The Elk Mountain pilot., 1882-02-23
WE WANT FACTS GIVEN

ing a reported strike in the Blue Bird
mine. While we highly appreciate
any favors or courtesies shown us by
the editorial fraternity, we greatly
depreciate any Misrepresentation cal
culated to deceive the public or those
who may be personally interested in
the mine. l know it is very common
about mining camps to exaggerate
concerning matters of interest to the
camp, also know that the public both
at home and abroad, are getting skep-
tical as to reported rich strikes etc.
l know that editors are not often to
blame for exaggeration in their papers,
but there are many reporters who care
more for news than for the truth. l
wish the public to know that am
not in any way responsible for the
publication referred to in the ND.
The Blue Bird was located in 1879.
Location was made on high point
between Elk Basin and Venango Lake.
The claim is almost parallel with the
venango, lying short distance north
west and running about 500 feet further
north. 1t has always been considered
by the owners of the same a very
promising lead. Of course we expec-
fed to go quite deep before we reached
a body Of paying mineral as we were
sinking shaft on very high part.
The most Of the groupings toward the
Venango being covered by slide it
was considered advisable to sink
within 100 feet Of the north end.
Improvement has been gradual and
continuous, except about 10 feet where
the walls came within about 10 invhes
of each other. As soon as the vein
began widening our mineral improved
more rapidly and has continued to
improve up to the present time. We
are now about 90 feet deep, showing
a good vein of about four feet width
and very regular walls. th,nk the
mineral will fill about one half the
vein, assaying from 60 ouncesto 291I.
We have not taken any ore to sampler
or had any mill runs, but depend on
our trusty and reliable assayer, Mr..
0. G. Schultz, for our opinions. The
mineral which have sent to him and
from which the assays were made,
were not picked pieces, or they were
not trimmed of barren quartz, if they
had have been the results would have
been much higher. Our object in
having the assays was to know what
ore to save. Mr.. Schultz says there
is some ruby in the ore, although it is
very little. Native and brittle silver
is quite easily detected, some galena
and copper pyritese. The vein has
always carried large quantity Of ar
senical iron, gradually diminishing in
quantity as other minerals increased.
We have never had at work over three
men at a time because more could
not work to an advantage without
putting on night shift. All interes-
ted seemed satisfied with the progress
made. In justice to my partners,
Messrs. .Seldomridge, of Colorado
Springs, Nathaniel Tooker, of Jersey
City, and Geo. L. Curtis, of Canan-
daigua N. Y, and a Mr.. Watt and
Mr.. Eldridge of Philadelphia, Pa, l
will say concerning the statement in
the ND. "that the owners were not
men of MEANS" am the only one
of the owners who cannot command
all the means desirable for mine work.
l can also say for some of my partners
that developments on other mines in
the camp, owned by Silver Mt. Min
ing Co. and the Crystal Co., show
that they are not afraid to spend their
money with US and / am sure that all
of them who have been here and
examined the camp have great conf
dence in its future prosperity.
The statement that the Blue Bird
could have been bought at very low
figures, is not true. We were offered
$4,000 last fall for the whole of it
and since had an offer of s., 900 for
10 and all that has changed hands
<h;e ,,su<>, -, Al A.>-I Hf. Gill;