Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-18
THE LOST LOUISIANA MINE.
BEAR CITY. ARK, Jan. Q.

BEAR CITY. ARK, Jan. 9.
To the Editor of the Eagle:
left Wichita about a month ago on
what all my friends assured me was a
wild goose chase" and ] more than
half believed myself that it would prove
SO. | came at the invitation of friend
who is interested in the mineral resources
of Arkansas. to visit the lost Louisiana
mine, about which so much has been
written of derogatory character that |
was prepared to find it either one of the
grandest frauds of the age or a mining
property of true merit SO enormous that
its very size gave an air of improbability
to the truth. | have given to the inves-
tigation Of the mine. and the men having
it in charge, months close study ana
am forced to the conclusion that if the
lost Louisiana mine has ever been mis-
represented by its owners and officers. ii
has been done by Understanding
rather than overstating the facts.
The mine as originally found show
ed on the surface large
depression on the side of what is known
as Louisiana Hill, and at the extreme
south of this depression the remains of
an old shaft Tradition located at this
point the scene of long continued mining
operations by the Snaniards who about
one hundred years ago occupied this ter
ritory. and the mine under their admin
lstration was known as the Louisiana:
hence its present name. That no con-
vuislon OF nature produced the hollow
IN the hill side and its accompanying
shaft, any observer must at once con-
clude. The present company acquired
possession Of the property about three
years ago and have been sinking shaft
from the bottom of the old depression,
or as it is locally called the ''old Span
ish dig, and have now reached depth
of 50 feet, and have cross-cut the body
of ore 40 feet on the north and 2l5 feet
on the south side of the shaft. making
total length of 255 feet of underground
prosecuting in direct line. witholQ
reaching either the foot or hanging wall
of their vein. The ore at the surface
showed values ranging from 81 to 50 per
ton. With Increased depth the ore has
steadily improved in richness, and the
average of the present level shows 1925
to $3.50 to the ton.
The ores of this mine, and in fact of
the entire district, are different in char
acter from any ores now being worked
upon the American continent, and assay
ers of national reputation have been I'M
able to successfully treat them upon their
first attempt. There has been, however,
small band of faithful and determined
men in this out of the way place who
have made study of the ores and sue
ceeded at last in finding a method for
their treatment. both in assay and mill
runs. The peculiar nature of the ores is
the only thing that has kept this country
in the back ground, and now that meth
DDS for obtaining the values have been
found expect to see a general influx
into this part of Arkansas.
Prof. Samuel Aughey has been here
for Il little more than year and has al
ways been able to get the values in as
say Mr.. A. N. Beam has studied the
ores for three years. Prof. Webster. late
of the ComstOck mine, is here. and Prof
r. r. Waltz. recently of Denver, has
Just completed reduction works in this
place. Prof. Waltz has treated by his
process small lots of the Lost Louisiana
ore in the same way that he proposes to
treat. it on a large scale,
and has from different lots
obtained values ranging from
sllS.S0 to $156 IN gold to the ton.
Two tons of the Lost Louisiana ore are
now being treated by Prof. Waltz, and
the Lost Louisiana company are fitting
up stamp mill in which it is proposed
to introduce the liXiviation process.
Upon the competitive of the two ton run
by Prot. Waltz, l will telegraph you the
results obtained. This place is situated
sixteen miles due west of the city OF Hot
Springs and is easily reached by stage
from that place. | shall remain here
some time watching developments, so l
think this a splendid field for money
making, and will keep you posted from
time to time on the progress of events.
4, ,..LA