Wednesday, May 18, 1904
THE SUMPTER MINER
MINE DISCOVERY, I
ROMANTIC SIDE!
Prospectors, Like Soldiers,
Have The Courage Born
of Fatalism.
Minors, ns h class, tiro gifted
with h vein of romanticism iu their
mental makeup. It 1st well Unit it
1h ho, for without the hardihood, the
adventurous spirit that goes to make
up a romiiutlc disposition, most of
the uiinerul wealth of the world
would he (-till hidden iu eavago fast
nesses. We do not think that the fortltudo
displayed by the Alaska or Matubelo
luud pioneers whs entirely clue to the
thirst for gold. The spirit of tho
pioneer hu prospector la ismilar to
that evinced by the soldier or
the ml lor, who surely do not tnko
up their proinfessloiiH because of
luoeutary considerations. As ono
who has foregathered with nil of
these clashes of men, we recognize a
similarity of instinct aud character
istlcs in tlie'.r natures. They all have
the reckless courage, horn of fatal
ism: they are all more or loss super
stitious, aud, lastly, they have tho
Imaginations that cause them tn do
great deeds.
Today it Is recognized generally
that to do great work imagination is
esseutial. Soieutlllu men even
write learned works, showing that
imagination Is esseutial tn tho scien
tist's mentality. We have been told
lately that a "liuanolnr Is only a
pawnbroker with an Imaglnatoin."
That miners have' this gift ot Im
agination needs no demonstration to
those who have camped with them
aud have listened tn their free, tin
trammeled tlow of ideas. Then, too,
can we not proudly claim the Im
mortal Baron Munchausen as an
houoied member of our crafty
This (lift of Imagination Is not
necessarily concentrated into tho
purpose of work. It has u lighter
aud more fanciful side. Half, or
morn than half, the traditions of
lost mines or ot the discovery of
famous mines are pure Imaginings,
iuveuted to pass au idle hour. For
instance, some of our leaders may
have heard of a certain "Dead Dog"
mine in Arizoua. There may be
such a mine, hut the one wo allude
to Is mythical. The value ot tho ore
iu this mine approached the fabu
lous aud its alleged doings obtained
wide publicity. The whole story
was envolved from the fertile im
aginations of two invalid mining men
recuperating at Phoenix, Arizona,
hotel. We knew them well and
knew that the whole story origi
nated in a joke on a callow newspaper
reporter. The tine, jovial fellows
have crossed the range, but the story
still survives aud it would not sur
prise us if au active search should be
instituted fur the "Lost Dead Dog''
mine.
The romantic side of mining has a
perennial interest for the general, as
well as the mining reader. Possibly
no more widely copied item ever ap
peared iu Mining Iteporter than a
coluniu article on the traditions re
lating to the adventitious discoveries
of some famous mines. To these
stories may he added tho legeudary
discovery of the El Tajo mine iu tho
stuto of Siualoa, Mexico. The story,
told us around a camp tire on the
crests of tho Sierra Madre Occidental
was so circumstantial that it might
possibly bo true.
On a stormy night iu Auuust,
100"), a belated peon by the inline of
Leon Kojas had the misfortune to
catch his rosary on a bush or rock,
scattering tho beads on tho ground.
Uuwilling tn lose the sacred beads,
aud being unable to see them on ac
count of darkness, tho peon made a
II ro aud stayed by the spot all night,
hi the mniiriug he found, to his
amazement, that where his lire had
beou, was a solid plate of
silver that had beou smelted from
other rook. Of course ho developed
tho find and opened up a veiy famous
HI Tajo vein, which Is still working
on a vory largo scale, and which has
turned out many millions of dollars
In gold aud silver. It is well au
thentlcated that the initio produced a
million dollars per annum for a num
ber of years.
Such storiea as this are common
in all mining countries. If told to
pass au idle liour.they serve as au in
noouous amusement. Often, how
over, tho yams are used to bait a
prospectus trap or, In the case of
legendary "lost" mines, they cause n
great loss nf valuable effort iu at
tempts to rediscover them. We pre
sumo that hardly a year goes by
without some party attempting to
tlnd tho fabulous (iuuslght, Lost
Squaw or Lost Cabin mines. In
spite of circumstantial evideuce wo
have always felt that the mines just
nioiitlnned were only lost in the Im
aginations of some cheerful descend
ant of tho old-time miner, Munchau
sen. Mining K'eporter.
K
DIAMONDS Of THE WORLD I
PRICE AGAIN ADVANCED
As the result nf last mouth's ad
vauce of 5 per cent, diamonds ate
now dearer by 20 percent than at any
tlmo since tho consolidation of the
Do floors mines Iu South Africa.
The United States list year Imported
diamonds In tho value of 88, UKl.'J'i.
Tho output of tho Do floors com
pauies, which control IKI per cent of
the world's supply, was for the year
ending in Nnvobmor, HIO.'I, S'Jfl.Slor,,
000, on which was realized a prollt
of mi 1,000,000. It is estimated
that the South African mines have
added 9100,000,000 worth of dla
moods to the world's stock. Sur
prise will bo excited by the statement
that not f per cent of tho diamonds
in the worl 1 have been lost iu a
hundred yours.
Amsterdam Is still the center of tho
diamuud industry. There 8, !)!)!
persons are engaged In splitting,
polishing and cuttulg these precious
stones, in sixty-four "factories."
Considering the expertuess do-'
maudod for this work their weekly
wages of from 810.05 to $i!0. 10 ap
pear disproportionate to the skill
required. .
Tho United States has become tho
chief importer of diamonds, with
Russia next and France and Kuglaud
iu the order named. No doubt their
Increased popularity with us is Iu
part' due to the recognition of their
desirability as an investment not
liable to great flnauclal fluctuation
in value.- New York World.
To Increase Force.
Mauager Ilalu, nf the Overland, has
arranged to increase his working'
forco at the property. Additional
men will be sent out tomorrow, aud i
development prosecuted still more
vigorously than iu the past. j
7?
I
i
FOR SALE
$2,000
Ten Roomed Residence. One of the Best
Locations in town.
$2,000
Home. Completely Furnished. Location
and Grounds Delightful. Piano, Large Range
and other valuable Furniture included' in this.
Barn and Outbuildings.
$800
New Six Room House and Lot, nicely lo
cated. Easy terms.
$250
Choice Resident Lot near center of town.
$50, $75, and $lOO
Buy Choice Resident Lots not far out.
$300
Buys House and Lot with Barn. A Com
fortable Little Home.
LAUNDRY BUSINESS
I am instructed to sell the Steam Laundry
business, of Sumpter, which is the Best Pay
ing Business in town for the amount of
capital required to handle it. Call and see
me and get figures.
20,0'00
Acres now under irrigation in one of the
best localities in Oregon. Are you interested
in securing a home of this kind, from 40 to
160 acres. These lancis in three years will
be worth three times what they can be bought
for at the present time. Call and see maps
and get prices and terms on this property.
PL-ACER PROPERTY
Do you want something good in a Placer
Proposition? We have rich placer ground
near Sumpter, and an opportunity -to secure
an abundance of water for long season's work.
Here is an opportunity for a person with
small capital, to secure a proposition with
such merit as will increase on investigation
in the etitnation of the most critical ex
aminer. If interested, call and see us and
get particulars.
1.280 ACRES
One of the most attractive large bodies of
land in Burnt River Valley. Level as a
meadow. All can be irrigated. Can be sold
in size tracts to suit the purchaser, at 15 and
less per acre.
INLAND EMPIRE
INVESTMENT CO.
JESSE HOBSON j MANAGER
HOTEL SUMPTER