vvednesday, December 26, 100
THE SUMPTER MINER
11
DREDGING FOR GOLD.
Practical Suggestionsas to How
to Make it Pay.
Many men whose opinions are trust
worthy on other subjects are entirely un
able to form a sane or just conclusion on
matters connected with gold. Many, If
not most, men also are inclined to put a
better face on the question than usually
exlsts.and the sight of a few yellow colors
leads them at once to figure out a bonan
za. If Investors would only bring to bear
on gold mining the same prudence and
business sense which is necessary in any
other Business, It would greatly reduce the
number of failures. The Investor has to
guard against two clusses of evil advice.
One Is that of the professional swindler
who "promotes" the property for the sole
purpose of transmitting the funds of the
subscribers into his own pocket, and the
other is the well-meaning man who, per
haps, has a fairly good thing if properly
worked, but who has more slf-confldence
than experience and skill.
The ground should be surveyed If not
accurately at least approximately and a
map prepared on which may be recorded
the positions of the test-pits, the area
available, and the extent of the ground
worked every season. Test-pits should be
sunk at sufficiently frequent intervals to
place the nature of the ground beyond
conjecture. The examination should show
the full depth of the gravel, the nature of
the bedrock, if any, and the distribution
of the values; whether they are greatest
at the surface, In layers, or on the bottom.
Values are never uniformly distributed,
and nothing is more deceptive than a
glib statement of so much per cubic yard.
The nature of the material should also
be ascertained, and this not only on the
surface. The sizes and percentages of the
gravel, from coarsest to finest, should be
measured. This is necessary to determine
the character of screens to be used, or
whether any at all are necessary. The
action of the gravel while being washed
or sluiced should be experimentally deter
mined. Some gravels wash very freely;
others, again, are of a clayey or stlckey
nature, often with large boulders, which
increase the difficulty of working. The
condition of water supply Is most Import
ant. Water Is essential to the recovery
of gold, and its presence in suitable quan
tities Is a great desideratum.
The disposition of tailings is a subject
which must be carefully studied. Unless
the dredge can get rid of all material pass
ed through without choking or piling up,
in such a manner as to interrupt Its work,
it Is liable to be stopped, and the entire
enterprise brought to a standstill until the
difficulty can be remedied. The configura
tion of the ground, the character of the
material, the depth of the water, and the
heighth of ground worked above water,
all enter into the question and should be
carefully determined. As to the gold it
self, the question Is threefold. There are
to be considered, first, the character of the
gold; second, its value per cubic yard of
material handled; third, the best method
of saving It. On the satisfactory deter
mination of these points the whole success
of the enterprise depends, and here long
experience and sound judgment are abso
lutely necessary. The gold may be fin:
or coarse, of all degrees, and may be easy
to save or difficult to save, and the most
effective method of saving It depends up
on Its character. There Is no new discov
ery for gold saving. All known methods
depend on one thing for their successful
action, namely, the great specific gravity
of gold as compared with the gravel.
Their separation can be effected only by
washing with water, aided sometimes by
amalgamation, but the methods of wash
ing are subject to wide variation. Cas
sler's Magazine.
Good Copper Ore Around Burkcmont.
Mr. John W. Cliff, mining man of Des
Moines, Iowa, who Is spending a few
days in Baker City, said to a reporter this
merning: "I have just come through the
mineral belt of Nevada, your neighboring
state, where I found many rich properties
and indications of many more both In
gold and copper. I find here the same
general belt of minerals and believe It ex
tends on through to the north. I consider
this the richest mineral country in the
world and with a great future before it,
little dreamed of even by the residents
here. Just think, the entire population of
Nevada does not equal one-half the popu
lation of a single county in Iowa that I
can name, and one-half our people know
nothing of this great country out here.
Yesterday I visited the mines in the vi
cinity of Burkemont to the northeast of
Raker. I was surprised and delighted
with what I found there. Rich copper
and gold properties abound. I am con
vinced that you do not yet know your own
wealth In copper, and before many years
expire you will have at the door of linker
City as great copper producing mines as
the world has ever seen. I am coming
back to this country before long, as my
self and friends are already Interested
here." Republican.
Trust Absorbs Guggenhcin Smelters.
A New York press dispatch, dated the
10th instant, says: Announcement was
made today of the proposed absorption of '
the Guggenheim silver smelting plants by '
the American Smelting and Keliuing com-:
pany. To accomplish this the stock-1
holders of the latter company will be :
asked to assent to the proposition that the
capital be increased from $55,000,000 to j
1 100,000,000. Of tills amount 515,000,000 1
will be added to the working capital of the 1
company. Umclals of the smelting com
pany decline to make known how much
it has been agreed to pay for the Guggen
heim property, but the inference permitted
to be drawn was that the Guggeuheims
received something like the difference be
tween (55,000,000 and (100,000,000, less
the (15,000,000, which it is proposed to
utilize for extra working capital. It was
also stated that none of the new stock
would be offered for sale. It is expected
that the stockholders of the smelting
company will hold a special meeting
within the next two weeks to ratify the
action of the directors.
Ten Feet Average $14.40 in Gold.
Manager R. W. McMitchell.nf the Gold
King company, returned from the mines
this morning and has a splendid reoort to
make. The property of the company con
sists of two claims on Quartz creek, near
the Van Anda and two claims 011 Mill
creek, near the Red Hoy. All of the claims
make a good showing. Mr. McMltchell,
who has just completed this year's assess
ment work on the Golden Chariot claims,
on Quartz creek, said to a reporter this
merning: "Yes, our work for tills year
Is all done and I am more than satisfied.
We have opened a oo-foot ledge which
contain veins of rich ore. The whole
ledge to a depth of ten feet averages across
its face better than (14.40 to the ton in
gold. Next year we will work the prop
erty for all there is in It." The officers
and directors of the company are as fol
lews: President, Dr. b. K. McDaniels;
secretary and treasurer, Dr.R. R. Meyers;
directors, J. Goodwin, V. mldner, M.
Wright, Clias. Condon. Republican.
Notice of Dissolution of Partnership.
Notice Is hereby given that the partner
ship existing between Ed Turk and Ml
not Austin, under the style of Austin
Meat company, was dissolved on October
29, looo, and said Minot Austin has as
sumed sole control of said business.
MINOT AUSTIN.
Sumptcr, December 15, 1000.
-HOBSON MERCANTILE COMPANY:
New Departures
In Sumpter Merchandising
REALIZING the need of a better assortment of better
stuff and up-to-the-minute styles, we are as rap
idly as possible adding lines of new things never before
show in these parts. All this new stuff and prices
away on a vacation.
:DRESS GOOD:
What do you want in Dress Goods? We may have
just what you have been worrying about. The weaves
are new and the prices are enough or we wouldn't
mention it.
Mohair Suitings
Thr Now Oforj Orm j, ltron nn.l
Oitors. 6 Inches wlJo. nnj the ri'i-u-Urli.yiklnJ
PER YARD $1.00
Scotch Suitings
Extra llo.ivy (or NnlnyD.ty Skill, jC
Inclios w Mi'
PER YARD $2.75
Black Periola
I iirlv-l'iHir Indies uIJi. rxtr.i lit'.ivv
wrlKlil. asvirleJ Ji'sIkhs. IiiIioJuc
toi) I'tlcc
PER YARD $1.50
Underskirts
Wont .m.1 Silk Mown, rmnrtrd cntoi
IliilrJ Hound-, llk rrJ Ihinuelioul,
worth one dollar mote than the price
$4.60
Mercerized Sateen
Ur.ll hi'.tvy.look liki Mlln, extra iorJ
l llitiiiH'i. nsMiitrJ U'litj-tliinnJ colon.
S.tU' I'llcc
$2.25
Ladies' Jackets
An i-nilti-ly new loi ol 1e In .l.iket
nn.l lion Lo.ilt. Ilhck, Miulr, distort
niij llttlil nn. I he tnikrrwir will
litK In love innsl.li'Ml'lt' money on
lot ol time mi J ) oil ir the hrneht.
THE LOWEST
DECREE
or PRICE
t
i
HOBSON
MERCANTILE
COMPANY
i THE HIOHEST
P OECREE
J OF MERIT
'
THE WONDER
GEO. W. WKIGAND,
I'KOI'KII-TOK.
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
A complete stock of Dry Goods, Ladles mid Men's Furnishings, Hoots,
Shoes, Hats and ClothiiiK.
THE WONDER, BOURNE, OREGON
THE
Sumpter Forwarding Co.
General Storage, Commission and Forwarding.
Warehouse and office, S. V. Track
SUMPTER, OREGON.
THE GEM SALOON
A. J. STINSON, Prop.
(Successor to Snyde & Stlnsou)
Only the Best Brands of Liquors Served Over the Bar' I
SUMPTER,
OREGON
Dixon, Borgeson & Co.
s
I t X
Show Gases
ttt VMVT
n v .
'SydSiSKk
FRONT ST., COR. WASHINGTON
JIAVIiUIRS' AMI Dl'UO-
(lists' Wall Casus &
1IANK lUIUKIS.
PORTLAND, ORE.