THE SUMPTER MINER.
VOL I.
SUMPTER, OREGON, JANUARY 24, 1900.
NO. 20.
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GROUND BROKEN
FOR SMELTER.
ENTIRE PLANT NOW AT THE
SUMPTER DEPOT.
The Company's Engineer Directing the
Installation of the Machinery. A Spur
Will Be Built to the Smelter Site
Probably Be in Operation Within Sixty
Days. A Good Thing For the Camp.
On Friday Inst Charles Laughlin,
erecting engineer for the Union Smelter
Manufacturing company, of St. Louis,
accompanied by his assistant, Charles
Tiedemnnn, arrived in Sumpter for the ex
press purpose df Installing the smelter
plant which reached here about the same
time, and is only awaiting a side-track or
spur to be run to the building site to be
unloaded.
In .1 short conversation with a MINER
representative, Mr. Laughlin said he
would begin breaking ground for the
plant yesterday or today, and, reasonable
weather permitting, he would be ready to
treat the Sumpter district ore within sKty
or seventy-live days.
The Installation of a smelter at Sump
ter, however small its capacity at first, is
undoubtedly a step In the right direction,
and it is hoped that it will prove a success
to its operators and a boon to the small as
well as large mine owners.
The principal idea now of the builders
in erecting a plant of the capacity Intended
is to demonstrate that their smelter can
successfully treat the ores of this district,
find they emphatically state their willing
ness to increase It to any sie as soon as
the business demands. Mr. Laughlin
says they can turn out a copper, galena or
iron matte, either of which will answer as
a base, and all of which are herein plenty;
that full arrangements have been made
with the railroad companies to have coke
delivered here in carload lots; and as soon
as the matter has been demonstrated to
the mining people that the smelter will do
what he says, they will add a refinery,
which will turn out the bullion, and the
bullion taken to the bank can be con
verted into United States coin right here
In Sumpter.
The advantages of a smelter to small
properties whose ore value-' only run io
orfnor even less for want of greater
development work or for other reasons
need scarcely to be mentioned. Men can
bring such products to a smelter near at
hand, get the returns, and go on with the
development of their properties from
month to month; whereas, were there no
smelter here, these same ores might re
main on the dump forever, because the
cost of shipping them hundreds of miles,
added to the cost of treatment, would eat
up their values.
The Portland Telegram had to say re
cently: "A great many properties in the
Sumpter camp have delayed development
pending the provision of a cheap and sat
isfactory ore treatment. The Cable Cove
district, which abounds in tremendous
ledges of ore of high value, but of refrac
tory nature, has been especially slow to
develop because of the absence of a con
tiguous smelter. Throughout the entire
district the percentage of gold saving on
stamp mill plates is not high. The North
Pole mine operating 20 stamps, saves
very little on the plates, its values being
In the concentrates. The E. & E. saves
but 25 per cent on the plates. The Col
umbia's io-stamp mill saves 40 per cent
on the plates. The Red Boy saves 85
per cent; the Bonanza 75 per cent, and by
no meaas all of the remaining values Is in
these Instances saved in the concentrates.
A certain percentage inevitably goes off In
the tailings. This percentage is a clear,
dead loss, and can only be obviated by
treating the ore by the smelting process.
It is not presumed that this will he done
universally in this camp. Those mines
operating stamp mills will probably con
tinue. Their valuable concentrates, how
ever, which are now being shipped to
smelters at Trail, Tacoma, Everett and
San Francisco, will quite probably be
treated at home."
Voters Attention I
The registration books for Sumpter pre
cincts have arrived. Judge E. C. Stetfen
has the set for the South and Stott &
Shelton those for the North precincts.
Voters have until May 15, this year, to
register, but are asked to come forward at
once and record their names, that some
calculation may be made on the vote to be
cast in June. In brief, the dividing line
between the north and south precincts Is
Granite street, but the full text of the
boundaries wlil be given ne.t week.
Adler's Book Store Opens February I.
The store room in the L. Potter build
ing is now receiving the fixtures and will
be occupied February 1 by Carl Adler's
book and stationery house. W. L. Belrd
neau, from Mr. Adler's Baker City house,
and who will have charge here, was in
town today and says their stock is packed
ready to ship, and when opened here will
add another first-class business to Sump
ter, giving the public any article desired
in that line.
Coming Here From Baker City.
J. B. Grlswold, the pioneer merchan
dise, harness and saddlery man of Baker
City, has also discovered the possibilities
of Sumpter as a trade center, and has
leased the ground floor half of the new
building next door north of the express
office, where he will be doing business
within a week. And still they come.
Abstract Office for Sumpter.
Recorder Gcllatly left Tuesday for
Sumpter, accompanied by his sister, Jen
nie, who will begin work immediately
upon a set of abstracts which Mr. Gcllatly
Is making of that country. Roy Avery
left for Sumpter Monday, accompanied by
Joe Blumberg, and other Corvallisltes ex
pect to follow shortly. Union-Gazette.
Views of Sumpter.
Parker's studio at Baker City has fin
ished a series of views of the town of
Sumpter and vicinity that, for photogra
phic art, are perfect Jems. THE MINER
office has received a set of these views
and can recommend them to parties desir
ing to know what Sumpter looks like.
Address Parker's Studio, Baker City,
Oregon.
Blue Bird Claim Sold.
The Blue Bird claim, two miles west of
town, was sold to outside parties Friday.
There are some excellent prospects just
across McCully's fork from Sumpter with
surface showings second to none in the
country. It is only a matter of a short
time when there will be working mines
within sight of town.
Sacking Rich Ore at the Diadem.
J. K. Pardee reports that they are now.
sacking the rich ore found in the Diadem
property and will soon begin shipping it.
He further says the last assays from some
of this product run 9318.80.
LARGE DEALS IN DIRT.
Lively Local Realty Market
During Past Week.
The past week has been the most satis
factory one to manipulators of Sumpter
realty since the actual activity commenced,
and while the aggregate amount of the
sales have been heavy, every real estate
man In Sumpter reports deals under way
and to be consummated within a week to
ten days, that will greatly increase the
weekly business. The Sumpter Town
site company yesterday sold nine lots to
one party in their first addition, several
single lots to various buyers, among
which was the 50 foot business lot oppo
site David Wilson's brick building on
Mill street, below the depot. S. A. Arata,
the wholesale liquor man of Portland, was
the purchaser of the latter and has con
tracted to erect thereon a substantial brick
building by early spring. This same pur
chaser has also arranged through the
Townslte people, a lease of the Wilson
brick building, In which to establish an
exclusive wholesale liquor house, and Mr.
Arata left here today for home to ship his
stock, expecting to return in a week,
claiming that within two weeks he would
be open and ready for business.
At W. I.. Vinson's office the sale of
over fifty lots In their new addition Is re
ported since the property was placed on
the market. As soon as the new bridge
Is In and building activity has begun, this
addition will be the scene of lively opera
tions. Among other transactions of the week
C. S. Van Duyn sold to Deputy Post
master Kahler the west 26 feet of lot 7
block 3, on the north side of Sumpter
street, for i6oo.
Goss & Swlggett, in the Sumpter Bank
building, have several large deals pending
that they expect to close within a few
days, but report 7400 in various transfers
this week.
Fritz & I'wyer are known to have made
several good sales, the aggregate amount
of which could not be learned.
Mohr & Mayer have only been open for
business two or three weeks, but report
business getting better each day. Three
thousand dollars in miscellaneous trading
have changed hands through their office
the past week.
Numerous private sales are also of dally
occurrence.
Representatives of Large Capital Here.
D. J. McDonald, mining engineer and
examiner for the Governor Mackintosh
syndicate of British Columbia, Is here
looking over several mining properties
that are up for consideration by the latter.
It Is to be hoped they will soon brcome
the owners of one or more of the large
mines hereabouts. Representatives of
other large Canadian and eastern capital
are known to be in the district and it
can be confidently expected that some
heavy transactions will be recorded soon.
C J. John Believe in Expansion.
C. J. Johns' purchase of the Sumpter
Hardware company's stock, together with
the building and ground, gives to Sump
ter one of the largest general merchan
dise houses In eastern Oregon, as when
added to the already large establishment
conducted by Mr. Johns, he will have a
store frontage of 100 feet by the same in
depth, not to mention the storage capacity
of his warehouse on the railroad tracks.
Carpenters are now at work cutting arch
ways between the dry goods department
and the hardware store adjoining, vir
tually throwing the entire premises into
one. A complete system of cash carriers,
reaching to every nook and corner of the
various departments has been ordered and
will soon be installed, so that one man
In the office can handle this Important
feature of a large business, thus saving
the work and time of the salesmen In the
stores. The hardware stock Is to be en
larged at once and special attention given
to the plumbing and steam fitting depart
ment, where plenty of competent men will
be employed, thereby giving quick service
at all times.
Souvenir Book on Oregon.
Mrs. Edyth Toler-Weatherred has re
turned to Sumpter with a view to Interest
ing the business men here in a work of
art descriptive of the state, Including this
section, to which she hopes to devote sl
or more pages of reading matter, Illustra
tions and advertisements. As has been
mentioned, this lady journalist, who Is
secretary of the Portland Press club, will
attend the International Press club con
vention to be held In New Orleans March
1, and expects to distribute these souve
nirs where they will do the most good, on
that occasion.
Removal of the Former W. CCalder Store.
The new management of the W. C.
Calder stock of merchandise will begin
the removal of goods into the new store
room this week. The new establishment
will be known herealter as the Hobson
Mercantile company. The handsome
store room just completed and the also
handsome business handed down to them
by Mr. Calder should and undoubtedly
will make plain sailing for the new con
cern. Wholesale Liquor House For Sumpter.
Arata & Company, of Portland, have
leased the brick building of David Wilson
on South Mill street for an exclusive
wholesale wine and liquor house, and will
open for business not later than February
1 5. This firm Is an old established one In
Portland, and will bring a complete and
first-class stock of goods here, which will
he necessary In doing business with the
Sumpter trade.
Development at the Ibex.
Manager A. I.. McEwen, of the Ibex,
was In town Monday and reported line
progiess being made at the mine. They
are now engaged in pushing the lower
drift from a depth of 210 feet, to prove the
ore chutes in the upper levels.
They are also pushing ahead the tun
nel in the Pyrites claim of the Ibex group,
in the hope of discovering new ore bodies.
Anotbe7 Brick Building.
The Townslte company on Thursday
last sold the triangular lot Immediately
north of the railroad track on Mill street,
to Jones & Yerger, the contractors, who,
according to the conditions of the sale,
will immediately begin the erection of a
brick business building thereon, contain
ing two store rooms, 20x70 and 16x40 res
pectively, the same conforming to the
shape of the lot.
New Grocery Store Opening.
E. P. Bergman, who recently leased the
store room In the Woods building, for
merly occupied by Mrs. Britten's restaur
ant, has returned with his grocery stock
and expects to throw open his doors foi
business as soon ai the goods arc In place.
Stock Certificates.
THE MINER office Is folly equipped to
supply mining corporations with hand
some stock certificates, prospectuses, seals
I and stock journals and record books.