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About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (July 4, 1900)
Wednpsdav. Julv &, iar THE SUMPTER MINER. i MINING IN THE WEST. How the Human Tides Have Ebbed and Flowed. The opening up and development of the ' western halt of the United States can be , entirely credited to the discovery of gold; , though now that it is opened, many other resources have become of almost as great Importance. It will be of interst to ' note briefly how the Pioneers made their , invasion and conquest of the Great West. It began, of course, with the finding of the vellow mental in 1848, in California, and the stampede to the coast. There were ' three routes by which the locality was reached, vi. The all-water route via Cape Horn, the water and land route via ' the Isthmus of Panama, and the all-laud route across the continent. By one and the other of these, fifty thousand people In one year reached the central California valleys, far too many to find occupation in even their wonderful rich and extensive gold fields. The stream of pioneers and prospectors at once began to spread over the land in all directions. Those going south and east quickly en countered the deserts ot southern Califor nia, Arizona and Nevada, and those going northeast found their path barred by the lava-strewn regions of southeastern Ore gon and northwestern Nevada; and while a few of the hardier and more pr-sisteut slowly penetrated even into those in hospitable lauds and made discoveries of note the great majority went northward up the coast. This resulted first in the opening ot the great ilacer region in north ern California and southwestern Ore gon. From there the human tide swept on down the Willamette valley to the Colum bia, and up the Columbia to north eastern Oregon, where the next halt was made at the marvelous rlJi diggings on the slopes of the Blue Mountains, on the ' headwaters of the John Day, Powder, Malheur, Burnt and Grande Kondr rivers. 'I his was in 185K and 1859, and in these years camethe news of the first discoveries in Colorado, which caused a great stam pede acrdss the plains from the Missouri valley. Thus the mountains were attached simultaneously from both sides. In the1 early sixties, when the surplus population , that had been attracted to the Blue Moun tains placers begin to work eastward up the Columbia and its tributaries, the Salmon and Snake, it was but a tew months until the Idaho mines at Oro Fino, Florence, Warrens, Pierce, Boise' Basin and the Salmon river districts were discovered. The human tide than swept across the continental divide into Montana, resulting in the opening ot the extraordinary dig gings in Grasshopper creek, Alder Gulch, Confederate Gulch and Last Chance, at the mouth ot which now stands the city of Helena. At each step In the journey of the pio neers many settled down as ranchmen and merchants. Everywhere along the route were beautiful valleys capable of produc ing superb crops, which always sold at good prices to the advance guard of min ers. Thus when the two streams of ex plorers trom the east and west met, as they did in southern Montana and eastern ' Idaho, an empire had been won from sav agery, w hich since that day has proven to be the most remarkable miueril region yet known on the globe, not only in extent but in variety of resources. Certain parts of it like Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and much of Utah did not attract the miner at first, because ot the natural aridity of the land water inj abundance being a necessity in the opera tion of placers. But in 1859 came the dis-. covery of the Comstock lode in Nevada, and with a versatility and vigor never be fore displayed by any race of explorers, the American miner turned from gravel digging to quartz mining, from surface work to underground labor, with the re sult that in a decade every part ot the up land region of the west had been explored, , and wherever there was a railroad within 1 reasonable distance or a river which could tloat a freight boat, the miner had busi- j ness for it in the way of transportation for . ore.s out and of machinery and supplies j in.-Theo. F. Van Waymen, K. M., of1 Denver, in American Metal Mining. THOSE DIAMOND MEDALS. 1 Ladies Make a Great Success Socially, and Financially. I The ladies in charge of the work of raising the money with which to buy thA diamond medals for the winning team in ' the rock drilling contest today, report that j they realled 1 sufficient sum for the pur pose from the ice cream festival. Minot ! Austin gave them a ten dollar nugget from his Wlntervllle placers, which In-1 creased the fund very materially. C. H. ' Fenner now owns the nugget. From a social stand point, the festival was one of the pleasantest attalrseer( given in Sumpter. The booth was beau tifully decorated with evergreens, potted 1 plants and bunting, and was hung with I many unine.se lanterns. Keireshments were served In the atternnons and even ings, the tables being attended by Miss Worswick, Miss Walder, Miss Jackson, Misses Gertrude and Kate Moore, all dressed attractively, wearing pretty white aprons and caps. Mrs. ( irlllith acted as cashier. It was the in tention to have' the festival continue V-'v only three days, but the ladies of Sumpter took mi much interest in the at lair and contributed so generously that the supply of cakes and other delicacies were not disposed of In that time, and it was deciJed to keep open house another day. During the entire time the booth was thronged with people and the occassion was one of uninterrupted social enjoyment. But the most gratifying feature In con nection with this event is the fact that every day reports are received here that drilling teams from every camp in eastern Oregon will come to Sumpter to compete for these handsome trophies offered by the ladies. After having fixed the purse at ioo for this contest, Baker City raised it to 52j, after Sumpter offered J J 50, in the hope of drawing the miners to the celebration there. But the ladies of Sumpter have offered a rewatd that they evidently value more highly than Baker's few extra dollars. The thanks of this community are sure ly due to Mrs. Brock, Mrs- Bobbins, Mrs. Dwyer, Mrs. Wallace, the committee in charge, and all the other ladies who w timed so hard in making this enterprise the success it undoubtedly is. General Brass and Iron Founders and Machinists. Baker City Iron Works GhO. F. MCLYNN, Proprietor :::::: Special attention given to repairing and rebuilding all kinds of machinery. Rker ritv. Telephone Red 161 Sumpter w Bottling Works j j j Gagen & Sloan, .Proprietors. j j j j jt Manufacturers of all kinds of car bonated drinks and ciders. Or ders tilled and shipped on short notice. J JH Jt JL Jt SUMPTER, OREGON .THE. Union Smelter Mfe Co. OF ST. LOUIS. MO. Our Sumpter. Oregon, Plant of From K to 40 Tons Daily Capacity is Now Ready For Operation. A spur of the Sumpter Valley Hailway Company and easy wagon roads facilitate the delivery ot ores right at the Smelter. Ownets or controllers ot Sulphide, Carbonate and Oxide ores, who can contract lor their delivery in lots ot 10 tons at least, are requested to torward to us irom 100 to 150 pound" representing the average character and values of the ores. Such samples will be nnalved and assayed bv our analvlicaUhemlst tree of charge, for the purpose ot establishing the- value ol the corresponding ores to us, and lor the guidance ol their owners. Our treatment charge, com paratively moderate, will be goverened bv the special adaptability or de sirableness ot the respective ores lor our purposes. I he product ot our Smelter will be handled by the First Bank ot Sumpter and payments tor ores accepted bv us will In- inadi thiougli the same channel. Special rates of treatment charges will be made to parties In position to ioutra.t fot a steady and large supply ot desirable ores. SAMPLES AND CORRESPONDENCE SOLICITED The Union Smelter Mfg. Co. S l.ocl SUMPTER, OREGON Lock Box P II. MHNIIMm, Sei'v. WOLFF & ZWICKER IRON WORKS PORTLAND, OREGON. REPRESENTED BY F. M. WADE. Manufacturers of all classes of Machinery, in cluding Crushers, Stamp Mills, Hoists, Boilers, Pumps, Air Compressors, Water Wheels, Etc. Riveted Steel Water Pipe a Specialty. Cut, Punched and Rolled for Riveting at Destination, or made up Complete jt jt PLANS AND ESTIMATES FURNISHED Mom- Room Mom- Goods Since the removal of the Post Ollice, giving us the entire use ot the store room, I have mater ially added to the stoik a New and Fresh line ol . j j j r Dry Goods, Fancy Goods, Clothing, Hats, Shoes, Etc. A belter opportunity is afforded us to handle the trade, and our CASH PRICES have proven a drawing crrd since the- CASH SYSI'EM was Inaugurated j Smcrtwir lu IC.ilil.-r ft llawlrt. W. K. IIAWLEY. Eureka Feed & Livery Company J. L. SULLIVAN, Manager. Horses Boarded by the day or Month. First class turn-outs and saddle horses. Our .spec ialty is the quick and safe delivery of freight and passengers to any and all points. 2ft HAY AND GRAIN FOR SALE-K 1 1