THE SUMPTER MINER
VOL. II.
SUMPTER. OREGON, JUNE 26. 1901
NO. 42
TONIC FOR THE TOWN
R. E. STRAHORN PROPOSES TWO
IMPORTANT ENTERPRISES.
Ill Give Money Toward the Construc
tion of a Road to Burnt River and
Will Buy School District Bend for
the Erection of a Brick Building Im
provements In the Water System to
Be Made Thb Season.
R. . Strahorn, who owns tho wntor
system, arrived in town several days
since. His presence hero at this time,
as usual, is an invigorating tonic for the
entire community. Ho expresses the
greatest confidence in Sumpter and says
that tho extension of tho railroad is go
ing to beiiQfit tho town greatly, because
it will eventually connect us with tho
farming and stock raising country to tho
southwest, which is one of our resources
entirely too much ncglocted at present,
in tho all absorbing pursuit of the yellow
metal.
But Mr. Strahorn is not a vague
theorist, a mora advisor. Ho suggests
two important enterprises which Hump
tor should consummate without delay.
Ho wants a wagon road constructed to
tho farming sections of Burnt rlvor nndja
brick school iiouso built hero. Ho offers
to give as much money for tho road as
any other individual or corporation and
to buy the school district bonds, issued
for the purpose of erecting tho building,
paying par for tho bonds, that shall
draw only flvo per cent interest. Now,
here are two propositions wortli con
sidering. Regarding tho advantages of that
wagon road, there can be but one opin
ion. They have frequently been pointed
out in thoso columns. It is stated that
tho nearest point can be reached in a
distance of twelve miles, with several
miles of road already constructed on
each-end. If this thoroughfare is con
structed thero is no doubt but what
Sumpter will secure tho trade of that
section, for tho all potent reason that
here the farmers will find a ready mar
ket for their produce, and hero only, a
market without competition or limit. It
is further stated that the county authori
ties have informed the residents of the
Powder river valley that they must se
cure an outlet in this direction, as the
county cannot longer keep in repair the
forty-five miles of expensive road to
Baker City.
In talking this matter over with busi
ness men, Mr. Strahorn stated that the
only obstaclo in placing Sumpter securi
ties in the east is found in the fact that
this is exclusively a mining camp, and
that to the eastern mind agricultural
resources give to a town the desired
permanence and stability. A road to
Burnt river valley will remove this one
obstacle.
Mayor Bobbins has become greatly in
terested in the enterprise and says that
aa soon as the Fourth of July festivities
are over, a meeting of the Business
Men's league will be called to tackle the
job. Not only the wagon road, but a
telephone line must be constructed, mail
routes and stage lines established.
Regarding the school building, Mr.
Strahorn is equally urgent in his desire
to have it erected, and convincing in his
reasons for believing it will benefit
Sumpter. In the first place, a building
to cost, say $12,000, will mean a tax on
the district of only $000 a year, a mere
bagatel, less by three or four times than
tho rent would be for buildings with no
conveniences whatever. Sultablo build
ings and a good school system will at
tract farmers, stockmen nnd miners to
Sumpter as a placo for a home. Ho says
that in each of bIx western towns lu
which he is interested and which have
taken his advice to givo the best possible
educational advantages, ho can name
one man who bus been attracted thither
by the schools who has been of far moro
value to the town than tho extra expense
of tho school building ; besides scores of
others whoso aggregate investments
would pay tho cost incurred a dozen
times over.
Mr. Strahorn says that his wutor sup
ply for tho system here is abundant.
Ho has bought 2260 feet of pipe with
which to replace the Mill street main,
from Granite to the southern. railway
crossing, being an extension of 400 feet.
For extensions on other stroots, notably
Bonanza, Auburn unii Granite, 5000
feet nro now en route hero, nil being con
verse lock joint plo. These improve
ments wiil be made during tho present
summer. A fence will be built around
the resorvoir, work beginning in u few
days.
Prosperous Burnt River Farmers.
Dr. Brock nmdo a trip through tho
Rurnt river country this week, spending
two days thero. Ho says thero is a re
markably prosperous farming commu
nity in that section, tho trade of which
by rights belongs to Sumpter, but that
there is no uso trying to sccuro it until
good roads are constructed. Ho came
home by way of Unity nnd Whitney and
reorts tho roads between thoso two
points as almost impassable Tho county
bus recently finished flvo miles of road
on this route, but tho remaining portion
of tho distance rondors the whole prac
tically useless.
David Copping Receives a Decoration.
David Copping was the surprised re
cipient a few days since of a handsome
silver medal souvenir, which canio to
him from tho Canadian government, in
honor of having served In one of Cana
da's military companies during tho Fe
nian raid in 1870. The medal is attached
ton heavy silk badgo nnd bears a splendid
likeness of the late Queen in raised
work on ono side, whilu tho other side is
properly inscribed, showing tho servico
performed by which tho medal is merit
ed, also its owner's name.
Mark Hanna's Nephew Here.
John P. Han lift, of Cincinnati, nephew
of Senator Mark Hanna, accompanied
by Colonel James A. Panting, of tho Gold
Hill mine, east of Baker City, came up
on a business and sight-soeing trip last
Saturday. Secretary James Flood, of
the Golconda, mot them here and es
corted them to his quarters at the mine,
from which point they could easily visit
any of the other working properties in
tho Cracker district.
Will Study Mining Practically.
Professor Tyng and wifo, of Pullman,
Washington, were arrivals on last Satur
day's morning train, en route to the
Concord mine, where they will spend
two or three weeks of their school vaca
tion. The professor is associated with
the mining department of the Washing
ton State Agricultural college, of Pull
man. Several of the students will join
them and take advantage of the oppor
tunities offered in practical mining as
carried on-In the district mentioned.
FOURTH AT SUMPTER.
Attractive Program For That
Day Completed.
The committcs in clmrgo of tho sever
al dopartmonts of tho Fourth of July
celebration have about completed ar
rangements. Today tho executive com
mittee finished the work of formulat
ing the program. It has been decided
that tho whole shall bo "pulled off" in
tho center of the business portion of
town, which leaves no reason for com
plaint from nny soirrco. Tho literary
and musical exercises will be held at
the corner of Granite nnd Mill streets,
ns will also tho rock drilling contest.
Tho hoso mrcs will boon Mill street and
tho tournament on Granite.
Tho grand parade will start on Its
march at 10 o'clock, under tho direction
of Mayor J. H. Bobbins, presld'out of tho
day. Tho procession will disband at
Granite and Mill, where immediately
thereafter Mrs. W. R. Hawloy will road
tho Declaration of Independence, Mrs.
Joseph F. Keller will recito "A Legion
on Gettysburg," and tho oration of tho
day by a spellbinder not yet selected
will bo delivered, interspersed with band
and vocal music, under tho direction of
Mrs. White, Mrs. Swan nnd Mrs. Kuh
lor. Tho principal event of tho day, the
rock drilling contest, will bo started at
1 :30 p. m. The prices have not yet
lieon dellnitoly determined, but tho com
mittee declares that they will not bo
less thun $250 for tho first nnd $50 for
tho second. Tho committee to mnku tho
award will be A. J. Rtinson, Joe Mikel
nnd one other, not yet nnmed.
Following this tins wet test hoso
and hub to hub races will bo run, with
a $15 purse for each, Messrs. Bellinger,
Dumphy nud Tedrnwo committee.
For tho egg, sack nnd three-leg race
the prizes will be for each, two dollars
for tho first; one dollar, second; fifty
cents, third, Messrs. Hllller Kwlggett
and Ingrum, judges. ,
The horse tournament will bo nu at
tractive novelty for this section. Prizes
of $35 nnd $15 are offered for this event;
Messrs. McKwon, Kitchen nnd Brown
judges, starters and timers.
In the evening thero will ho greased
pole climbing and pig catching contests
and a band concert. A lot, donated by
W. G. Caldcr, is the price offered for the
victor in tho first and tho pig for the
cecond.
The committee on decoration consists
of Mrs. Swan, Mrs. Yerger and Mrs.
tang.
Much interest is being manifested in
tho voting contest for the Goddess of
Liberty. Today at noon the race seem
ed to bo between Miss Hello Cushniun,
Miss Jessie Greenlee and Miss Eugenin
Koup, all having over 200 votes, the
first leading with 205. It is rumored
around tho polling place that a syndi
cate has been organized to put plenty of
money Into the cumpaign at the last
moment and elect Miss Carmen Stod
dard. Troop B Drilling Daily.
Captain T. K. Muir, of Troop B, the
"Sumpter Rough Riders," O. N. G., ar
rived from Portland Monday and will
remain with the troop until after the
military encampment at La Grande,
which' commences July 6th. The caval
ry company will leave here on the morn
ing of Mint date, riding over the moun
tains to North Powder nnd thence down
the level valley to ta Grande, returning
five days later by way of Baker City.
The members of tho troop nro drilling
every evening preparatory for tho cele
bration ot tho Fourth hero and tho on
enmpmenit following.
RICH STRIKE ON THE SNAKE.
Owner Says it Runs From $8 to $18 In
Gold Per Cubic Foot.
Many reports of a ricli find ot placer
gold on tho Oregon side of Snnko river
have been told ami published during tho
past weok. A letter received by Tiir
Minkh from J. 11. Brown, who Is in that
vicinity, confirms tho truth of tho moro
reasonable of these reports. The Baker
City Democrat of this morning publishes
the first detailed account of tho strike,
in an Interview with tho owner ot the
ground, W W. Oliver. It says:
Mr Oliver has just returned from a
visit to the new strike. Ho says that it
is located on tho Big Bend of Snnko riv
er, on tho Oregon side of tho stream, and
alioutninu miles from Palmer station on
the O. R. & N., which is the nearest
railroad station.
The ground is nil lieing located ns pla
cer ground but it is not placer gold that
is found there.
According to Mr. Oliver, there la
nothing like it in tho country and at first
ho was of the opinion that nothing of a
similar nature hud over been found in
nny other country, but ho has since
learned that n find in every way tesem
bling this was uncovered in south Africa
some years ago. What they find in this
new discovery is not placer gold, but
sulphite ore mingled with day. It Is
found first about (M) feet from the surfaco,
which is tho lowest point reached so far.
Tho substance, including tho clay, runs
from $H to $1H er ton. From a double
handful of the clay uliout a tea
sHmufiil of sulphites is often obtained ;
it hardly ever is lees than that, or some
times it is us much ps n tnhlespoonful.
The sulphites are found in three layers,
mingled with the clay, and while in some
places it Is richer thun others, Mr. Oli
ver suys the uverage is as above stated.
The extent of the deoslt is not known
for the reason that no pronpcctlng of
nny consequence has l-ecn done. Tho
shaft on tho dhcovcry claim is within
fifty feet of Snake river and water was
somen hut troublesome. A five-Inch
pump was sufficient to keep it down so
that the men could work with comfort
and no Inconvenience while sinking the
shaft.
Mr. Oliver fays It is u concentrating
proposition and yet that hardly express
es the idea, because old Nature bus con
centrated the gold in sulphites and all
that the miner will have to do is to get
rid of the clay. Occasionally the clay is
rather hard, almost soapstono, and
might, further back from tho river, bo
quite hard, so that it would ho necessary
to use u crusher, although that is purely
problematical.
In sinking from tho surface a sub
stance Is encountered which has been
termed a false bedrock, it is really a
hurdpun formation iust below u strata
of barren gruvel. No gold values wor
thy of consideration are found above
the (10 foot level.
It is the theory ot thohe who havo ex
amined the country that the formation
is a part of an old river bed.
Between SOU and 400 claims have
been staked out.
A company ot Salt take people, com
posed mainly of O. S. L. men, liave se
cured a large tract of tho land and are
preparing to thoroughly prospect it with
diamond drills and shafts. In the opin
ion ot Mr. Oliver it is a very rich find.
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