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About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1901)
THE SUMPTER MINER vol n. SUMPTER, OREGON, APRIL 10, 1901 NO. 31 r) SUMPTERITES STRIKE OIL. ARE IN ON A BIG BONANZA COLORADO. IN Story of Ibc Find Soundi Like the "Lost Cabin" Mine Chestnut Mayor Robblns Returns From the Spot and Talks Con servativelyTwo Companies Organized to Develop the Property One in Port land and the Other in Pendleton. Mayor J. H. Robblns returned yesterday from n trip to Colorado and California, after an absence of about a month. When he left here It was known to a few citizens of Sumpter that the object of his trip was to look at some lands supposed to be oil bearing, In the first named state. He was accompanied by F. O. Bucknum, of this city, and Colonel J. H. Raley, a promi nent attorney of Pendleton. An interesting story is found In the bare, unadorned facts relating to the way In which Sumpter citizens "got on to" this oil proposition away down in Colorado. It is one of those fairy-like tales that have become chestnuts when related in connec tion with the "Lost Cabin" mine of song and legend. To cut a long story short, twenty years ago Mr. Bucknum, while engaged on a government survey In that section, learned of the existence of an oil spring, the product of which the few hay ranchers for many miles around used t lubricate their wagons, mowers and other farm machinery. He has kept the field notes taken then, among which there was indicated the location of this spring. Last summer, the local real estate mar ket having become quiet and hearing many gaudy reports of fortunes being made in the oil fields of California, he was re minded of the oil spring he had seen In Colorado twenty years ago. He spoke of the matter to W. H. Mos by, E. Sanderson Smith, Dan Yerger and C.H. Fenner, encouraged him to look Into the matter further. He found the field notes, who drew maps of the country and, accompanied by Mr. Mosby, tarted out several months ago to find the spring. Having been gone several weeks, he returned, bringing with him several gallons of crude oil. They had experienced no difficulty whatever in finding the spring. The ranchers were still using the oil to grease their wagons. They bonded all the land they could get hold of. Mr. Mosby re mained there to secure more options. Mr. Bucknum returned home to finance the deal, which he has succeeded in doing. The whole business has been kept as secret as possible until the present time, when secrecy Is no longer desirable. Mr. Robblns talks freely on the subject. Of course, everyone hereabouts knows that his long suit is conservatism, and that his Inclination is to under estimate rather than to exaggerate the possibilities of any proposition. He says he and Colonel Raley found the conditions there exactly as represent ed by Mr. Bucknum. The spring Is still flowing its five or six gallons of oil a day all geological formations and conditions Indicate the existence of large reservoirs foil In that vicinity. Nothing definite can be known until wells are bored, work n which will begin at an early day. Two companies have been organized to perate there, one consisting of Portland capitalists, headed by J. H. Hawley, who Is also Interested in Alamo, and the other a syndicate of leading business men of Pendleton, represented by Colonel J. H. Raley. Mr. Robblns Is connected with both companies, being president of the former. They have secured all the avail able lands, mostly by actual purchase, hold some under bond and have required con siderable by mineral location. The two companies are acting In harmony and will work together for the purpose of develop ing the oil resources and building up a good town. The location of these fields are not made public yet, for the reason that all of Colorado Is evidently on the ever of a great oil excitement, and some plans should be perfected before the trouble be gins In that district. The seepages on the property are large, and the samples analyzed indicate that it contains about 58 per cent of illuminating oil, 1$ of naptha, and about 25 of asphaltum and residues. The citizens of Sumpter whose names are mentioned above, and perhaps one or two others, are Interested In this proposi tion, which bears a striking resemblance to a gigantic bonanza. "HE HIS OWN QUIETUS MAKES." Mining Man Loses Money and Puts a Ball Through his Heart. S. N. Farris, jr., who owned an interest in the Quebec mine, lost $1700 In a Baker City gambling house last week, and com mitted suicide In consequence, shooting himself through the heart. It Is generally thought that the loss of this amount of money did not seriously embarrass either the company or himself and all his ac quaintances were much surprised to learn of his action. James A. Howard, one of the owners of the Concord, In talking to an East Ore- gonlan reporter about the case, made these Interesting comments. In making the trip from Sumpter to the Red Boy a wpek ago, Mr. Howard had as a com panion, S. N. Farris, jr., who committed suicide at Baker City Thursday morning. Mr. Howard states that Mr. Farris was a bright young man, wealthy and of good family, and one of the last persons he would have suspected would commit sui cide. His one mania was gambling. His father had died only three weeks ago at l.os Angeles, Calif., and to him he had given promises that he would gamble no more. He had lost 11700 gambling with in the past week. Mr. Howard says it was not the loss of the money that led him to commit the rash deed, but the brooding over the fact that his gambling sin seemed to have such a hold upon him that he could not overcome it, and that he had been false to the promise to his father. The Farris syndi cate has spent $40,000 in the district with in the past three months, principally upon the Quebec and Ashley ground, two miles from the Concord. They were reported to be doing more good for the country In the way of devel opment than any other company In the district, outside of the Red Boy. They have a 20-stamp mill on the Quebec ground ready for putting up, at a cost of between $20,000 and $25,000. The Que bec cost Farris and Carr $40,000. They were also to have put up a io-stamp mill on the Ashley ground soon. What effect the death of Farris, senior and junior, will have upon the continuation of the work, is unknown. Private Table Board. I will furnish private board to desiring such, at my residence on street, near Center. Mrs. C. E. worth. a few North Duck- THAT CONCORD STRIKE Large Body of Ore that Aver ages $41.24. There has been much discussion of late regarding a reported rich strike In the Concord. Questioned about the matter this forenoon, Mayor J. H. Robblns, one of the owners, said that there Is more or less truth in the report. He took from his pocket a certificate of nine assays, which averaged $41.24. The lowest one was better than $17 and the highest went $-. Mr, Robblns said that he had learned from his associates that the body of ore Is of large dimensions and that there is therefore no further doubt but what the Concord Is a valuable mine. In another column of the MINER today Is published a story regarding the strike. from the Lawton Standard, which gives the details of this remarkably rich ore body. Mr. Robblns expects to go out to the mine in a few days, possibly tomorrow. He Is not demanding the Missouri proof of the existence of this wealth, but wants to look at It for the good It will do his eyes. Though Mr. Robblns did not say so, It Is is safe to state that a mill will be erected on the Concord this summer. Spring Has Positively Arrived This Time. About a month ago THE MINER an nounced the arrival of spring in the Blue mountains. That was a typographical error, or something of that kind. It look ed like spring and felt like spring, but It was merely a belter than ordinary Imita tion. The paper had hardly gone to press before snow began to fall, and Itcontlnued to descend at frequent Intervals for about three weeks, until List Sunday evening. Monday morning, however, the sun rose bright and clear and shown radlently all day long, melting the foot of snow In all exposed places In a remarkably short time. Yesterday and today this good work has been continued and very little of the pes tlferlous stuff is left on the southern slopes of the mountains. It can be confidently stated now that the genuine, only original spring has finally arrived. Mrs. Rlchen, who has kept an account of the snow fall for the entire winter, says It has amounted to 160 inches. The roads are In an al most Impassable condition and much freight billed to the mines has accumulated in the warehouses here. Secured Money on Forged Paper. J. W. Scott, who has on several occa sions been tried here on petty larceny charges and who has, apparently, a chronic habit of acquiring other people's property without asking or bargaining for it, was brought up again yesterday before Judge Felix, charged by W. S. Winter with obtaining $17.50 in money under false pretense; or in other words on a forged paper. When brought Into court, Scott either pretended to be, or was too drunk to have a hearing, and was con sequently locked up by Chief Rand until sober enough to do business with the judge, who will doubtless put him where he will not trouble this section for a while, at least. Sumpter K. of P. Lodge No. 48. A Knight of Pythias lodge, designated as No. 48, was established in Sumpter Saturday night, with thirty charter mem bers, and a number of other applications on the list. Large delegations of visiting Lnwtnn and tinker City. All night was consumed in the "work," with an hour for re freshments at the Capital hotel at mid night. The following officers were elected and Installed: Past Chancellors, Brig Rnllnntyne, R. L. Nelll, Nell J. Sorenson, D. P. Bradley; chancellor com mander, Seymour H. Bell; vice-chancellor, R. L. Nelll; prelate, Frank Ortchlld; master of work, Hrlg Hllantyne; mas ter at arms, Otto Herlocker; keeper of record and seals, Will Davidson; master of exchequei, H. S. Durgau; master of finance, C. C. Hasche; inner guard, Geo. Baker; outer guard, Percy Jackson; dele gates to the Grand lodge, Brig Hallantyne and R. L. Nell. WILL MOVE TO SAN FRANCISCO. Manager Polndezter of the Liberty Ben Will Have Headquarters There. Paul E. Poludexter, who left here ten days ago for San Francisco, will return this week for a temporary stay, after hav ing accomplished the organization of a large development and exploration com pany among the San Francisco capitalists. It It definitely stated that the object of this company, as Is usual with with such projects, Is to bond, buy, lease or develop mines In any district it may chose, re gardless of state or section, and that the first proposition it will take up, will be tha Liberty Bell Consolidated Mines com pany's property, in the distrlcr situated at Alamo. President C. C. Basche stated last evening that the office of the Liberty Bell company would at once be moved to San Francisco, from which point the official affairs of the company will be supervised. Mr. Poludexter will also be located there as the probable muuager of the new enter prise; the name of which will be some thing like the California and Oregon Ex ploration and Development company. 1 ' 1 John McGulgan Seriouily Injured. Last Friday evening John G. McGui gau, who owns the controlling interest In the Alamo mine, fell from a fourth story window in the Imperial hotel at Portland, striking a glass skylight and fracturing his skull. First reports were to the effect that he could not recover, but Sunday night it was stated that he was then rest ing quietly and that he had about an even chance for his life. No details of the accident have been received here, fur ther than that he had heen doing business with a party of gentlemen and as they left his room, he sat In the window and a few moments later fell. It was supposed that he was overcome by dizziness. Mr. McGulgan has many friends here who were pained to hear of the accident and who sincerely hope for his recovery. Oculist's Notice. Dr. J. W. Vogel announces that ha will be in Sumpter Monday, April 22, to meet his patrons whose eyes need atten tion. See him him at the Capital hotel. Strout, assayer, 361 Bennett Ave., Crip ple Creek, established In Colorado in 1876, gold (crucible assay), 50c; gold and silver, 75c; gold, silver, copper, $1.50; forty yean practice. Miss Richardson,the milllner.announces that from the latter part of this week she will be constantly receiving new pattern hats every few days throughout tht stason. The large and commodious club roomi of Dunphy & Gertridge are headquarters for mining and commercial men. I brothers were present from mriTr iiiiimi,iiiiiiH'iHrntiiiif;i7iiii i,m j