Wednesday, February n, 1903
THE SUMPThR MINER
5
IMPROVEMENTS ON
OLD PROCESSES.
In Time One Hundred Per
Cent of Noble Metals Will
be Saved.
Forty years ago .the pick and pan
saved probably forty per cent of the
gold in material the miner handled with
much toll and many disappointments.
Modern methods have changed this so
that with the stamp mill and amalgam
plates the modern miner is plugging
away day and night to the tuno of a
saving of only about seventy-live per
cent of the gold values that we ought to
get.
In other words, we put a gold dollar
in at one end of the mill, and when it
comes out at the other it is only seventy
five cents. We are just as fooiish and
short-sighted as were those other miners
forty years ago, and twenty years from
to-day we shall be the laughing stock of
miners yet to come.
Already the first important improve
ment over the stamp mill and amalga
mating plates has come in the form of
the cyanide process, which saves from
ninety-five to ninety-seven per cent of
the values, and even this process must
be improved.
A system of treating ores is coming
and it is probably very near at hand
which will save absolutely 100 per cent.,
and even then our process will not be
perfect, for a big reduction in the ex
pense of operating must come, too.
Practical efforts in this direction have
already been made, and there are now
on tho market and in actual operation
grinding machines which unquestion
ably are better than stamp niillB. They
do the work better, give you a dry
powder, and save the loss of slimes.
They need not be closed down so
often for repairs, they save energy. But
110 practical mining man has time even
to look at them, lie regards his time
honored stamp mill as the essence of
perfection, and says the others are "only
for books."
The same man, until a very few years
ago, had also a poor opinion of tiie
cyanide process, and declared it was
merely the dream of some "city chemist"
and would not pan out.
Despite this reluctance to change,
however, mining methods to-day are
safely established on a commercially
profitable basis. On the part of the
capitalist, the man who really makes
the mine, there is growing a disposition
to accord more resect to the numerous
claims to improvement which are being
advanced, and the next five years will
doubtless witness tho introduction of
some new aud greatly improved
method.
Ten years ago (0 ore everywhere, and
in some camps f 12 ore was thrown aside
as utterly worthless. To-day we have a
number of mines operating steadily and
paying large dividends from the treat
ment of ore that runs only $2 in gold to
the ton.
And all over the great west the waste
dumps of old mines are now being work
d at even greater profit than was de
rived by the original company a fact
that reflects instantly the progress re
sulting from the experiments of the last
decade. Exchange.
Vud Scientific Knowledge.
The earliest data respecting mining
shows that the necessity of engineering
skill was recognized in the pursuit of
the business. The few copies of Agri
cola extant in its ancient parchment
binding has many rude wood cuts show
ing men at work underground, with en
gineers engaged in taking levels or es
tablishing angles by means of plummet
and level. Some of these cuts also show
tho methods of timbering employed in
those "early days." In most cases the
timbers wero not framed, but wero
selected and cut with tho forked limbs.
These were used as posts which wero
employed to support caps laid on the
fork. None of these timbers appear to
have been framed.
REVOLUTION IN METALLURGY
Procen For Treatment of Copper sod
Other Sulphide Ores.
It is reported that a process has been
perfected for tho treatment of copper
and other sulphide ores which, accord
ing to experts, will bring about a
revolution in molnllurgv.
Tho now method will permit of tho
opening up of hundreds of low-grade
copper mines, which have been lying
dorment because of the hitherto pro
hibitive cost of operation.
Former Superintendent Knox of the
East Pittsburg Gas company, is tho In
ventor of the new process and tho re
presentative, George Westinghouso, has
already Invested $2,000,000 in the
system.
Tho method does away witli the pre
liminary roasting of the coppor ore,
which not only is expensive treatment,
but one which kills all vcgltation near
tho smelters. Mining and Scientific
Press.
Treat Seventy Cent Tailing!.
An index of what tho cyanide process
is doing for the development and
operation of Black Hills, South Dakota,
mines is found in the fact that seventy
cent tailings are being treated direct
from some of the mills of the Home-
stake Co., at a good profit. It 1b expect
ed that a still further reduction in cost
of treatment will be made.
Help Build Up The Vest.
The low rates from the east to the
west and the northwest, Febuary 16 to
April 30, will undoubtedly bring out
thousands ot settlers. Where they will
go is largely a question of inducement.
If you are interested in securing any
eastern people for your section of the
west, send their names and addresses
to the undersigned. All the facta
and figures about the trip will
be promptly sent them. II. S.
Howe, General Agent, Chicago, Mil
waukee & St. Paul Railway, 134 Third
Street, Portland, Ore.
Timber and Homestead Filings.
Timber and homestead filings, as well
as final proofs, can be made before
Charles II. Chance, United States com
missioner, office in First Bank of Sump
ter building, Sumpter, thus saving ap
plicants expense of a trip to La Grande.
HtmboL..
-Restaurant
anb
Co&ging
!ouse.
OPEN ALL NIGHT
THE BEST SERVICE
IN TOWN
ott)c 8c (Brant,
proprietors
ZTear Depot
Sumpter, Oregon
DO YOU WANT TO SELL ANY
REAL ESTATE
DO YOU WANT TO BUY ANY
REAL ESTATE
If you do, address or call on J. L. EVANS, Room 1, Gloason Bldg.
Sumpter, Oregon. P. O. Box 02
Good Business Lots, Good Residence Lots. Look
at the list and see what you want. I have
good investments for you if you want them
Houso and Lot on North Street - - 12760
House and Lot on Auburn Street 2500
Furnished House on Columbia Street ' 1250
House and Lot on Manilla Street 800
House and Lot on Columbia Street 800
A Snap, two lxits on North Street 3A0
Houso and Lot in Suunysido '50
3-Room House, ground rent very cheap 200
Fino Residence Ixit on Bonanza ... '$
Lot on Lower Mill Street .... ;too
4-Room Houso on Parkinson Avenue 050
Two Houses and I)t on Parkinson Avenue 800
5-Room House and lot, good Stable, in Sumpter Heights 700
Corner l.ot, good location . . . Ufio
Desirable Residence Lot, Upper Mill Street 500
(t-Room House, good stable (175
Ix)t 30x150 ...... 100
A good thing, Lot 105x150, two good Houses, part cash
balance on time ..... 2300
Good Ixidglug House in the heart ot tho city cheap.
J. L. EVANS
GLEASON BUILDING
P. O. BOX 92 SUMPTER, OREGON
LA , . fy
ALL
WELL DRESSED MEN
In Sumpter and vicinity have their clothes
made by
FLYNN, the Tailor.
Big Line of Fall Goods Just Received.
CKNTKK STRUT, NBAR FOSTOrNCB
SUMPTER, OREGON.
THE GEM SALOON
A. J STINSON, Prop.
(Successor to Snyde & Stlnson)
Only the Best Brands of Liouors Served Over the Bar
SUMPTER, - - - OREGON
American Brewing and Crystal Ice Co,
E. SIBER, General Manager.
Manufacturers of
First Class Draught and Bottled
Also Ioe Made of
Distilled Water.
BElE-Fx
The most modern equipped plant in the state.
All orders promptly attended to.
Telephone, Main if. BAKER CITY, OREGON.
I;
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