK are
likewise deluged with letters of enquiry.
People of the West are not satisfied with
getting enough to eat; they want to accu
mulate a" competence, and they (lock to
that locality which promises a realization
of this hope. Today, in all the world,
Sumpter offers the most favorable oppor
tunities for money making and thousands
will avail themselves of it.
Nor is this all a future possibility.
Scores of new comers are arriving daily,
capitalists, prospectors, business men,
promoters, laborers. The only words of
regret heard from any of these are that
they didn't come sooner. The proposition
has advanced so rapidly during the past
ninety days, that many are disappointed
In not being able to secure choice snaps,
mining and real estate, on old six months
ago dull times prices and terms. But men
of discernment see that the boom has just
fairly started, and that It Is by far a surer
thing to Invest here now, even at present
prices, than It was eight months ago,
when uncertainty as to the future pre
vailed. Mtetmg to Vote Special School Tax.
The school trustees of this district have
called an election for January 27, to vote
an additional tax for school purposes for
this year. At the lowest estimate there
will be 300 pupils in attendance upon the
public schools this session. At least five
teachers will be required to handle this
number, whose salaries will amount to
2700 for nine months. The district now
owes 6oo borrowed money, and S105 in
terest on bonds, making the total amount
of funds necessary to meet these absolute
requirements, $3,405; not to mention in
cidentals. The present revenue from all
sources amounts to about 4 a pupil, or a
total of i,2oo, which will leave a short
age of 92,205. The proposed special tax
will be based On the assessment of last
year, (86,992. A three-mill tax on this
valuation will net about $2,500, every
dollar of which will be needed. Present
property values are four or five times
greater than last year's assessed valua
tion, and this tax will in reality be only a
fraction of a mill, which every property
owner in this town can well afford and
ought to be willing to stand.
THREE PROMISING MINES.
Properties Owned by Local and British Co
lumbia People.
Colonel Topping, of Trail, British Co
lumbia, is here on his way to his Tread
well property, located at the head of Olive
creek, three miles above the Red Boy
mine. On this mine two shifts have been
at work since his last trip here, several
weeks ago. Since that time they have
run about 100 feet of tunnel, and as far
as known have a six-foot vein of ore.
He will also visit the Blue Modle prop
erty, owned by himself, Clark Snyde and
Elling Johnson, a former Trail, British
Columbia, mining man, now of Portland.
A new company has been Incorporated in
British Columbia to acquire and operate
the Blue Modle, which Is three miles up
Granite creek from the town of Granite.
It has over too feet of tunnel work com
pleted and showed nine dollars In values
when last assayed.
Colonel Topping also says the Snow
Bird mine, near the Free Coinage, Is mak
ing a fine showing, the values now run
ning from f 3 to $17. This is the property
recently acquired and stocked by British
Columbia mining people.
Alamo Mine Improving.
X G. McGulgan, who is operating the
Alamo group, came down from that prop
erry yesterday and reports 125 feet of
tunnel work done since beginning a few
weeks ago. He says they cut the vein
when In 72 feet and have 7 feet of quartz
showing free gold, samples of which he
exhibited to THE MINER representative.
A new tunnel has been opened further
down, that will give an additional 150 feet
of depth, by driving 175 feet. If the
showing Is comparatively as good at that
depth as In the upper workings, the Alamo
will soon be among the paying mines of
this district.
Will Develop Gristly Group at Once.
Eugene Sperry and E. Sanderson Smith
have paid the original locators for the
Grizzly group of mines, an extension of
the Ibex lode, and transferred the prop
erty to John Martin and associates. Mr.
Martin is a well known and successful
mining man from Trail, British Columbia,
and was formerly largely interested in the
Noble Five. He and other owners of the
Grizzly group will arrive in Sumpter In a
few days for the purpose of opening up
these prospects on an extensive scale In
the immediate future.
Trying to Jump Evening Star Claim.
Officials of the Evening Star Mining
company had A. H. Shlpman and A. J.
Tadlock arrested Monday for trespass.
They had a preliminary hearing yesterday
before Justice Steffen, who will render a
decision this afternoon. The men are
attempting to jump the Evening Star
claims.
TOWN TALK.
A fine girl baby was horn to Mrs. E.
Jones, who lives near McEwen, on the
15th.
If this warm weather continues much
longer,frelghters will have to abandon run
ners and return to wheels.
Final proof on the Granite townsite
will be made tomorrow at the United
States land office at La Grande.
A meeting of all persons interested In
the erection of a hospital is called for Sat
urday, January 20. By order of the pres
ident. T. K. Mulr left yesterday for Portland,
on business connected with the state mili
tia. He will return by the 26th to remain
here permanently.
A dance for the benefit of the hospital
fund has been suggested and will doubt
less be arranged for the evening of St.
Valentine's day, February 14.
Dan Shovelin, formerly of Montana,
was brought In from the Diadem mine
yesterday quite sick from, pneumonia and
will be taken to the Baker City hospital
today.
O. Brechtel has recently added a com
plete set of ovens to his bakery, opposite
the depot, and is now turning out every
thing in the line of breads, pies and gen
eral pastry.
Dozens of houses are being connected
with the waterworks, and plumbers are
having things even more their own way
than the funny paragraphers' have for so
long delighted to picture their lordly lot.
T. M. Word, representing the Blake,
McFall Co.'s paper house of Portland,
made his first trip to Sumpter this week.
Tom Is a tustl;r and ptoved tills assertion
by carrying off orders for a carload of
miscellaneous goods from Sumpter mer
chants. Frank S. Bailey, Tom Gray, Tom Mc
Ewen, William Gleasou, Tom Evans, J.
P. Fox, A. Elliott, H. W. Hawley, Dr.
Belnnopp, M. Durkhomer and Mr. John
son, the last named of Bourne, leave to
day for Portland, to attend a meeting of
Scottish Rite Masons.
Major G. L. Ltihn, now serving with
the American army In the Philippines,
who was recently promoted to a lieutenant
colonelcy for distinguished bravery In the
field, Is an old-time chum of John M.
Murphey. The two correspond regularly,
Mr. Murphey having received a letter
rom him recently.
Mrs. General Warren's 5 O'clock Tea.
General and Mrs. Warren entertained a
party of friends at a 5 o'clock tea In their
apartments In the Austin building Mon
day afternoon. The guests were Mr.
and Mrs. W. L. Vinson, Mr. and Mrs.
H. K. Wheeler, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mc
Ewen, Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Richards, Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas Kllpatrick, Mr. and
Mrs. John M. Murphey, Mr. and Mrs. C.
H. Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Warren,
Miss Worswlck, Messrs. W. C. Calder,
Charles E. Roblln, A. P. Goss, A. L.
McEwen and Dr. Anderson.
Ledge 100 Fact Wide Rich is Gold.
M. J. Chambers, proprietor of the Elk
horn hotel, of Canyon City, In company
with Fred Page and Oliver Peone, have
discovered and located three vast quartz
deposits on the very summit of Canyon
mountain. The main ledge is fully too
feet In width and the ledge can be traced
by croppings the entire length of the
claim, and prospects well in gold, sliver
and copper. At the east end of their
claim the ledge is crossed by a canyon a
hundred or more feet in depth, which af
fords an excellent place to develop the
property at a great depth at the smallest
expense. Mr. Chambers has secured as
says on the surface quartz from the differ
ent locations and has returns showing a
value of from S12 to i8 per ton. Raker
City Democrat.
Vinton's Addition on the Market.
Today W. L.Vinson announces through
four columns of THE MINER that his ad
dition is on the market. He deals in plain
facts plainly spoken. The business dis
trict of this town is growing in every di
rection. A part of this addition is a di
rect extension of the principal business
street of the camp, Granite, on which for
years all the business houses were lo
cated. It commences less than 400 feet
from one of the best corners in town. A
movement In that direction, once started,
will result In a stampede. As soon ns the
bridge across Powder river on Granite
street Is finished, travel to the mines aIII
be diverted through this property. Watch
out for a real estate boom on the west
side.
Frightened Into Spasms by a Tramp.
Dr. Brock was called Tuesday to at
tend Mrs. li. J. Smith, who lives ten or
twelve miles down the valley. A tramp
called at the house and asked for some
thing to eat, though he is said to have
made no hostile demonstrations. Mrs.
Smith is euciente and consequently very
nervous. She was very much frightened
and went into spasms. The doctor says
she is dangerously III and her recovery Is
doubtful.
Townsite Company's First Ad.
In THE MINER today appears the first
display advertisement which the Sumpter
Townsite Company, Limited, has ever
had published. And, as Is the policy of the
company, Instead of singing the praises
of Its own property exclusively, It tells of
this wonderful mining district, the great
advantages which the town of Sumpter
possesses over all rivals, In Oregon and
elsewhere, of the present prosperity and
the basis of its permanency.
Of Interest to Mine Owners.
A. M. Grant, representing the Mine and
Smelter Supply company, of Salt Lake
and Denver, manufacturers and dealers In
stamp mills, engines, boilers, pumps and
general mining supplies, Is at the Capital
hotel, where he will remain for the next
ten days, during which time he will de
termine the feasibility of establishing
permanent quarters In the district.
Noble Outcast. January 26.
The local talent who will present the
play of "The Noble Outcast," for the
benefit of the hospital fund has so far
progressed as to be able to give a dress
rehearsal and announce Friday, January
26 as the date of the production at Ellis
Opera house.
Call for Bids.
Sealed bids will be received for the con
struction of a hospital In Sumpter, Oregon ,
up to and Including the 25th day of Janu
ary. Plans and specifications may be
had at the office of Johns & Co.
BY ORDER OF COMMITTEE.
Every piece of type In THE MINER
plant is new and strictly up to date. A
back number jobcan't be done in this office.
Desks and office furniture at Case,
Looney Co., Incorporated, opera house
block.
The celebrated Jed Clayton brand ol
whiskey at the Mint saloon, corner 0
Center and Sumpter streets.