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About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1900)
Wednesday, April 4. 1900. THE SUMPTER MINER. TIPS TO PROSPECTORS. Not a Bad Plan to Uk Good Common Hone Sen. In this mining business there is too much money and time wasted in driving tunnels on mineralized stringers to a point of "innocuous desuetude," and in sinking shafts down on small pockets of ore to depths of desperation. There are thou sands of location notices posted on just such kind of mineral showings in the western Cascade mountains and, as a rule, they are poverty stricken or rather poverty strlcking propositions. Mining Is like gambling, in that it is alluring and exciting; and some men follow it with about the same lack of judgment and self abandon that is manifested in bucking the tiger or taking a turn at the roulette wheel. Mining is a trade, and so surrounded with hazardous and speculative conditions, compared to the ordinary brandies of business, that in the absence of any direct knowledge of the mining business itself, or prospecting, it is a pretty good idea to just use good, common horse sense. For Instance, If nn expert or mining engineer tells you that the small stringer will widen out by going in on It, or that the pocket of ore will increase In bulk by going down on it, and that either or both of them will give higher values in the precious metals by going In or down, as the case may be, don't you believe him. In refusing do ing so you will show your good horse sense, If you will pardon the expression; for no one can see any farther into the earth than you can. Of course miners and prospectors will continue to work these small stringers and pockets in the hope that they, will lead to something big, but the experience of all mining camps lias been that the "strike" is never made once in hundreds of times. There is only one pardonable excuse for hanging onto small proposi tions of this kind, and that is in a case where free gold and other of the precious native metals are present. But where the ore is nil base and rebellious there is not one chance in a thousand for the miner or prospector who whittles his time and money away on a stringer or a small pocket of ore. Now, the mining capitalist isn't going to buy any of these stringers or small pockets of ore. He Is looking for large or average bodies of mineral and not ne cessarily high grade; and when these men who sometimes buy mines send their ex perts to examine properties they (the ex perts) go instructed to report on how much ore there Is in sight; to make an average sampling of the mlnerallzeJ body as a whole; to report on timber, water power and accessibility of transportation; that's what the moneyed man wants to know, and that's about all. Of course, country rock, walls of the lode, dip of the vein and Its trend, gouge, etc., may be of Interest to him, but they are no longer matters of detail that enter Into the pur chase of mining properties, and especially average or big mines. What I mean by ore in sight is any big body of mineral that may crop on the sur face or where by development work the ore has been blocked out by a systematic drive of tunnels or shafts. Two weeks ago, in the mining depart ment of the Times, I gave to its many readers an article on "A Pew Pointed Suggestions on Prospecting," and In this sketch I have been telling you what the man .who buys mines want. I will ad mit that there is some money made out of stiineers and small Dockets of ore. It Isn't much of a trick to "wildcat" them for a erubstake or a hundred dollars or so. But If you want to get out of the old rut and make big money in mining, dis card the overalls.and the long whiskers, quit monkeying withsmall mineralized freaks of nature and commence looking for average and big bodies of ore. W. A, Hall in Seattle Times. New Improved Cyanide Proem. Professor S. B. Christy, of the mining department of the University of .Califor nia, has been granted an American patent for a process for the recovery of gold and silver from cyanide solutions by electro lysis. The new process has all the ad vantages of the Siemens & Halske pro cess, so long in successful use in South Africa under Charles Butters, but avoids Its chief difficulty, the necessity for cupell ing an enormous weight of lead cathodes In order to recover the gold from them. As a contribution to the mining industry of California, wherever this new process seems adapted to existing conditions, and provided only that lie lias some guarantee that it will be properly Installed and oper ated, Professor Christy offers to grant a free license for its use anywhere in Cali fornia to any citizen of the state. Al though the new process Is very simple it requites good technical management for its success. Professor Christy does not recommend it for small plants, working Irregularly; he considers the usual pro cess better adapted for these. He recom mends it only for use in large establish ments in continuous operation and under good technical management, l-or these It has the great advantage over all processes yet proposed for the recovery of gold and sliver from cyanide solutions, that It re turns the gold and silver free from admix ture with base metals, and in a pure state ready for the mint, without any auxiliary lire process. Exchange. New Firm of Engineers. C. H. Fennerand Irving Worthlngton, both favorably known here In connection with the Townslte company's engineering department, have formed a partnership and are in the field to do any kind of work in their line, Including underground surveying; being supplied with special instruments for that purpose Situation wanted by a Japanese boy as cook, in private family or mining camp. Enquire at tills oflice. Go to Fenner & Wonhlngton for all kinds of engineering. ADLER'S Crystal Palace, Is now ready for business ....WE CARRY.... Stationery, Books, Inusical Instruments, Pianos, Organs, Etc. Photo Supplies and Peiodicarls. P. O. Box 170. Telephone 373. Granite St., SUMPTER, ORE. WE BUY ALL OUR GOODS IN CARLOAD LOTS WHOLESALE AND RETAIL C. J Johns' Big Store New Spring Goods aw will begin to arrive daily next week, and we can promise the handsomest line of DRESS GOODS ever shown in Sumpter. Men's and Boys' Spring Hats are here now, and others are arriving from time to time. SPECIAL a beautiful Use ot Ladies' Mus line Underwear. Must be seen to be appreciated. The HARDWARE DEPARTMENT has been fuily stocked up again with everything in shelf and heavy hardware, builders' tools, iron and steel and miners' wares; also largest stock of paints, oils, sash, doors and window glass in East ern Oregon. New goods are arriving constantly. C.J.JOHNS, Sumpter STARR & ODELL MINES BOUGHT AND SOU) We are fully equipped to make reports on mines, and can handle prospects or developed mines. Main office, Sumpter, Oregon. Branch Offices, Spokane, Washington, and Portland, OreKou. Cor. Center and North Streets, Sumpter, Oregon. Telephone No. 131. First and Always a FIRST-CLASS HOUSE. Newly Furnished Throughout. Only White Labor Employed. All Outside Rooms. Only Half Block North of Depot. j j THE j j Golden Eagle Hotel 1- BRUCE & FOWLER. Mill Street, Sumpter, Oregon THE BEST APPOINTED. & Pharmacy IN EASTERN OREGON. No prescription too difficult to fill. (Service day or night.) , A complete line of druggists sundries, stationery and toilet articles. j The Sumpter Drug Co. L. C. EDWARDS, MANAGER. SUMPTER, OREGON.