THE SUMPTER MINER.
Wednesday, August 8, igoo
SUMPTER UNDERATED.
Views of a Spokane Capitalist
Who Has Investigated.
"Yes, Spokane capital Is going Into
other things besides mines in the neigh
boring tributary states," said Robert E.
Strahorn, who has returned from his sec
ond recent trip to Sumpter, Oregon. "Of
course, almost everybody knows that
General Warren started Sumpter on the
high road toward its rectntboom, through
his towusite operations. Then VV. L. Vin
son took In one of the finest electric light
plants in the Northwest; later a large
lumber mill, and finally supplied a 575,000
gravity water system. Just now a Spo
kane gentleman is arranging to build .1
$40,000 hotel.
"After having a mining man, in whom 1
have great confidence, look the Sumpter
country over carefully, to satisfy me that
certain of the tributary mines were per
manent, I concluded to purchase the water
works mentioned. Then making two
trips with my attorney, R. J. Danson, to
straighten out the legal troubles, we took
all the bonds and stock, held a meeting of
the company and were not too modest to
elect a Spokane management. With a
few finishing touches, which we are now
giving, the plant will be a model one in
every respect.
"The supply Is derived by perpetual
rights to all the waters of two clear, cold
mountain streams about three miles above
the city (absolutely the only supply avail
able), which streams are consolidated and
the waters led dovn through a main con
duit 12 Inches in dl muter to a million
gallon reservoir blasted from the solid
rock In the mountain side, 107 feet above
and half a mile distant from the business
center, through which it is distributed by
about three miles of best quality 10, 8 and
6-inch steel m tins and necessary laterals.
The 30-year franchise and contract with
the city is an unusually favorable one.
On the other hand, the citizens are very
proud of the plant, patronize it liberally,
and with the extensions we are now
putting in, the earnings promise to
steadily increase.
"I looked over the country down there
pretty thoroughly myself, and was con
stantly impressed with the fact that it is
much underrated on the outside. Things
Jo not move in Oregon as they do in our
state, or northern Idaho, and if they were
to discover a fraclhn of Sumpter's wealth
in quartz in any corner of Alaska, Seattle
could keep up that stampede for several
years more at a stretch. Two or three
great veins cut the country for miles, and
at least half a dozen mills are demon
strating that they have unusually wide
and continuous shoots of free gold ores ot
good average value.
"Some of the ores are fabulously rich,
but these need not be taken into account.
It is enough to know that several of the
properties can save such values as $10 to
1 20 per ton In veins six to twelve feet
wide to a depth of from 500 to 800 feet.
Three new mills, from 10 to 20 stamps
each, are being installed, and much heavy
machinery is going in for deep sinking.
This is on the prominent properties of
proved value.
"There Is also great activity in opening
newer mines, some of which make very
handsome showings. Some very tine
topper ores are being found, said to run
up to 20 per cent copper and a little silver
and gold.
"Placer mining is yielding about the
usual returns, and there is plenty of good
ground there to turn out fortunes every
year for a dozen years. A f 1200 nugget
was found in one of the claims during our
visit. This would create a stir In the
Klondike, but not In Oregon, where min
ing is conducted in comfort the year round,
in sight of schools, churches, railroads,
and all the conveniences that close contact
with civilization brings.
"I have also been surprised at the other
resources down around Sumpter. Fine
farms and hay ranches, and in some cases
even orchards, run right up to the moun
tains on which often at very low eleva
tions are the mines. Stock-raising Is a
big business. One Hoc l of 7000 sheep
were grazing almost in sight of Sumpter,
and a great cattle country stretches off
south and southwest for hundreds of
miles. Lumbering Is another important
industry. The Sumpter Valley railroad
was extended 32 miles to tap the superb
forests west of Hake City, and a number
of mills, one with 1 50,000 feet daily ca
pacity, all drawing their supply from the j
Immediate vicinity of bumpier.
"All these industries are building up a
fine, permanent business at such towns as
Sumpter, Prairie City, Granite, Canyon
City and Susanvllle; the banking, for
warding and other heavy business natu
rally being done at the railway terminus
at Sumpter. There is little being done in
real estate, the boom period having gone
by, and all hands now facing the propo
sition of developing the country on gooJ,
safe lines. Sumpter enjoys the unique
distinction of being the only incorporated
city of anything like 3000 inhabitants in
the Northwest that lus no municipal
debt.
"Considering that it hasa well equipped
fire 'department, two paved streets, public
schools, enjoys the luxury of such electric
light and .vater systems as I have men
tioned, and has made a start at sewrrage, j
its city government could give ours in 1
this part of the country some good point
eis."
Railroad From California to Oregon.
Preliminaries are belli e arranged for the
iMt.l m lIiMi rtf iiMtii ttita t( rtllrtifl In !
WUIIlltlillVII ii ii nvn llllt. I'l IIIIIIUIIU III
Oregon, to extend from the Kalamathon,
northern California, to Kalamath Palls,
southern Oregon, a distance of 84 miles.
W. W. Thompson, of Chicago, is one of
the promoters. The road Is to cost oyer
52,000,000, equipped with first-class rolling
stock and heavy locomotives. The capi
tal is to come entirely from the east, the
promotors denying emphatically any con
nection with the Southern Pacific, not
withstanding the reports that the big
California system was behind it. Rights
of way have been secured for nearly the
entire distance, only a few small tracts
which belong to estates being excepted.
Condemnatory proceedings are to be in
stituted in regard to these, so no delay
from them is anticipated. The survey of
the line follows up the Kalamath river
from Kalamathon to Jenny creek, and
thence across some level table lands to
the river again, by which it reaches its
terminus at the county seat of Kalamath
county. The road will open tin one of the !
largest bodies of sugar pine in America,
one tract alone embodying over 1,500,000
acres. Large tracts of ricli farming land will
also be brought into connection witli the
markets of the world. Kalamath county
citizens have encouraged the building of
the line by subsidies, in the shape of
lands to the value of $17,000, while much
of the right of way lias also been donated
by land owners, who realize the import
ance of the enterprise. A big tourist
travel is expected next summer, as Crater
lake lies but a short distance awav from
the line; while some of the scenery in'that
portion of the Cascade mountains excels
in grandeur and beauty that of any other
portion of the continent. Oregnniau.
Water Nolle.
The lawn sprinkling hours are from 6
to i) o'clock p. m. Consumers are res
tricted to their own grounds, and will not
be permitted to sprinkle the public streets.
Running water through an open hose at
any other hour than those mentioned,
cannot be allowed. The water will be
"shut off" whenever these rates are vio
lated. SUMPTER WATER CO.
Reserved for
LAWTON INVESTMENT
COMPANY.
THE WONDER
GKO. W. WEIGANI),
I'KOPRIIiTOW.
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
A complete stock of Dry Goods, Ladies and Men's Furnishings, Hoots,
Shoes, Hats and Clothing.
THE WONDER, BOURNE, OREGON
THK BEST APPOINT!:!).
S Pharmacy
IN liASTKKN OKI-CON.
No prescription too difficult to till.
(Service day or night.)
A complete line of druggists sundries, stationery and toilet articles.
The Sumpter Drug Co.
L. C. EDWARDS, MANAOBk. SUMPTER, OREGON.
fez
- V VWii 1
A. P. GOSS, President
A. J. GOSS, Cashier
S Bank of Sumpter 3
Tunilcti Cin(il Btnklri luilnm
Interest Allowed on Time Deposits
Drafts drawn on all parts of the world. Special attention to collections.
Safety Deposit hoses lor rent.
SUMPTER, OREGON
'''' '''V'4
CAPITAL
Barber Shop
ii Baths
A. (. Davidson, MtiMgtr
CMUD Dttiw, Oprralor
Operated in Connection
with Capital Hotel.
First-Class Work. Porce
lain Bath Tubs
SumpUr, Oregon
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