Geo. Rowland and Jordan Brown have located a promising quartz ledge in Willow Springs precinct.
    Green Bros. of Galice Creek have commenced crushing excellent ore from their ledge, and the best of results are promised.
    Ed. Schieffelin, the well-known miner, recently struck a pocket near Gold Hill which yielded about $900 before giving out.
    Archie Taylor is engaged in putting up a mill at the Griffin mine in Slate Creek precinct, Josephine County, which prospects well.
    John Loftus and J. W. Rogers last week located a quartz claim inside the city limits of Ashland, and have excellent prospects for a fine body of ore.
    Chas. and L. C. Bayse of Missouri Flat have struck a rich and most promising quartz ledge, averaging over two feet in width and assaying $72 per ton.
    An extension of Lucky Bart's mine on the Sardine Creek divide was last week struck by Munden & Eaton, who think they have as rich a ledge as the original strike.
    More quartz mining is under way and prospective in Josephine County than ever before known. It seems quite probable that some good ledges have been discovered.
    Carson & Bryden, mining experts from San Francisco, last week made a thorough examination of the Lucky Bart mine, and express themselves as highly pleased with the prospects so far.
    A large amount of ore is taken out in the preliminary work being done at the Patton mine, and the prospects are said to be so flattering that the owners will soon put [in] a mill to crush it.
    Messrs. Dyer, Dunlap & Carlisle, who have bonded the old Hope mine on Wagner Creek, are getting their mill in order for a long run. They anticipate success, as the mine is undoubtedly a rich one.
    John Bolt of Applegate, who is interested in mining on Galice Creek, showed the editor of the Times some handsome specimens of asbestos from a deposit which had lately been discovered near the Green ledge.
    J. T. Flynn brings good news to the miners of this section, as he has obtained assurances from J. B. Hagin, the millionaire, that due attention will be given by him to any legitimate mining enterprise of promise in southern Oregon.
    Wm. Bybee has leased his mine on Canyon Creek, Josephine County, to O. F. Russell, while S. L. Fielder is in charge of his claim some distance from Grants Pass. Both are experienced miners and will no doubt make a good showing.
    Dr. Flanagan and Z. Moody, who own the Messenger mine on Applegate and other promising ledges in that vicinity, will soon resume operations on a larger scale than ever. They have shipped all their concentrates to the Linnton smelter.
    Jewett & Co., who own the Blanket and old Jewett ledges, which are situated not far from Grants Pass, are shipping their concentrates to the Linnton smelter. They are greatly encouraged by the way their mines are turning out.
    Messrs. Patterson, Graham and Payne of Ashland are this year prosecuting work at their placer claim on Beaver Creek more systematically than ever before, and will doubtless do well with the property when they hoist out the big boulders which have heretofore interrupted work so seriously.
    At the mines of Wimer Bros. and Simmons & Cameron near Waldo, Josephine County, work has been prosecuted with a full head of water for several months past. A break in the ditch interrupted work at the latter's claims for a short time, however. The prospects are good for a big cleanup at both places.
    Among the discoveries in the mining line reported lately are those of a fine ledge by Hardin & Co. on the hill facing the old Centennial diggings, from which a considerable amount of gold has already been taken, the first pocket tapped yielding rich ore. Enoch Rhoten has also made another of his pocket finds, from which he took about $250 in one day, and two other prospectors in the same neighborhood, whose names we failed to learn, also struck a pocket from which about several hundred dollars were extracted before it was milked out.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 18, 1892, page 3

    Among the guests at the Perkins Hotel in Portland is J. M. Hagerty, a mining man who has just returned from a two-months' sojourn in the southern Oregon gold fields, says the Oregonian. Mr. Hagerty is interested in the Okanogan country, where he has spent several years in opening and developing mines, and, although still a young man, is considered an authority on mines. In answer to a query as to the prospects of southern Oregon as a mining section he said:
    "After carefully examining the various mining properties there, I have come to the conclusion that mining is only in its infancy in that section of the state. In formation and climate it is an ideal mining country, and the cheapness of labor and provisions and the railroad facilities make it possible to operate mines with a comparatively small outlay of capital. But it has been held back, and still is to a great extent, by reason of a hostile feeling on the part of the oldtimers--properly called 'mossbacks'--against quartz mining. There was no quartz mining carried on in early days, and they do not believe in it. Then, too, there has been a great deal of mineral land fraudulently taken up under the timber and stone act, and they do not want it exposed. The country from Roseburg to Ashland was not originally settled by mining men but by 'camp followers,' who, delighted with the climate, soil and the possibility of making a good living with little labor, squatted in the valleys and raised cattle and fruit sufficient for their own use, and were satisfied. Then the Oregon and California Railroad was built, bringing in new blood and new conditions, but the country was still agricultural. Since 1850 mining has been carried on on a small scale, except in one or two instances, until about three years ago, when a few prospectors from California aroused some interest in quartz mining. But it has not been until within the past year that this new movement has received any real encouragement. The development of the Ashland mine proved the fact that there were good paying ledges in that section, and gave encouragement to a large number of prospectors. The majority of the ledges found, however, and especially the larger ones, are either barren on top or so low grade as to be unprofitable to work.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 14, 1893, page 3


    GOLD FIELDS.--J. M. Hagerty in Oregonian, July 15: "After carefully examining the various mining properties in Southern Oregon, I have come to the conclusion that mining is only in its infancy in that section of the state. In formation and climate it is an ideal mining country, and the cheapness of labor and provisions and the railroad facilities make it possible to operate mines with a comparatively small outlay of capital. But it has been held back, and still is, to a great extent, by reason of a hostile feeling on the part of the oldtimers, properly called 'mossbacks,' against quartz mining. There was no quartz mining carried on in early days, and they do not believe in it. Then, too, there has been a great deal of mineral land fraudulently taken up under the timber and stone act, and they do not want it exposed. The country from Roseburg to Ashland was not originally settled by mining men, but by 'camp followers,' who, delighted with the climate, soil and the possibility of making a good living with little labor, squatted in the valleys and raised cattle and fruit sufficient for their own use, and were satisfied. Then the Oregon & California Railroad was built, bringing in new blood and new conditions; but the country was still agricultural. Since 1850, mining has been carried on on a small scale, except in one or two instances, until about three years ago, when a few prospectors from California aroused some interest in quartz mining. But it has not been until within the past year that this new movement has received any real encouragement. The development of the Ashland mine proved the fact that there were good-paying ledges in that section, and gave encouragement to a large number of prospectors. The majority of the ledges found, however, and especially the larger ones, are either barren on top or so low grade as to be unprofitable to work. The owners of the Ashland mine are entitled to a great deal of credit, as well as the profit they are making, for the determined manner in which they continued the development of their property under what seemed the most discouraging outlook. The country between Jacksonville and Gold Hill is very rich in pockets. It is from that section that so many reports of rich strikes originate. There is no doubt that many miners have found pockets from which they have taken out from $500 to $5000 in a single day; but that does not mean that they have discovered a mine, for that single day's work, in all probability, has sufficed to entirely clean out the pocket."
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 22, 1893, page 62


    BROWNTOWN NOTES.--Grants Pass Courier, July 20: Our miners are plodding along in the old groove. July will see the most of our placer men cleaning up and then they, too, will in all probability take to the hills prospecting for quartz and placers also, for there are doubtless many places where parts of the old and higher chambers are still covered deep by the wearing away and slides of the mountains. Krouse and Baldwin have commenced opening on their quartz claim, north extension of the Griffin ledge, and have found some pretty rock. Griffin has bonded his claim to a San Francisco company. This company represents some millions, and it will soon have a crew of men at work developing the lode and putting up a boarding house. Beig is hard at work slashing the brush over his hydraulic claim. His water is done for this season. Ehman will soon be closing up, as the water will commence to slacken with this warm weather. The Doney family are getting themselves comfortably fixed and are opening their claim for extension work. There are a number of prospectors in the south about the O. and C. line. As there is a quantity of quartz there, good news may come any day. The Sucker Creek miners are hard at work opening new claims and prospecting for new deposits.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 29, 1893, page 78

    The Sterling Mining Co. is engaged in cleaning up, and the prospects for a good yield are excellent.
    The Mountain Lion mine in Missouri flat district has been bonded to John H. Simons for $12,000.
    Work on the Clark mine in Williams Creek district will soon be resumed, Portland parties having purchased it.
    Prospectors still continue to be numerous, and a great deal of prospecting is being done in Jackson and Josephine counties.
    Work at most of the mines in Williams Creek district has been temporarily suspended. Some good prospects have been found.
    Messrs. Burke and Drew, who purchased a mine in Jumpoff Joe district, are expected to return in a few days with machinery to work the mine.
    F. Grob and J. Nunan, representing Joe Braendle, this week bonded their quartz mine in Jackson Creek district to Fred. Hogg, Judge Holcomb and others.
    The placer mines on Wolf and Grave creeks have paid better this season than for a long time past. It is said that at least $10,000 will be cleaned up at the Ruble mine.
    Simmons, Cameron & Co. of Waldo district will operate on a larger scale than ever next season, and have invested in 2,500 feet of hydraulic pipe, which J. L. Wildren will put together at the mine.
    Interest in the nickel mine affairs was much awakened by the arrival of Col. W. H. Taylor of Chicago at Riddle Friday morning. Col. Taylor, who is one of the principal owners of the property, comes direct from London, England, where he has been negotiating the sale of the mines to an English syndicate. He was accompanied here by his associate, Mr. J. H. Brand, and with supt. S. B. Cobb and C. W. Quackenbush proceeded directly to the mines. Just what will be the result of his visit here is unknown, but it is thought the work will be resumed at an early day, as we are informed that plenty of capital is available as soon as some difficulty among the stockholders is settled.--[Roseburg Review.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 25, 1893, page 3


    MUCH PROSPECTING.--Browntown Cor., Josephine Courier: Most of the miners are about through cleaning up for the season, and although they do not laugh over the outcome or report any big thing, they try to be satisfied and hopeful for the coming winter. Crosby & Hopkins have struck what they think is the old Cowen lode. The rock prospects fairly. Although the vein matter is but small, it may open up better as they go down. W. A. Johnson has commenced sinking on his location. The ledge is quite large and looks very favorable. Dicky is now working with the Briggs & Doney Company on McDonald Gulch. The company are getting their ditches in shape for a long season's run. I have not heard from Sucker Creek basin, except that the men are all at work and quite sanguine of making a big run and cleanup.
    CLEANING UP.--Jacksonville Times, Aug. 18: The Sterling Mining Co. is engaged in cleaning up, and the prospects for a good yield are excellent. A. W. Sturgis, of Jackass district, has finished this season's work and made a big cleanup, running well up into the thousands. It is said that a genuine fissure vein has been struck at Dr. Hinkle's mines in Sardine Creek district. The ore prospects very well. Simmons, Cameron & Co., who are operating an extensive mining claim in Waldo district, Josephine County, have finished cleaning up and realized handsomely from the past season's work. The placer mines of Jackson and Josephine counties yielded better during the past season than for years past. Many thousands of dollars of gold have been put into circulation during the past few months. W. H. Hampton, the well-known mineralogist, negotiated the sale of the Dysert mining property in Grave Creek district to Portland capitalists, and is taking steps to acquire adjoining placer mines. It is the intention to incorporate a stock company and inaugurate a big mining enterprise.
    CROWDING WORK.--Ashland Tidings, Aug. 18: Col. Thos. Ewing returned Tuesday morning from Seattle, to look after his mining operations, and is crowding work upon the prospect tunnel at the Mountain Lion mine.… Geo. P. Gund, of Seattle, with whom Lon Edwards is interested in mining investments, arrived last Saturday and spent several days visiting, with Mr. Edwards, the several mines where they have prospect work in operation. Mr. Gund is well satisfied with the prospects, and expects to spend more time here during the fall. The Anderson land at Wagner Creek Gap, the St. Patrick claim owned by Jos. A. Wilson, the Park ledge owned by Vannatta and others, and the Hope mine, are some of the properties bonded by Gund & Edwards.… Beagle & Brunk have bought a placer claim of a Chinaman on Grouse Creek, just above the Patterson mine. They already had the Beagle claim on Beaver, just below the Patterson mine. Charles Cowles and a partner have located a placer claim on Mt. Sterling, below Flett's mine, and will prospect it this fall.… Tom Hurd reports that Jack Morris has just worked up a $700 pocket of gold quartz in the Blackwell district. Morris has made a scientific study of this sort of mining, and has found and worked 13 pockets in that region within the last six years, from which he is several thousand dollars ahead.
    CLEANING UP.--Jacksonville Times, Aug. 25: The Sterling Mining Co. is engaged in cleaning up, and the prospects for a good yield are excellent. The Mountain Lion mine in Missouri Flat district has been bonded to John H. Simons for $12,000. Work on the Clark mine in Williams Creek district will soon be resumed, Portland parties having purchased it. Prospectors still continue to be numerous and a great deal of prospecting is being done in Jackson and Josephine counties. Messrs. Burke & Drew, who purchased a mine in Jumpoff Joe district, are expected to return in a few days with machinery to work the mine. F. Grob and J. Nunan, representing Joe Braendel, this week bonded their quartz mine in Jackson Creek district to Fred Hogg, Judge Holcomb and others. The placer mines on Wolf and Grave creeks have paid better this season than for a long time past. It is said that at least $10,000 will be cleaned up at the Ruble mine.
    THE SIMMONS & CAMERON.--Rogue River Courier, Aug. 24: J. L. Wilder went down to Galice Creek Thursday, where he has a contract to put up 2500 feet of hydraulic pipe in the Simmons & Cameron mines. He intends manufacturing the pipe at the mines, and it will probably take three months to complete the job. This property is one of the "permanent" ledges of the county, and the owners hope, with the additional pipe, to be able to make a better showing than ever at the end of the coming winter's run.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 2, 1893, page 158


    CLEANING UP.--Jacksonville Times, Sept. 1: The Sterling Mining Co. is engaged in cleaning up, and the prospects for a good yield are excellent. Ennis & Cameron of Galice Creek have finished their season's work and made a satisfactory cleanup. Messrs. Noah & McCracken of Sams Valley are engaged in prospecting a quartz ledge, which promises well. A very rich discovery is reported from Sucker Creek, Josephine County, near the big cave. The quartz is said to be very rich in free gold. The Burleigh drill employed at the Ashland mine is doing good work and has progressed over 200 feet. The rock is becoming softer and more headway is being made. Hosmer, Anderson & Co. of Foots Creek district, who have finished cleaning up, were in Jacksonville one day last week. They realized several thousand dollars from their season's work. The Times was in error last week in stating that J. L. Wilder was putting together 2500 feet of hydraulic pipe for Simmons, Cameron & Co. in Waldo district. It is at Ennis & Cameron's mines in Galice Creek district that he is doing the work.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 9, 1893, page 174


    The Columbia Mining Co. of Grants Pass has filed articles for the purpose of working the Anaconda mine, situated in Applegate district in Josephine County. The amount of the capital stock is $100,000. Allen Nevin, A. C. Tayler and Robert Smith are the incorporators.
    A quartz ledge has been discovered on one of E. E. Miner's farms in Gold Hill precinct, which promises very well. It is six feet wide and grows richer and is better defined as development progresses. Some of the ore taken from the ledge at a depth of thirty feet was sent to the celebrated Selby smelting works of San Francisco and assayed at the rate of $14.50 per ton. As this mine is located in one of the richest mining districts of southern Oregon, Mr. Miner naturally feels highly elated.
    The Grants Pass Observer says that rich placers are being worked on Powell's Creek, a tributary of Williams Creek, in Josephine County. There are already eighteen claims located on the creek, which cover a distance of about five miles, and leave about three and one-half miles further up the stream yet vacant. There seems to be a rich bar at the bottom, which is from 16 to 35 feet wide and very rich. This pay chute does not seem to have any direct course, but runs in all directions along the creek bed. From $4 to $8 per day for each man with pick and shovel has been realized this summer from some of the mines. Powell's Creek furnishes water the year round. Bedrock is reached at a depth of from two to eight feet, and the ground is easily worked. The gold found is coarse.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, September 15, 1893, page 3


    CLEANING UP.--Jacksonville Times, Sept. 9: The Sterling Mining Co. is engaged in cleaning up, and the prospects for a good yield are excellent. The Ashland Mining Co. has suspended operations with his Burleigh drill until water becomes more plentiful, after having progressed 250 feet. The Jacksonville Mining and Milling Co. will hold a meeting on the 15th inst., to decide what they will do in the future. A ledge has been struck, but of what value and extent its future developments must decide. A. W. Sturgis, of Jackass district, who owns one of the best placer mines in the state, has done well during the past season. The gold cleaned up was sold at Beekman & Reames' bank and amounted to about $17,000. Mr. Sturgis is still engaged in cleaning up the work done with the hydraulic last winter and spring.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 16, 1893, page 191


    HYDRAULIC MINE.--Browntown Cor., Rogue River Courier, Sept. 14: The Illinois Hydraulic Mining Co. is the first incorporated hydraulic company in this section of Josephine County. It is a Portland company with Capt. Geo. A. Pease, president; E. E. Lawrence, secretary; and H. L. Doney, superintendent of works. Their property consists of some hundred and sixty acres of gravel deposit on Bollen Creek and McDonald Gulch, to which they have brought water in ditches, and from the known richness of this section in the past there is a bright outlook for the future. They are now working some six men and will soon commence opening a new trail to connect with the Browntown trail and post office.
    TO WORK A MINE.--The Columbia Mining Co. of Grants Pass have filed articles for the purpose of working the Anaconda mine, situated in Applegate district, in Josephine County. The amount of the capital stock is $100,000. Allen Nevin, A. C. Taylor and Robert Smith are the incorporators.
    PROMISES WELL.--Jacksonville Times: A quartz ledge has been discovered on one of E. E. Miner's farms in Gold Hill precinct, which promises very well. It is six feet wide and grows richer and is better defined as development progresses. Some of the ore taken from the ledge at a depth of 30 feet was sent to the celebrated Selby Smelting Works of San Francisco, and assayed at the rate of $14.50 per ton. As this mine is located in one of the richest mining districts of Southern Oregon, Mr. Miner naturally feels highly elated.
    PLACERS ON POWELL CREEK.--The Grants Pass Observer says that rich placers are being worked on Powell Creek, a tributary of Williams Creek, in Josephine County. There are already 18 claims located on the creek, which cover a distance of about five miles and leave about three and one-half miles farther up the stream yet vacant. There seems to be a rich bar at the bottom, which is from 16 to 35 feet wide and very rich. This pay chute does not seem to have any direct course, but runs in all directions along the creek bed. From $4 to $8 per day for each man with pick and shovel has been realized this summer from some of the mines. Powell Creek furnishes water the year round. Bedrock is reached at a depth of from two to eight feet, and the ground is easily worked. The gold found is coarse.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 23, 1893, page 206


    TO WORK CINNABAR MINES.--Ashland Tidings, Sept. 23: The company which owns the cinnabar property at Cinnabar Springs, 40 miles from Jacksonville by road and trail, is preparing to do this fall and winter the $1300 worth of assessment work required upon the 13 claims. B. M. Newcomb, superintendent of the Napa Consolidated Quicksilver Mining Co., owns a controlling interest in these cinnabar mines. Mr. Newcomb visited the property last week, spent two days looking it over, and was much pleased with the prospect in sight. He ordered contracts let for two tunnels--one of 200 and one of 300 feet in length. Wm. Patterson and J. W. Briner were on the ground with Mr. Newcomb and submitted a bid for the tunnel work. They have not yet been awarded the contract, but it will probably be given to them. J. C. McCully, who has been in charge of the mines for the past year or two, will superintend the work. Mr. Newcomb believes the mines will pay well. The mines which he is superintending near Napa, Cal., are now turning out about 800 flasks of quicksilver per month.
    Hill & Stevens, who have an extension of the Homestake mine claim near Woodville, struck the ledge with their prospect tunnel last Saturday, and found it more than 20 feet wide.
    Supt. Drew, of the Hammersley mine on Jumpoff Joe, is greatly elated by the prospects since the mill started, and reports that he has the purchase price of the mine ($40,000) in sight. Over $2600 was put on the dump in one day of last week from the prospect shaft.
    NICKEL MINE.--Riddle Enterprise: Dr. B. Mohr, the expert sent to make a report of the nickel mines by the English syndicate, arrived at this place direct from London on Wednesday, and, in company with Will Q. Brown, proceeded at once to the nickel mines to make an analysis of the ore. But little time was occupied by the expert in the analysis, and his report will no doubt consummate the sale.
    NOTES.--Jacksonville Times, Sept. 22: Ed Schieffelin, the well-known discoverer, is taking out some fine ore from the Little Bunkum ledge in Foots Creek district.
    Lindley & Co., proprietors of the Lucky Bart ledge in Sardine Creek district, have put in a mill and are crushing ore. A good report may be expected from that mine in the near future.
    Drew & Co., who purchased the Hammersley ledge in Jumpoff Joe district, have their mill in operation and are crushing first-class ore. The mine is getting better as development progresses.
    Prof. Moury informs us that he is arranging a big scheme in Elliott Creek district which promises good results. In company with C. A. Fuher and J. Weill of Portland, he has located several placer claims.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 30, 1893, pages 222-223


    MAKING WAGES.--Rogue River Courier: Two men are drifting on a bar just below the mouth of Galice Creek on Rogue River and cleaning up from $6 to $10 per day. They have struck a pay channel and are digging a tunnel four feet high and 12 wide, working on their knees with pick and shovel and wheeling the dirt to sluice boxes placed some distance below.
    PLACER MINE.--Rogue River Courier: The Illinois Hydraulic Mining Co.'s placer on Bollen Creek, near the California line, bids fair to rival the famous Wimer and Simmons placers in richness and extent. The company has 160 acres of very rich dirt, which they have been prospecting for several months with a "self-shooter" and as a result, six ounces of gold was picked up off a strip of bedrock 36 feet long and six feet wide last week. The bank, which is composed of porphyry and serpentine, averages 50 feet in depth, and the bedrock is a light-colored scaly granite. A magnificent fall of water has been obtained by digging a ditch three miles long, and a natural lake at the summit of the mountain nearby will act as a reservoir from which water can be obtained all summer. A string of pipe and a monitor are now being placed in position and as these fields furnished many big nuggets in early days, we expect to hear of big cleanups on this new property. Supt. Doney says there is plenty of good mining ground near Browntown awaiting energy to develop, and he is willing to guide the stranger to rich fields still undeveloped. The elevation of this placer is 3500 feet, so there will be no trouble about dumping the debris. Six men are now employed at the mine, but the force will have to be increased as developments proceed. Supplies for the mine are obtained from Browntown, distant six miles.
    JACKSON COUNTY NOTES.--Times, Sept. 30: Messrs. Hill and Stevens, who have been prospecting an extension of the Homestake mine is Evans Creek precinct, have struck a ledge over two feet wide, which prospects well.
    The Jacksonville Milling and Mining Co. met a few days since and ordered the stock upon which assessment had not been paid sold. Prospecting will be resumed at an early day. A well-defined ledge is in sight, but whether it is rich remains to be seen.
    E. Sanderson Smith, the well-known mining expert, who has done so much to attract the attentions of capitalists toward Southern Oregon, will resume operations at the Gold Hill mine in a short time. He is hopeful of striking a rich seam of ore which will startle the oldest inhabitant.
    The Mountain Lion mine, in Missouri Flat district, has not been bonded to anyone. Bailey & Co. are working it and taking out free-milling ore to be crushed on their two-stamp arrastras. As they have already considerable high-grade ore on the various dumps, and tons more in sight, an extensive and successful run will be made. Mining men who are looking for first-class gold mines should not fail to visit the Mountain Lion and convince themselves that it is one of the best-paying quartz properties in the state.
    "The Annie mine was never in better condition than it is today," said J. B. McGee, president of the Annie Mining Company, to a reporter one day this week. "By sending our concentrates to Tacoma for reduction," he continued, "we have just doubled our product in pure gold, and the total monthly average output at the present time is about $6000. We have recently put in two small concentrators, capable of turning out a ton of concentrates per day. The first ton of this material was shipped to Tacoma on July 15th and netted us about $100. Since that time we have been shipping regularly, and now the average return is about $100 per ton. This, taken together with another $100 worth of metal crushed out by a five-stamp mill, makes up the neat little sum I have spoken of."
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 7, 1893, page 238


    NOTES.--Jacksonville Times, Oct. 6: John Bailey and Ed Layton have pounded out $950 worth of gold from rock taken from a claim they have located in Williams Creek district. The claim is on an extension of the Bone of Contention ledge, upon which they have sunk a 12-foot shaft. The ledge is from 12 to 18 inches in width and can be traced several hundred feet.
    W. H. Hampton of Portland, the mineralogist, who has secured the Dysert and other properties in Grave Creek district, Josephine County, is making preparations to commence the construction of a ditch 15 miles long. This will famish an ample supply of water, all that is needed to develop one of the richest placer mining districts in the Northwest.
    The Siskiyou Quicksilver Mining Co. is making arrangements to run 500 feet of tunnel, and has levied another assessment of one cent a share to raise funds with which to prosecute the work. Mr. Newcomb, who owns a controlling interest, seems to be of the opinion that cinnabar exists in paying quantities, and that the projected work will establish the fact.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 14, 1893, page 255


    A. W. Shearer picked up an 8-ounce nugget in his claim on Steamboat last week, while cleaning up.
    Dr. W. H. Flanagan of Grants Pass, having bought an interest in the Golden Fleece mine near Ashland, will move his quartz mill, which has been working on Williams Creek, thither.
    The Siskiyou Q.M. Co. has let the contract for running two tunnels at Cinnabar. Drake & Co. have one and Haskins Bros. the other. Work will be commenced at once, and will be pushed as rapidly as possible.
    H. C. Dollarhide and Harvey Roach, who are working at their coal mine in the Siskiyous, have found a good lignite coal and believe the tunnel they are now running will strike a vein of sufficient thickness to pay for working.
    J. C. Antonelle, who is engaged in constructing a canal to be used for mining purposes for A. L. Lewis in Wolf Creek district, has fifty men at work now and will soon increase the price [sic] to 250. The canal will be 16½ miles long and will be used for hydraulic mining purposes.
    The Staples & VanVactor mine at the Sterling ledge on head of Hungry Creek in California is now running its new ten-stamp mill. Wm. Patterson runs the engine on one shift, and Owen Dunlap of Phoenix is also employed at the mine. Altogether, about twenty men are at work there now, and probably ten will be retained all winter.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 20, 1893, page 3


    STRIKE ON MONGER CREEK.--Rogue River Courier, Oct. 12: Minus Caldwell and Sam Ryan have "struck it rich" on Monger Creek, a tributary of Williams Creek, about 26 miles from Grants Pass. They are getting out good gold with pick and pan, and indications are that there is plenty of it ahead of them. This region lies along the boundary of Josephine and Jackson counties and was overlooked in the mad rush for rich placers 35 years ago. The canyons over there are full of hopeful prospectors, and old settlers predict flush times there this winter. Water is plenty and the bedrock is found from four to ten feet.
    J. C. Taylor, who has been busy at Galice Creek all fall, reports things progressing in that part of Josephine and predicts a bright future for the mines there. He has recently set up 1048 feet of giant pipe, which tapers from 23 inches in diameter down to the monitor with a splendid fall of 335 feet.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 21, 1893, page 270


    Prof. Leigh Harnett, a mining man well known in Oregon, is of opinion that the hydraulic territory in Southern Oregon, from Canyonville to Ashland, is the richest and most continuous on the coast. Says Mr. Harnett:
    "From the earliest days it is a matter of history that out of the placer mines of Southern Oregon fully $40,000,000 have been taken up to the present time. This large sum was taken from such small portions of the low-lying ground that could be reached by water and worked by sluices. Today, in Oregon, as once in California, a sufficiency of water is the great consideration; that is, to put under systematic operation the whole range of the rich placer fields of our state, especially the portions suitable to the great hydraulic system. When that day comes Oregon will be the banner gold-producing state of the Union."
    The gold flow Mr. Harnett refers to he says is fully 200 miles long without sensible break or intermission. This, he contends, is proved by two facts--the similarity of the gravel formation and the result of the hydraulic pipe wherever water, in even limited quantity, could be obtained at any point of the 200 miles. During the present season there has been an unusual supply of water, and the cleanups, the best of all evidences, have been proportionately good, while all were in advance of past years. Messrs. Sturgis and Hall and Beck, near Grants Pass, respectively, cleaned up $20,000 and $10,000 clear profit. Below them, the Humphrey and Sterling mines, with the best hydraulic plants, perhaps, in the state, are still to be heard from. The claims on the whole line, at from 10 to 20 miles apart, are under pipe, and therefore the whole length Is now really developed beyond mistake--a most important point.
    This question of sufficiency of water for thorough work Mr. Harnett hopes soon to prove. Last summer he formed a company in Portland, called the South Umpqua Hydraulic Mining Company, and they have since done good work. The ditch, ten miles long, with a carrying capacity of 5000 inches of water, is surveyed, the whole territory carefully prospected, and a sawmill put up at the head of the mines is now cutting lumber for their dam across the Umpqua and such portions of the ditch as will have to be flumed. Mr. Harnett thinks that the whole of his company's ground is good for five cents a cubic yard. There are two other ditches being surveyed, one 35 miles long and 400 feet higher than the one first mentioned. This ditch belongs to San Francisco men and is intended for lumber as well as mining. Farther south, at Grave Creek, John Lewis, of Portland, has commenced an extension for a better supply of water next season.
    It is fortunate for Southern Oregon, Mr. Harnett thinks, that California has resumed the hydraulic system on a large scale, for when these three ditches are turned over the placer ground and show its real value, large sums will come from California to Oregon. The people of that state, says the Professor, will never lose their love for hydraulic mining, more particularly where the debris question, as in Oregon, can never exist to any extent.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 28, 1893, page 277


    MINE SOLD.--Ashland Tidings, Oct. 20: The Ophir mine near Ashland, owned by McCarthy, Beswick, Martin, Roper and others, has been sold to a Mr. Lawrence, cousin of the mayor of Brooklyn, N.Y., for $1500, cash sale, money to be paid in 30 days. The Ophir has two prospect tunnels in it, and some fine prospects have been struck. It is near the Golden Fleece, upon which the Huntington mill is to be put up immediately, and is supposed to be a similar formation. Mr. Lawrence started for New York last week, and is expected back soon.
    Another quartz mill will begin its musical hum in this neighborhood soon. Dr. W. H. Flanagan of Grants Pass has taken an interest with Hill & Shannon in the Golden Fleece mine, north of town, and is moving his Huntington mill to the mine, which has been operated on Williams Creek, in Josephine County. The Golden Fleece is a claim on E. K. Anderson's land, crossing the upper end of the old McCall & Anderson gravel mines, which have been worked by hydraulic pressure for many years. Mr. Hill, who is an experienced miner, became convinced that this placer mine was fed by a mineralized dike or ledge near at hand, and in his prospecting found the source of the gold to be an extensive body of ore which had been cut into at the upper end of the gravel mine. He and R. T. Shannon secured a bond or long-time lease of the ground from E. K. Anderson, and have been actively at work prospecting it during the past few months. Different parties have examined the property with a view to putting a mill upon it; but, as the formation is peculiar and unlike what most of them have been familiar with, they hesitated until Hill & Shannon grew tired of waiting and began negotiations with Dr. Flanagan. Some 30 sacks of the ore were carted over to Williams Creek and tested in the Flanagan mill, and the result was so satisfactory that it was determined to move the mill to the mine at once. It is being transported now by wagons, and will be put at work just as soon as the necessary buildings and accessories can be constructed. Mr. Hill put half a dozen men at work last Monday, fixing the wagon roads and bridges across the gulches. The power is to be supplied by a 20-foot overshot wheel (20 horsepower) which I. O. Miller is now making. The mill--a Huntington rotary--works up about 1½ tons of the ore per hour, and scours the gold so that much of it which would be lost in the hydraulic operations by failure to amalgamate will be saved on the plates. The battery is also supplemented with a first-class concentrator, and very little gold will get through to the tailings. Mr. Hill calls the ore deposit a boil between walls. The walls are a long distance apart, but he believes it is a genuine fissure and that the mine will be a deep one. However that may be, there is a vast body of ore on the surface. It can be worked for about $1 a ton, and, if it yields as the prospects indicate, the miners will have a bonanza.
    W. L. McClure and W. T. Shaffer were in town last Monday from Gold Hill, and a few mining items of interest were obtained from them. Joe Cox, who was with Lucky Bart in the discovery of the mine sold to Lindley, has made another rich discovery on Sardine or Murphy Creek which he thinks will be a good thing. Lindley's mill is running steadily at the Lucky Bart mine, and everything is reported favorable there. At the Hammersley mine, at the head of Jumpoff Joe, the mill is disabled, but the mine is opening out handsomely--ledge getting bigger as they go down, and as rich as ever.
    S. D. Taylor came over a few days ago from his mine at the head of Hungry Creek, and reports everything looking bright at the mine. Staples & Van Vactor's new five-stamp mill, not far from his mine, runs like clockwork and gives encouragement to prospecting in that region.
    H. C. Dollarhide and Harvey Roach continue work at their coal mine in the Siskiyous, and with constant encouragement at the improvement of the prospect as their work progresses. They have found a good lignite coal, and believe that a tunnel which they are now running will strike a vein of sufficient thickness to pay well for working. Their mine is within three miles of the railroad and within 300 yards of a wagon road.
    COW CREEK MINES.--Jacksonville Times: C. S. Goodnow, of Cow Creek, an old miner, started up his hydraulic works on the 20th of September. He thinks that he will clean up $5 worth of gold per hour when his works are in full operation. He has a blue gravel lead such as is peculiar to California, and such leads are considered by old miners to give the best results from work performed.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 28, 1893, page 286


    Since the arrival of the Huntington mill at the Golden Fleece mine near Ashland, attention has been attracted to that locality, and several pieces of land near have been bonded.
    Lon. Edwards has his men at work at the Hope mine, which was bonded a short time ago by Gund & Edwards. They are cleaning out the old prospect shaft at a point near the dividing line of the "Hope" and "Shorty" claims. The shaft was filled up with waste by the men who worked the mine last. After it is cleaned out and retimbered it will be sunk deeper upon the ledge in prospect work.
    Phil. Miller, who is superintending operations at the Miller mines on Farmers Flat, is making preparations for the next season's run.
    John Simons left Tuesday morning to commence operations on the Bailey mine on Missouri Flat, which has been bought by a Portland syndicate.
    Drew & Co. are about to put up a five-stamp mill on the quartz ledge which they recently purchased from G. R. Hammersley in Jumpoff Joe district.
    Jos. Wolfstein and J. Weill have located 40 acres of mining ground near the Oregon line and have acquired water rights on Dutch Creek, a tributary of Elliott Creek.
    Messrs. Poppleton & Bishop, the gentlemen owning the dry-wash machine, which was given a successful trial at Al. Sturgis' claim this week, have bonded the Owens claim in Jackson Creek district and will put a force of men to work on the mine as soon as possible. The machine is evidently a success and will make it possible to work many claims in this section which have not paid before on account of lack of water.
    Messrs. Poppleton & Bishop, who have invented a machine for dry-process washing, have been experimenting with it [on] Al. Sturgis' placer claim. They passed six buckets of tailings from the Sturgis mine through the machine and got about 15 cents in gold from it. The dirt was afterward panned out without raising a color. The owners of the machine will work the tailings of the Sturgis mine and expect to make it pay.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 3, 1893, page 3


    THE GOLDEN FLEECE.--Ashland Tidings, Oct. 27: The Huntington mill for the Golden Fleece mine arrived last week, the building for its occupancy is constructed, and the water wheel which is to furnish power to run it is being set in place. Dr. Flanagan and Messrs. Shannon and Hill, who were at the mine Wednesday, report that they hope to see the mill running in two weeks.
    The prospect of a successful issue of this new enterprise has turned attention of mining men to that locality, and the lands adjacent to the claims of Shannon & Hill are looked upon with covetous eyes. Mrs. Kilgore, who owns the 22-acre tract including the buildings and orchard of the old Hammond or Rockfellow place, has given a bond upon it to Mr. Hough for 30 days, the price being $4500, $100 being paid down to secure the bond. Postmaster Hammond, who owns 80 acres higher on the hill, has also given a short bond on it to other parties.
    Lon. Edwards has his men at work at the Hope mine, which was bonded a short time ago by Gund & Edwards. They are cleaning out the old prospect shaft at a point near the dividing line of the "Hope" and "Shorty" claims. The shaft was filled up with waste by the men who worked the mine last. After it is cleaned out and remembered it will be sunk deeper upon the ledge, in prospect work.
    W. W. Walters went over to Sawyers Bar the first of the week, to put J. M. Harney and another man at work upon a mining claim in which he is interested with a San Francisco party.
    Mr. Dunn, a geologist employed by the California State Mining Bureau, has been tracing the famous "blue ledge" up through California from the mining counties in the central part of the state through the northern counties to the Siskiyou mountains. At Klamath River he fell in with C. B. Jilson, the original blue ledge discoverer and proprietor of the Siskiyou region, and in company with Mr. Jilson came over to Ashland Tuesday evening. Theory and surface indications trace the blue ledge under the Siskiyou Mountains into this valley, but as this is outside of Mr. Dunn's territory he did not put in any time at explorations here.
    TO CRUSH ORE.--Jacksonville Times, Oct. 27: Ezra Poppleton and H. T. Bishop, of Tacoma, are making preparations to crush the ore from the Owens mine in Jackson Creek district and have already shipped machinery from Tacoma, which is expected here soon.
    Wallace Rogers and A. J. Jackson have unearthed a three-foot ledge near the Shannon & Hill mine, which promises to be very rich. The first assay on the surface went $17.50 to the ton. A force of men are at work and if the ore is as rich at a depth of 25 feet a mill will be put in.
    A hydraulic giant will soon be put in at the Illinois Mining Co.'s claim in Althouse district, Josephine County. They have some rich ground there and intend to work on a large scale. The claim was worked in early days by a couple of Germans, who took out several thousand dollars, and, being satisfied with their haul, left the country. H. L. Doney and Dr. J. M. Taylor found the old workings, while on a prospecting tour in July last, and washed out some rich dirt and found some good-sized nuggets.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, November 4, 1893, page 306


    Wimer Bros. have commenced piping at their claim in Waldo district.
    Siskiyou County produced over $900,000 worth of gold last year, and this year it will exceed around $1,000,000.
    Work is being pushed rapidly on claims in the Applegate section, and prospects are very favorable for a good season.
    About 200 men are at work on the 15-mile ditch being constructed in Wolf Creek district to work the placer claims located by W. H. Hampton and J. C. Lewis.
    The monthly cleanup of the Ashland mine resulted in a brick weighing over $5,000. This is one of the best-paying and [most] reliable pieces of mining property in the district.
    Z. F. Moody of Salem, son of ex-Governor Moody, is interested with Dr. Flanagan and Messrs. Shannon and Hill in the Golden Fleece mine near Ashland, and came to see how the work of putting up the mill progresses. It is expected the mill will be started by the middle or last of this week.
    Geo. F. Gund, the Seattle member of the firm of Gund & Edwards, arrived in Ashland last week, accompanied by Geo. T. Miliken, the expert who was here last summer. In company with Mr. Edwards they have put in the present week examining the Hope mine and other properties in which Gund & Edwards are interested.
    All the miners on the Klamath River are now doing good work with excellent success in taking out gold dust at their several claims, the weather being fine for carrying on mining operations in that stream. The same may be said of the miners along Humbug Creek, and other tributaries of the Klamath throughout the entire county and in Trinity County adjoining.
    A rich strike has been made at the Golden Eagle mine on Williams Creek. R. M. Garrett and Jack Garvin of Ashland, part owners in the mine, brought a sack of ore to Ashland last week weighing nineteen pounds, out of which they got over $250 in gold. By washing and panning the ore went from $25,000 to $30,000 to the ton, and one lump they had assayed went over $100,000 to the ton. The ore was taken from a 30-foot prospect shaft on a ledge three feet wide, and is located within a half-mile of the Bone of Contention ledge. Arrangements will soon be made to work the mines through the winter.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 10, 1893, page 3


    AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE.--Ashland Tidings, Nov. 3: The latest mining sensation in local circles is the rich strike made in the Golden Eagle mine on Williams Creek, owned principally by Ashland people. R. M. Garrett and Jack Garvin, part owners of the mine, who had been there for a week or two, returned last Saturday with some ore that lifted the eyes out of the sockets of the beholders. They had a sack of ore weighing about nineteen pounds. They had already washed out of it without crushing a bunch of nuggets worth about $150. The rock was mortared in Ashland and yielded another hundred dollars. The tailings also carried plenty of fine gold which they had to catch by amalgamation. The ore was taken from a 30-foot prospect shaft in a ledge about three feet wide. It was located last spring by Robert Neal of Wagner Creek and Fred Mallen, and has been sold by them to a company composed of Jack Garvin, R. M. Garrett, Judge Tolman, Crit Tolman, R. Beswick, J. H. Martin, Capt. Ingalls of Portland, and Dr. Van Hasslocher of Paris. It is located on Williams Creek, within half a mile of the "Bone of Contention" mine owned by Smith & Booth of Grants Pass, upon which there is a stamp mill. The company have three ledges, one larger and another smaller than the Golden Eagle, and all lying parallel. The claims are on a ridge cut by the gulches from which hundreds of thousands of dollars were taken years ago in the rich Williamsburg diggings, and the men who have made this strike of rich ore think they have lots of it within their claims. They will make arrangements soon to work the mine through the winter.
    The Ashland mine, the foundation of all the mining activity about Ashland, continues to turn out its regular monthly dividends.
    Geo. F. Gund, the Seattle member of the firm of Gund & Edwards, arrived in Ashland last Friday, accompanied by Geo. T. Milliken, the expert who was here last summer. In company with Mr. Edwards they have put in the present week examining the Hope mine and other properties in which Gund and Edwards are interested.
    Snowgoose Brothers, who came in from Klamath County late in the summer, and one of the Wertz boys, have several quartz claims in the Siskiyous, near the railroad, which show good prospects. They are fixed with buildings, etc., for winter weather, and intend to keep right at work, regardless of wind, rain or snow.
    J. W. Briner is still at work prospecting his cinnabar claims up near the head of Applegate, and from samples of ore which he took over to Philip Mullen last week to test he is satisfied that he has one of the best cinnabar prospects unearthed in this region.
    J. F. Duffy has struck a very promising lead of cinnabar in the prospect tunnel which he is running on the claims near the McCall & Anderson mine, and is now drifting along the vein and taking out some ten percent cinnabar ore.
    THE ILLINOIS PLACER COMPANY.--Oregonian: Among the recent arrivals is Captain George A. Pease, who has just been looking after his interests in the Althouse district. He reports that the most promising placer prospect there is owned by the Illinois Hydraulic Mining Company. It is situated about 60 miles southwest of Grants Pass, in Josephine County, and is in the heart of the Siskiyou Mountains. About 30 years ago it was worked by a couple of Germans. After several good finds they came upon a piece of quartz which netted them about $1200, and satisfied with their haul they left the country. The big hole which they dug in the mountainside was partly filled by a mountain slide, and it was in that condition when H. L. Doney and Dr. J. M. Taylor, while on a prospecting tour, found the claim about July 1 last. They washed out some rich dirt, and picked up several good-sized nuggets before leaving the place. Eight claims, covering about 160 acres, were staked out on the property, and a company formed to work it. An abundance of water can be obtained from Boulder and McDonald creeks through pipe lines about 600 feet in length, but reservoirs must be built to keep up the supply all the year round. While digging a ditch the workmen picked up $600 worth of small nuggets, and again, while sluicing out a portion of the old tunnel, 20 feet in length and 4 in width, 20 ounces of small nuggets and coarse dust were picked up. There are now en route for the mine a hydraulic "giant," some smaller machines and a large amount of piping, all of which, it is expected, will be in place before the snow falls. No attempt has yet been made to estimate the value of the dirt, for the owners of the mine believe they have something better on hand than the placer mine. About 350 feet up the mountainside they have discovered a
well-defined ledge from which, they believe, the gold in the placer below has been washed. It is the intention to sluice out all the debris below this ledge, laying the rock bare, before working on the ledge itself.
    MINING NOTES.--Jacksonville Times, Nov. 3: Since the arrival of the Huntington mill at the Golden Fleece mine near Ashland, attention has been attracted to that locality and several pieces of land near have been bonded.
    Lon. Edwards has his men at work at the Hope mine, which was bonded a short time ago by Gund & Edwards. They are cleaning out the old prospect shaft at a point near the dividing line of the "Hope" and "Shorty" claims. The shaft was filled up with waste by the men who worked the mine last. After it is cleaned out and retimbered it will be sunk deeper upon the ledge, in prospect work.
    Phil. Miller, who is superintending operations at the Miller mines on Farmers Flat, is making preparations for the next season's run.
    John Simons left Tuesday morning to commence operations on the Bailey mine on Missouri Flat, which has been bought by a Portland syndicate.
    Drew & Co. are about to put up a five-stamp mill on the quartz ledge which they recently purchased from G. R. Hammersley in Jumpoff Joe district.
    Jos. Wolfstein and J. Weill have located 40 acres of mining ground near the Oregon line and have acquired water rights on Dutch Creek, a tributary of Elliott Creek.
    Messrs. Poppleton & Bishop, the gentlemen owning the dry wash machine which was given a successful trial at Al. Sturgis' claim this week, have bonded the Owens claim in Jackson Creek district and will put a force of men to work on the mine as soon as possible. The machine is evidently a success and will make it possible to work many claims in this section, which have not paid before on account of lack of water.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, November 11, 1893, page 318


    The placer miners are ready for the winter's run.
    A great deal of prospecting is still going on in southern Oregon, and some discoveries which promise well are being made.
    The Sterling Mining Co. still has a good supply of water and has been engaged in piping for several months past, something never known before in the history of the mines.
    Lindley & Co. of California, who purchased the Lucky Bart mine on Sardine Creek some time since, have put up a first-class mill, which is running steadily on good ore. This promises to be one of the best pieces of mining property in southern Oregon.
    Prospectors when out of reach of assayers to test their ore can by the following method determine whether the rock to be tested carries mineral or not: When you desire to make the test pulverize the rock very fine; then take one part of the pulp and two parts of common gunpowder; mix them together with enough water to make a stiff dough; work it up and mix thoroughly together in your hands; then form into a cone or pyramid and let it dry in the sun or near a fire. When dry, set the cone on a flat stone and put a live coal on top of the cone. When it has sizzled and sputtered itself out the mineral, if there was any in the rock, will be found in the shape of a button on the stone.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 17, 1893, page 2


    MINING NEWS.--Jacksonville Times, Nov. 17: The placer miners are ready for the winter's run.
    A great deal of prospecting is still going on in Southern Oregon, and some discoveries which promise well are being made.
    The Sterling Mining Co. still has a good supply of water, and has been engaged in piping for several months past, something never known before in the history of the mines.
    Lindley & Co., of California, who purchased the Lucky Bart mine on Sardine Creek some time since, have put up a first-class mill, which is running steadily on good ore. This promises to be one of the best pieces of mining property in Southern Oregon.
    UPPER GRAVE CREEK MINES.--Rogue River Courier: Geo. Cronk reports good prospects among the placers on Upper Grave Creek. Blalock & Son, he says, have struck a splendid ledge of copper, gold and silver on Onion Creek. About 200 men are employed on the big ditch up there. The laborers get $1.75 a day and board themselves. The promoters of the project have established a commissary and sell groceries, etc., to the men. The ditch is to be 15 miles long, and, when complete, will have fully half a mile of perpendicular pressure. This is liable to tear things on Grave Creek this winter.
    Surveyor G. I. Brown spent a few days last week surveying mining claims down Rogue River. He reports the Bybee placer almost ready for work with two monitors in position. Big apples 16 inches in circumference ornamented the lunch baskets on the expedition, and Mr. Brown thinks that country is good for other purposes besides gold mining.
    Green Bartlett was in from Deer Creek Monday. He talks of erecting smelting works on his Preston Peak ledge, as that is the only way the ore can be handled. The vein is 30 feet wide and the ore assays 80 percent of copper and $15 per ton of gold. Work has been suspended out there this year on account of the snow.
    SALE OF THE HAMMOND TRACT.--Ashland Tidings, Nov. 17: The sale of A. P. Hammond's tract of 82 acres, adjacent to the claims of the Golden Fleece Company north of town, where the Huntington mill is being set up, was consummated this week. The purchase was made by Geo. S. Sanford, who is here, and he buys for himself and three capitalists of Long Island City, N.Y. His associates are Matthew J. Goldner, president of the Jackson & Vernon Ave. Improvement Co., M. F. Claven and Horatio S. Sanford, the latter of whom is mayor of Long Island City and one of the proprietors of Sanford's patent medicines. The price paid for the 82 acres was $2500. The same gold-bearing vein or dike which the Golden Fleece Company is preparing to work is located across this property, and it is the intention of the purchasers to put up either a Huntington mill or a stamp mill at once. The plan is to put their mill below the Golden Fleece mill and use for power the same water from the Anderson mining ditch.
    The Golden Fleece mill will soon be running, and a test made which will either encourage or depress the high hopes entertained of an extensive mining industry from the beginning in this new direction started by Hill & Shannon.
    It is reported from Gold Hill that Morton Lindley has struck a rich pay chute in a new place on the Lucky Bart claim, on Sardine Creek, and that the property is showing up well.
    Fitch, Davis & Cardwell, who put up a Huntington mill on their mine near Willow Springs, will add a concentrator to the machinery and start it in operation again this winter.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 2, 1893, pages 366-367


    NOTES.--Jacksonville Times, Dec. 8: Messrs. Beck & Black have leased the Sherer & Windom claim in Josephine County and will commence active operations at once.
    Wickstrom Bros. & Corliss have purchased the placer mines of Loomis & Hay on Jones Creek for $650, and will work the claims to their full capacity this season.
    The mill owned by Dr. Flanagan and Z. Moody, and which has been operated in Williams Creek district for some time past, has been removed to Ashland precinct, where it will crush quartz from the Sherman ledge.
    T. J. Chapman, the newly appointed receiver, will soon take charge of the Hammersley mine, in Jumpoff Joe precinct. The property is considered to be quite valuable, and a mill has been operated there with considerable success for several months past. 
    Mining Commissioner C. W. Ayers returned last week from Chicago with three blue ribbons which he carried off for mining exhibits from this state. One is for a placer mine in operation, awarded to Mr. Ayers. The others are one for collective exhibit of gold ores and one for collective exhibit of gold, silver, copper and lead ores, by state of Oregon.
    NEW MILLS.--Four new quartz mills are expected to be set up in the vicinity of Ashland this winter.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 16, 1893, page 399


    The placer miners are busy.
    Alex. Orme, the well-known miner of Foots Creek, was in our midst last week.
    Francis Fitch has been confined to his room for several days with a severe attack of grippe.
    The Lucky Bart mining company have shut down their mill for the present, owing to the bad roads.
    Ennis & Cameron are running on full time at their placer mines in Galice Creek district, having an abundant supply of water.
    Messrs. Hall & Sleezer, who found a promising quartz ledge in Tallowbox district, are making preparations to develop it.
    Considerable rain fell during the week and water is running freely again, much to the joy of the miners, who have been frost-bound for awhile.
    Operations have been resumed at A. W. Sturgis' placer mines in Jackass district, and a big run will doubtless be made there during the next few months.
    Four prospectors from Tacoma and Mr. Culp have discovered good placer diggings in Steamboat precinct, near T. B. Houston's residence, and are engaged in working them.
    Knott, Swinden and Donson of the Marland mine, in Kanes Creek district, have commenced a 500-foot tunnel on their property and expect to do a great deal of work this season.
    G. W. Rowland and A. J. Daley, who are operating a Chile mill and arrastra at their quartz mine near Gold Hill, are pleased with the prospects. The ore looks well, and they expect to make a respectable cleanup.
    It is said that a ten-stamp mill will soon be put up by J. C. Lewis, the Portland mining man, on the Green quartz mine on Galice Creek. This mine has been worked occasionally for the past eighteen years and has proved to be a paying property.
    A number of discoveries of rich quartz in different portions of southern Oregon are being reported regularly. Some first-class mines are certain to be developed in the near future. This is the richest mineral region in the whole state.
    Fred. Miller of Missouri Flat was in Grants Pass lately, and reports that work on the Mountain Lion mine is being pushed vigorously. A new quartz mill will soon be placed in position, to take the place of the arrastra now in use. First-class ore is being taken out.
    Messrs. Boynton, Razee and Tobler of Grants Pass, who have been prospecting the old Thompson Creek ledge, have received sufficient encouragement to put up a five-stamp mill, which is expected to arrive before long. They have struck a well-defined and rich vein of quartz.
    The Taylor Mining Co. of Chicago has recently paid off a large part of its debts, and will resume work soon in the Wolf Creek district. A large amount of machinery has been standing on the cars there for months, owing to the inability of the company to pay the freight.--[Roseburg Review.
    Locators of quartz claims should keep in mind the following provisions of the law in regard to assessment work on claims for 1893: "The claimant or claimants of any mining locations, in order to secure the benefits of this act, shall cause to be recorded in the office where the location notices or certificate is filed, on or before December 31st, 1893, a notice that he or they in good faith intend to work said claim."
    F. V. Skiff, chief of the department of mines and mining at the World's Fair, compliments Oregon highly on the showing made in the department. The miniature placer mine is especially praised. The exhibit is characterized as being a full and complete display of the resources of the state in that direction, and much credit is due C. W. Ayer, the mining commissioner, for his success despite the adverse circumstances he labored under.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 22, 1893, page 2


    TO TRY AGAIN.--Ashland Tidings, Dec. 15: Jas. E. Smith & Co. have concluded to build another wheel to run their mill by the current in the Klamath River. The unexpected rise in the river last month took out their wheel and they thought of putting in an engine, but finally decided to risk another wheel, which they will build so that it may be lifted higher than the one that was lost. L. E. Payne went over to Anderson's Ferry from Ashland on Wednesday to construct the wheel for them.
    The Shorty, a short extension of the Hope mining claim, is now owned by Messrs. Alonzo Edwards, E. K. Anderson and Geo. C. Sanford. They are preparing to work the mine, and have men at work clearing out the old shafts and putting them in safe working condition.
    RECEIVER FOR A MINE.--Jacksonville Times: T. J. Chapman of Gold Hill has taken charge of the Hammersley mine, having been appointed receiver by the circuit court. A large quantity of quartz has been crushed by the small mill on the ground, and it is supposed that it paid well. It is likely that operations will be continued.
    The T.P.M.&M. Co. of Leland have five men at work on their property laying pipe, digging ditches and getting ready to commence active operations at an early day. The water used to operate this mine will be forced by pump pressure to an elevation of 400 feet. Dan Greer, an experienced California miner, is superintendent.
    RESUMED OPERATIONS.--The Taylor Placer Mining and Milling Company of Chicago, says the Grants Pass Observer, has again resumed operations. Representatives of the company from Chicago have been in the county for a few weeks fixing up its business, which had got into bad shape owing to bad management. They have paid off several thousand dollars of its obligations, and now, with a clear record to commence anew with, the work will be pushed to completion. Undoubtedly this company owns some of the richest placers found in Southern Oregon. Much of the ground shows very rich, as high as 80 cents to the pan having been washed out by prospectors, while it is said to be impossible to wash a pan without getting several particles of gold. The company have on the ground a complete set of powerful pumps, shipped from the East for the purpose of raising water onto their claim. The pumps will be run by steam power and are being placed in position now.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 23, 1893, page 414


    The cold weather is interfering with the miners.
    A new million-dollar smelting plant for San Francisco Bay is projected by a syndicate of Omaha capitalists, headed by Wm. Selover. The company is to be known as the Occidental Smelting and Refining Company, and it will handle all kinds of ores. It is said the Great Falls, Montana plant will be duplicated.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 29, 1893, page 3


    Since Rogue River, in Oregon, has regained its normal stage of water, a deep channel is being cut straight out to sea, while the north spit has moved out to sea fully half a mile. At low tide a low spit can be seen reaching out from the McCormack rock in a semicircle to the mouth of the river, half a mile farther out than the former spit, and where the mouth of the river formerly was is now dead water.
"Coast Industrial Notes," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 30, 1893, page 429


    THE SIMMONS DAM.--Rogue River Courier: The carrying away of the Simmons' dam is bad for the Waldo country, as it throws a number of men out of employment and forces the owners to discontinue piping for the season. This rich placer annually distributes thousands of dollars in the southern end of this county, besides netting a handsome cleanup for its owners. The value of the dam was probably about $500, but its loss is small compared to loss of the season's run.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 30, 1893, page 430


    NEW CONCENTRATOR.--Ashland Tidings, Dec. 30: Mr. Staples, who is now in San Francisco, is expected to bring up with him on his return a concentrator for the mill on the Sterling ledge.
    R. M. Garrett, Jack Garvin, Dr. Hirchslager and Crit Tolman came up from their mine on Williams Creek last week, and report prospect work in progress with good results. Captain Ingalls, of Portland, another of the owners, visited the mine last week.
    W. D. Anderson, a well-known miner and prospector, is in town this week from Sardine Creek, and reports a good strike in one of his locations, about a mile from the Lindley quartz mill. The rock from a three-foot ledge assays $17 in gold and $6 in silver.
    It is rumored that an attempt is being made to compromise or settle the dispute for possession of the Hammersley mine at the head of Jumpoff Joe. Morton Lindley, of the Lucky Bart mine, and another man are said to be making the effort to bring Hammersley and Drew to an amicable agreement.
    Will Q. Brown, of Riddle, reports that there is no prospect of anything being done at the nickel mines until spring, in any event. If the Chicago company is not prepared to commence active operations then, Mr. Brown believes another company will take hold of the business. There is a large quantity of nickel ore in that region not owned or controlled by the Chicago company, and the field will be open for a new enterprise if the old company doesn't begin to produce the metal.
    MINING NOTES.--Jacksonville Times, Dec. 22: The Lucky Bart Mining Company have shut down their mill for the present, owing to the bad roads.
    Ennis & Cameron are running on full time at their placer mines in Galice Creek district, having an abundant supply of water.
    Operations have been resumed at A. W. Sturgis' placer mines in Jackass district, and a big run will doubtless be made there during the next few months.
    Knott, Swinden and Donson of the Marland mine, in Kanes Creek district, have commenced a 600-foot tunnel on their property, and expect to do a great deal of work this season.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, January 6, 1894, page 13


    THE MOUNTAIN LION.--Jacksonville Times, Jan. 4: The company now in charge of the Mountain Lion mine, in Josephine County, has run a 120-foot tunnel since Dec. 1st. They are running day and night and taking out considerable ore of a good quality.
    The Ashland Mining Co. has resumed operations on their 600-foot tunnel, upon which work was stopped last August on account of scarcity of water. They are running the Burleigh drill steadily and expect to reach the ledge in February.
    The mine in Josephine County, of which a three-fourths interest is owned by Devoe, Brown and Hand, is to be developed. Those gentlemen have bonded their interest to a Mr. Murray for $30,000. J. W. Brown and son and Louis Dyer will go out from Albany to commence operations for Murray at once.
    It is said that a ten-stamp mill will soon be put up by J. C. Lewis, the Portland mining man, on the Green Quartz mine on Galice Creek. This mine has been worked occasionally for the past 18 years, and has proved to be a paying property.
    Work on the Mountain Lion mine is being pushed vigorously. A new quartz mill will soon be placed in position, to take the place of the arrastra now in use. First-class ore is being taken out.
    Messrs. Boynton, Razee and Tobler of Grants Pass, who have been prospecting the old Thompson Creek ledge, have received sufficient encouragement to put up a five-stamp mill, which is expected to arrive before long. They have struck a well-defined and rich vein of quartz.
    WORKING THE TAILINGS.--Rogue River Courier: Cheney, Spencer & Hayes own a paying placer mine about a mile from Waldo. They are working 50 acres of tailings which are estimated to be worth $100,000, as the early-day miners were not very careful about picking up the fine gold, and even let a good many good-sized chunks of amalgam run over their riffles.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, January 13, 1894, page 29

    B. B. Haney and John Hustle, of Tacoma, have bought from Messrs. Cameron & Boaz a large tract of placer ground on the Applegate River, near Uniontown, and will proceed at once to equip the same with a good hydraulic plant. A part of this gravel has been worked for 40 years, by ground sluicing, and has always yielded large returns. It is thought that when it is brought under the pipe it will prove a great property.
    J. A. Peterson, of the Young-Love and Peterson mine, on Louse Creek, has for the past six weeks kept eight men constantly employed. Mr. Peterson expects to get opened up about February 1 and commence to pipe.
    Joseph Pollock brought into Grants Pass the other day a fair-sized pile of gold, cleaned up in his arrastra on Louse Creek. Out of three tons of ore he obtained $165.
    Frank J. Owens, who purchased the Old Sturgeon mine, on Big Pickett Creek, for a California company, has landed in Grants Pass for the mine a carload of pipe, giants, and a full equipment of hydraulic machinery. All of these have been sent in [to] the mine.
    William Bybee has leased the Josephine mine, on Rogue River, to J. M. Underwood, of Indianapolis, under a contract of sale.

(Jacksonville Times)