The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-12-28
Opinions Concentrated.

bOuSllhk Idtto VI NOllCCuli dNlNHt W.
casioned considerable comment among
owners of property, and, as we also
expected, they regarded the rates rath-
or higher than the camp could stand.
We have been at the paius TO inter-
view some of the leading parties inter-
ested, and below give the result. 1t is
TO be hoped Mr.. Castle Will econ
slider his prices Of he can do so with
safety 10 his enterprise) for the BLACK
RANGE is more than anxious to see
hin abundantly succeed. for his enter
prise and push, together with the in
lelligent and systematic methods he
has pursued in his mil venture. merit
the amplest reward. The BLACK
RANGE also wishes TO note the fact
that Mr.. Castle, by his test has settled
all doubt concerning the ores of this
district, and established the confidence
OF every mine owner in its ultimate
outcome. His published test, has ex-
cited comment east, aud in more than
one instance since that test was made
public, capital has made inquiries con-
corning entering on such an enterprise
here. We believe in the old miller's
rule - first come, first served and
hence most earnestly hope that q mu-
tual agreement may be had whereby
Mr.. Castles rates can be made so as to
induce development of Il camp, and
give him the advantage of the ores in
the camp on the moral ground of his
having first brought to light the sin
gular fact that this is among the most
remarkable camps in any country, for
ores of concentration. But to the
views of others:
Charles Myers, one Of the owners of
the Colossal, said: "In 1880 he had ore
concentrated from the Tropic nine,
At Humphreys mill, Idaho Springs,
Colorado, and paid $2.75 per ton for
concentration. Labor was S2.75 to
$500 per day. Good miners always got
$500 per day. He said wood at that
time was 5000 per cord, delivered,
while Mr.. Castle, as he was informed,
was getting his delivered at $275 to
$500 per cord. Five years ago, and be-
fore competition, but $500 per ton was
paid at Idaho Springs, for Concentra-
ton, and he thought $500 would he a
large profit for concentration here. He
said he knew nothing of the promise
made to pay freight on machinery
from Engle to Chloride"
Ed. Magner of the Black Knight
said: ave haven't a pound of ore to
move off the dump at any such figures
as eight dollars per ton for cOncentra.
ton. AS to wages, Mr.. Castle has a
perfect right to hire men as cheap as
he can, but it is hardly fair for him
TO dictate the figures for miners out,
side. We codld take out, from the
start, Il couple of tons daily of forty
dollar ore, but would not pay more
than five dollars per ton for treatment.
Wages, he sand, in the mining camps
Of Colorado, are $500 per day, and if
our men were able 10 buy their sup
plies, N quantities, and ship them in
as Mr. Castle does, and as is bis right to
do, we might work at the same figures
here. He said he never heard OF the
promise to pay the bull team freight
on machinery. lie said he did sup
pose that finding Of water was prom
ised, but he had just learned that was
a voluntary act on the part Of Chic
ride. and made after The machinery
had been shipped"
l.. CorsOn, interested in several pro-
perties, said: Il think Mr.. Castle has
put his figures a little high, and for
his own sake. as well as that Of the
camp, l am sorry, He believed that
from four to five dollars per ton, for
concentration would be better for
him, and the camp, and he was very
anxious to see the concentration a sue
cess. He said Mr.. Castle had pioneered
the concentration business-he was
full of enterprise, and a first-class man.
and he did not want him to lay the
situation open TO rivalry, as surely
would be the cas- if he insisted on
those figures for concentration. He
too said he knew nothing of the prom
Use to pay freight charges on machln-
cry"
Mr.. Turner, owner in quite a num-
Der of properties, said: 81 do not pre-
tend to be an expert in the business OF
concentrating, but l think [ know the
ores Of the. camp pretty well, and If 1t
is necessary to charge the prices indi-
Gated by Mr.. Castle 10 make his invest
ment good, he would save money by
closing down his work at once, for the
camp will not bear it. Mr.. Castle, in
his estimate, overlooks the fact of
waste-in other words, he estimates on
the basis of an entire saving of all he
puts through the mill, which is hardly