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Despite the fact that the rush to the Klondike and the war have diverted
attention of capitalists from our gold fields, there is considerable activity
in mining going on. The woods are full of prospectors and reports of rich
finds are reported almost daily. Several parties are doing some good development
work in the way of sinking shafts with a view of testing the value of their
locations and others are stripping the veins. The Seine River and Lower
Manitou seem the favorite hunting grounds for prospectors, who may be seen
with pick and pan at almost every spot. As will be noted in our "Mine
Centre" correspondence the " Hidden Treasure" mine, located
near Sturgeon Falls and adjoining the Golden Crown mine owned by Gehl Bros.,
is reported sold for a nice sum, of which $10,000 was paid down in cash.
This property has a shaft on it some fifty feet in depth and discloses a
very rich body of ore. Several other properties have options on them and
a number of sales are expected to be closed in another two months.
A letter to the HERALD from Mr. G.W. Pelton, secretary of the Klondike &
and Northwestern Supply Co., located at Boston, Mass. states that he is
now on his way to visit this section on behalf of his company, with a view
to investment. He is accompanied by Dr. Haines a distinguished professor
of Harvard University and a noted mineralogist, who will examine into the
mineral resources of the country. Should they see anything to suit them
it is likely some big deals will go through, as the company are looking
for good investments.
Advices from the Lower Manitou say that the Bullion Mining Company, of Rat
Portage, have a big sale on hand of mining property in that district to
an English company. The exact figure could not be learned but it is said
to be in the neighborhood of a quarter of a million. Several other properties
near Moose Lake are expected to change hands in the course of a few weeks,
which looks as if things were holding their own.
Some great improvements are being made in the mines around Mine Centre in
regard to the erection of permanent buildings and other work of a substantial
character which is an indication of the confidence of the owners.
Take it all in all, while we would like to see greater development work,
yet the work that is being done is of a nature to insure still more in the
near future.
Of the many properties that can be said to be well managed the Golden Star
heads the list. This company are installing a 30- stamp mill besides making
other improvements which when finished will make it the most complete in
the west. Speaking of the property, the Duluth Herald in an interview with
Mr. R.R. Thayer, foreman of the Burgess Electric company who has just returned
to Duluth after making an estimate of the cost of building an electric railway
for the mine, says -
"The proposed road is to be built from the Golden Star mine, formerly
the Randolph, to the lake, where a stamp mill is now being erected. It will
be 3200 feet long and will have a 10 per cent grade. It will be used for
hauling ore from the mine to the mill. There is now on the stockpile at
the mine, about 4000 tons of ore, which it is estimated will average $20
to the ton in gold. The main shaft of the mine is now down 300 feet, at
which depth the vein is fourteen feet wide, and enough ore in sight to insure
the continuous running of the mill after it is ready for business. At other
mines in the district the mistake has been made of erecting mills before
they have been sufficiently developed to keep the stamps at work, and their
enforced idleness has resulted in great financial loss to the owners.
"Mr. Thayer also states that there is great activity at most of the
mines in the district and that owners show every confidence in the value
of their properties. At the Ferguson mine, which has been idle for some
time owing to litigation which followed the death of one of its owners there
was an explosion last Wednesday. A house containing 30,000 percussion caps
was struck by lightning during a severe electric storm and all of the caps
were exploded. The loss of about $1,000. Mr. Thayer visited this mine, which
is down about 70 feet and brought home with him a number of choice specimens
of gold-bearing quartz. The vein is a narrow one but is exceedingly rich.
"Mr. Thayer reports good roads over the portage by the Tower roue and
says that boats on the lakes are making close connections, so the trip to
Mine Centre is now not only easy but pleasant. The boats make three trips
a week, leaving Tower Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays returning on the same
days.
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