The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1877-07-29
[coMMUSfcATED.1t
from A. j. RonIstonc.

Communication from A. j. Iaoulstonc.
EAST OAELAHD, July II, 1877.
EDIToE ISDErESDENT:-Iu your week
ly issue OF July l2, just Mt hand. find
a communication from Railroad district
rejecting on the course pursued by me
in my late attempt to infuso some life
in that much abused camp by cndeayor-
ing to smclt its copper ores. Had one
half tho energy been cxerted while I
wes there to second my erdeavors to
get business started that hns been
displayed in getting up nh abusive nrti-
Gle since have left, they would have
hud employment aud I would not have
lost time and money. They have let
pass MI opportunity that might have
brought their mines into notice. No
one knows better than yourself, Mr..
Editor, the interest have always taken
i'll trying to coll the attention of capital
to what I have considered tho most
promising copper mines i'll the State,
situatcdin Railroad district. I have al
ways argued that the ore should be re.
duced Oh the spot. Handling and ship
ping i'll former years nearly 1900 tons
from that placo convinced mo OF that
fnct. Muking no prctcntions of being
practical copper smclter, was Nt the
expense of visiting the camp in Febru-
ary last TO make II test, in order to hase
operations i'll case was successful.
Tho result was satisfactory enough to
induce Inc to como up again in May.
60 to the expense of alterations of fur
mace and remain there until the lest Of
June.
Now, ask il it is reasonable to sup
pose TINT after spending so much time
and the expense OF two trips from San
Francisco with no other purpose but to
smelt the orc OF that district, that Oh
being offered ores in quantity should
positively refuse to buy them. and final
iy conclude that would only want
'SESA W NOh9s 40 hOI DAlCLl ~ SlasiC-
men; ridiculous? The truth OF the whole
matter, was not any fault OF the mines,
but lack of co-operatiou among the
miners themselves. They were offered
per copper ton, for 20 per cent. ore NIL
that i'll my judgment the present low
price Of crudo or black copper, such rs
the furnace wouih produce, would war
rant. Somo o: the mine owners were
anxious and willing to. take out. their
ores, while others who had mines better
developed preferred to sell them and
thought it would favor their chances by
leaving their ores on the dump. Let
ters received from San Francisco nj
most weekly by different parties stating
TINT company Of English capitalists
contemplated q visit with view OF pur-
chasing copper mines, also had the CT
feet Of keeping tho hope alive that they
might dispose OF their mines.
The question OF orc in quantity suf-
hcient TO keep smelter running do
pended on tho working of NIL the mines.
and unless all took hold with willing
hands, | did not feel as thongl 1 wus
justified i'll continuing operations. As
l did no: feel like abandoning the Geld
without trial Of the furnace, such
grades Of ores and quantities rs they
were willing 10 spare, bought, and the
amount delivered was cightcon copper
ton. The result was satisfactory. So
far only as showing what might be done
under favorable circumstances. Pecu-
niarily il WAS failnro, rs tho expense
of starting mp furnace Oh 50 small nh
amount would be tho same MS q run Of
several weeks. What tho mines Of
Rnilroad need is vigorous developing,
with several hundred tons of ore piled
up oil tho dump. They would bc in.
Yiting to the capitalist who wished TO
purchase mines. or the smclicr TO work
tho ores, and II the mines will not stand
such development, the sooner tho own.
crs know IL the better.
a. ]. ltouJ.sroSE.