The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-12-09
The UMPoUA VALLEY DOUGLAS
COUNTY CONTINUED.
SALT DEPOSITS.

shown In last week s issue OF this jour-
nal, the manufacture of salt at one time
was an important industry. The main
salt deposit is found near Oakland,
where, in former years, large quanti-
ties were prepared for the local market.
For dairy, table and meat-curing pur-
poses it compared favorably with that
imported. transportation into the
country becoming cheaper, sharp COM
petition soon obliged the home works
to discontinue operations, since which
time nothing has been done. In sew
eral other portions Of the county salt
springs exist.
QUICKSILVER.
Quicksilver has become, within the
last two years, an object of permanent
investment to the capitalist Valuable
deposits, in different parts of the coun-
ty, of rich and apparently inexhausti-
BILE cinnabar ore, have been discovered
large sums of money expended in its
development and in the construction Of
proper buildings, furnaces, retorts, con-
densers and much complicated machin-
cry. After long trial, many expert
ments with smelling apparatus and
much patient prospecting, at last the
great wealth yielded itself to the ex-
pectant, the long plodding and energetic
labors of Oregon capitalists. An arti-
Gle of quicksilver is now being freely
retorted from the rich ore, and of a
quality not surpassed by any in the
world. The principal company oper-
ating in this county Is the Oregon Gin
nahar and Silver Mining Company, of
which Charles Hodge, Esq, of Port
land, is President, who, with A. T..
Brown Esq, of Oakland in this county,
| were among the early and confident
promoters Of the enterprise. There
has already been over 100000 ex-
pended in the development of the mine,
for machinery and material and numer-
Gus experiments. ! Thomas Bea.e was
originally the first to bring its value to
public notice. He was also the discov.
erer. Belonging to the company are
800 acres, and good paying ore has beer
traced over one-half mile. There are
three main tunnels into the noun tain
and one cross tunnel, of which two arc
each over 600 feet long A shaft Of
$50 feet extends from top of mountain
intersecting tunnel, and rich ore the
entire depth. The veins vary in thick
ness, the one now mined being over q
feet wide
| A furnace Of the latest fine ore pat
ent, is in use and is similar to the on'
now in operation at the well known
New Almaden mines in California. /
is built outside of sandstone and o
brick on the inside, with Scotch fire
brick and fre-proof tile. The condens
ers are of brick and cast-iron, wit. al
modern improvements. The. crushe
and blower is driven by twelve-aors
J. /. Case thresher engine, which is ais
used to food the condensers. The fur
mace has capacity to burn from 5 tt
20 tons Of ore each "a hours. The or
assays from 8 to IS per cent. In TIL
lower tunnel is fonnd we'll de6ne'
vein of silver. The main cinnabar lea,
has been traced over five miles. /
runs southwest and northeast. Othe
: companies are also energetically oper
ating on the same lead, some miles dis
tant, and have developed some mine
of marvellous richness. With the lin
tied capital employed by them, the.
have indeed accomplished much. Th
Bonanza Quicksilver Mining Compan
is the name of one, and the Noun
Scott Quicksilver Mining Company
3 the name of the other. At pre.en
. they are not working. W hen viewin
the long line of very heavy TASKS, file
with the rich looking mercury an
prepared for commerce, we can pre-
: dict with sanguine assurance. such
t future development Of this resource 9
$ few can now realize.
MEDICINAL SPRINGS
: are found in this county and by actu:
, and many tests proven to be of gres
worth. The Snowdsn springs, nes
, Drain, and Jones spring, near Ros
burg, have deserved many sincere tes
!. timonials. Those at Drain afford
lovely resort for the INVALID A sps
: cieus and heme-like hotel buildir
: fronts quite close to the track of Il
o. &. G. r. r. The scenery Of Il
beautiful Yoncalla valley, presents
landscape delightful to view. The eli
mate is pure and health restoring. II
water from the Jones, or Umpq,
mineral spring, has been analysed
eminent chemists. and found to nnsse,