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.