The Sumpter miner., March 21, 1900, Image 1

THE
MINER.
VOL I.
SUMPTER, OREGON, MARCH 21, 1900.
NO. 28.
SUMPTER
LEDGE RIGHT IN TOWN.
FREE GOLD WASHED FROM THE
POUNDED ROCK.
Found Three Yeare Ago by a Stranger
Was on Patented Land and He Quit
Find Investigated Yesterday From Such
Sources Come the Gold in Every Sump
ter Lot, Enough to Pay for It.
The statement is often made and has
not yet been contradicted or proven Inac
curate, that there is sufficient gold dust In
every lot In the original townsite of Sump
ter and its additions to pay for the lot,
even at present prices. This may or may
not be true, for It is a subject on which no
one has definite information. But it is un
doubtedly true that all the surrounding
land contains gold; that there are rich
placer diggings within the city limits that
have been worked for years and still are
being profitably worked.
The generally accepted theory Is that
placer gold comes from quartz ledges.
The topography of the surrounding
country is such that the "dust" found
here could not have come from the Gran
ite, the Cable Cove or other districts
where successful quartz mining is now In
progress. The natural inference therefore
is that it comes from the hills Immediately
contiguous.
During the past ninety days THE MINER
has reported a number of promising finds
In the vicinity of town, rich rock from
true fissure veins. There is no longer a
doubt but what the surrounding hills are
seamed with gold ledges. They will be
developed this .season and In another
year stamps will be dropping In hearing
distance of the heart of town.
Yesterday a lot of rock was brought
into the Sumpter Townsite company's
office from a ledge not a thousand feet
distant from that building; It came
about in this way: j
Three years ago a stranger drifted Into
town and, without losing any time, began
prospecting. Whether he knew what he
was about, or merely sought a location
convenient to hotel accommodations, is
not known. But It is a fact that up on
Johnny Parkinson laud north of town he
found rock that could be pounded in a
mortar and from which gold could be
washed. The owner of the property in
formed the man that he was wasting
his time, as the land was patented, and
that he w.ould have to "move on" arid
find his bonanza elsewhere. That ended
the matter till yesterday; when the story
being repeated In General Warren's hear
ing, he asked Mr. Parkinson to show W.
H. Mosby where the man had been working-
This he did. A hole about the size of
a barrel was found, in ledge matter from
the pine needle-carpeted ground down. A
lot of rock taken from the hole was
brought in and placed on exhibition. All
the hosts of mining experts who infest
that vicinity declare that it "looks good."
Assays have not yet been made.
Some very fine limestone was found
near by, which will come in handy for the
smelter.
Representative of Eastern Mining Paper.
Leston Balliet, representing the Mining
News, of Des1 Moines, Iowa, reached
Sumpter yesterday. He says he will J
write up the camp tor mat paper; our. inai
newspaper work Is a siJe issue with him,
that mining is his business and that he is
here on a strictly professional call. Mr.
Balliet's mining experience has been prin
cipally In California, though he had an
assay office In Baker City six years ago,
and Is therefore not an entire stranger to
this district.
Work Progressing at the Smelter
H. Melnhard returned several days
since from a trip to the coast on business
connected with the smelter, the nature of
which he says he does not care to divulge
just yet. Work Is progressing satisfac
torily at the smelter. The shed is com
pleted, the hot air furnace is being In
sta'lled'and other machinery put in place.
Those in charge of construction say it will
be ready to operate before the roads are in
condition to haul ore over them.
OLIVE CREEK DISTRICT.
Much Work Being Done and Ore Shows
Good Values.
There are lively times at Olive creek, a
section that Is attracting great attention,
and which Is confidently expected to be
come one of the best mining camps in all
the eastern Oregon gold fields.
The district Is situated between Granite
and Roblnsonvllle and derives its name
from the grand scenic lake which Is in
close proximity, at the base of Greenhorn
mountain.
From persons who are down from the
district the Democrat is advised that there
is life and activity In the camp, occasioned
by the development work in progress upon
hundreds of locations and the magnificent
results that are being obtained.
Mr. Sam Lew, who with Dr. E. B. Mc
Daniel of this city, owns what is known
as the Golden Star group of claims, came
down from Olive creek yesterday. Mr.
Lew has spent the past two months n the
district doing development. The tunnel
on the Golden Star ts in 179 feet and in
running it two ledges have been cut, one
four feet In width and the other thirteen
feet. The ore returns good values and
Lew Is confident he has a property that
will yet bring him an independent fortune.
Mr. Lew says the mountains are full of
prospectors and when lie came out lie
passed a large number on the road going
in. Baker City Democrat.
"Patsy" Clark's Representative Here.
D. Brenshan, formerly superintendent
of the Republic mine, and who has had
charge of all of Patrick Clark's proper
ties in that camp, reached Sumpter today.
Of course he is not saying a word. This
class of miners doesn't hunt for properties
with a brass band nor buy them with
street corner oratory.
Buchanan-Lambert Company.
The Buchanan-Lambert company Is
giving good shows In Bills Opera house
this week to a fair business. The com
pany is well ballanced and composed of
first class people. The repertoir consists
of popular plays, which when properly
presented always please. They will con
tinue the engagement throughout the
week, Including Saturday evening, when
they will doubtless get their largest house.
Republican Primaries.
Little interest was taken in the republi
can primaries held to-day. In the South
Sumpter precinct the following delegates
were unamiously elected, about forty
votes were cast: Thomas Kllpatrick, C.
Miller, C. J. Johns, Gus Woodward, and
J. W. McVickers. In the North Sump
ter precinct these were chesen: J. Mc
Ewen, R Miller, G. B. Tedrowe, General
C. S. Warren and N. C. Richards, the
first- named leading off .'with 5) votes.
The only other candidate was E. C.
Steffen.
LET PAVING CONTRACT
Bids On Granite Street Will
Be Opened Tomorrow.
In another column of Till: MINER today
Is published a call for bids to plank Gran
ite street, from the east side of Mill to the
west side of Cracker. Contractors are
therein notified that they may put in bids
for the grading and planking separate, or
together.
Bids are also Invited on improving the
street by graveling. Unless some very
attractive bid be submitted on this propo
sition, the street will be planked, as both
the property owners committee and the
engineers are understood to favor tills
method. Bids will be opened at the office
of Gity Engineer Wheeler tomorrow at 10
o'clock"
On Mill street, the first idea was to Im
prove It only between Granite and the
railroad track, but N.T. Collettand other
property owners south of the track ex
pressed a desire to have the paving ex
tended, mid the gentleman named took the
matter in hand. It now looks as If that
street will be Improved clear through to
Its southern extremity,.') distance of about
half a mile.
Mr. Collett informed a MINER man yes
terday that practically all lot owners had
signed an agreement to stand their share
of the expense for such work. A meeting
will probably be held tomorrow and some
definite plan adopted.
Dr. Tape Back in Sumpter.
Dr. G.W.Tape returned to Sumpter
Monday, rather unexpectedly to his
friends, who welcomed him cordially.
Especially did A. W. Ellis' greeting come
from his heart ask the Doctor what he
said. Dr. Tape has been In Detroit all
winter, two months of which time was
spent in a hospital, undergoing treatment.
He is looking well and It Is hoped that his
health Is fully and permanently restored.
He says he heard little of Sumpter and its
famous gold mines In Detroit, that the
town Is so conservative that when one of
its old line citizens learns that one is
from a gold mining camp, he begins to
back away and excuse himself from ling
ering longer. Mrs. Tape will return In a
few weeks.
HAS THE E. 6c E. BEEN SOLD.
Rumors to that Effect Afloat-One of
Them.
For two weeks past rumors have been
current to the effect that the E. & E.
mine was about to be sold. Nothing defi
nite lias so far been made public. The
following, however, In the Portland Tele
gram under a Sumpter date line, Is Inter
esting reading:
Rumors are atloat concerning a pend
ing big deal Involving the great E. & E.
and North Pole mines on Cracker Creek.
It is reported that a wealthy Chicago
syndicate, whose representative is known
to have been in this camp for some time,
is negotiating for both of these properties;
that new underground workings are to be
inaugurated upon tliem.and that a modern
concentrator of sufficient capacity to
handle the ores of the entire Cracker
Creek and Cable Cove districts is to be
erected.
The E. it E. is owned in St. Louis, was
operated for a number of years by John
H. Longmald, as lessee, and has become
one of the most notable mines In Oregon.
It is opened up with a I2oo-foot tunnel,
showing an ore body varying from 20 to
200 feet in width. With a 2o-stamp mill
and concentrators, 70 tons per day have
been handled at a total cost of f 2.00 per
ton. It has shipped about 2io,oco a
year In concentrates, and is known to
have paid a profit of 50 per cent. The
consolidation of these two big mines un
der one management, and the provision of
a satisfactory process of treatment of
their ores, will result in great things for
Sumpter Camp.
LAWTON PATENTS ISSUED.
Telegram Received from Washington to
that Effect.
Hon. James II. Raley, now In this cltv,
was telegraphed yesterday from Wash
ington, D. C, that the general land of
fice has issued patents to the l.awton
townsite. This settles any question as to
the title to property in the new town.
Win. Roesch and Gus La Fontaine, of
Pendleton, yesterday telephoned their
orders in to the l.awton Investment com
pany for the purchase of two lots, one
for a brewery and one for a restaurant,
the building of which Is to be commenced
at once.
Eight business houses are Hearing com
pletion. The Hubson Mercantile company, of
Sumpter, have already commenced busi
ness in the new town.
Kason Smith, of Walla Walla, has two
tents 18x36 with 40 beds In them and
they are full every night.
Kenworth & King, of Sumpter, have
started a restaurant in a tent and are
doing a line business.
The population of the town Is about
200, all anxious to build, but the scarcity
of lumber Is a hindrance.
The l.awton Investment company will
give concessions to anyone slatting .1
butcher shop and blacksmith shop at
once.
A petition with 200 signers was for
warded to Washington, I). C, yesterday
asking for a postoltice at l.awton.
The l.awton standard will be issurd
Friday next, F. G. Hull, publisher.
Baker City Democrat.
Rough Riders' Military Ball April J.
The amusement committee of the Sump
ter Rough Riders held a meeting last even
ing in the office of Stntt & Shelton ami
perfected arrangements for a grand mili
tary ball to be given by the troop. The
date was set for Monday, April r6, the
day following Easter. Sub-committees 011
reception, Invitation, decoration, refresh
ment, printing and floor were appointed,
and every detail arranged for making this
tile swellest social event of the season.
Invitations will be extended to the Halter
City military company to attend hi uni
form. Co-operative Litigation Declared OIL
A. Walker says that all litigation re
garding the Co-Operative Mining com
pany, between himself and H. I. Warner,
has been declared off, a compromise hay
ing been reached Monday night. Work,
he says, is now being pushed with re
newed energy, three shifts in the lower
tunnel being worked, where ore has been
encountered.
"The Portland," conducted by Wood
ward 81 Hammond on Mill street, is a
representation of Its name. A visit will
convince any skeptics.
The Smelter Addition Is now on the
market Investigate and get In at first
price. D. Copping, agent, corner Mill
and Sumpter streets.