The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1900-09-19
THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO.
Discusses Relative Value of
Hotel and Smelter.

'lf you will excuse me for repeating
that literary chestnut from Dickens, 'l'm
waiting for something to turn up" re.
marked the loquacious representative Of
the Centennial state Sunday afternoon,
as he stood on the bridge across Powder
river looking at the polluted water that
had done service In the Golconda mill.
"This being the case, have had time
to think on other subjects than my .own
private affairs" he continued. "The
topic uppermost In my mind Of late has
been the relative value to this town at this
stage Of the game Of the big brick hotel,
which THE MINER says Dave Wilson Is
going to build here, and the smelter which
is already built and operated sufficiently
to demonstrate It's practical success. For
one am more than pleased to learn that
Sumpter Is going to have at last h1tel
that men accustomed to the ordinary com.
forts Of life will not be sfraid to sleep In,
house that will entice'the fastidious trav.
cling man and the luxury loving capital.
ist to remain over night In this town,
something that only absolute necessity
has had sufficient influence to persuade
TEEN to do In the past. Thisis. Of course,
no reflection on the taverns now open to
the public suppose II Is necessary to
make some such crack as that.
''ln fact, the need Of good hotel Is so
apparent that II Is waste Of energy to
call attention TO the why's and wherefores.
But was surprised to learn that more
than SEC, 900 had been subscribed In this
camp towards the worthy enterprise, and
eouidn't help but think how much more
direct benefit that amount Of money would
do this town II II were employed as a
working capital with which TO buy ore for
the smel,er. Fully that much money Is
needed for that purpose.
"iou know there Is no sentiment In
trade; nor Is there In the business ot
precious metal mining. II a mine owner
has rock worth shipping and can sell II
Tor cash, he Is not going to turn II into the
smelter here and wait ninety or sixty or
thirty days,or twenty n ~ e,for his mon.
ey, merely from motives Of local patriot.
ism. This thing Of being a public bene.
factor is an almighty poor substitute for
actual capital or credit at the bank, to do
business on.
"Ihe smelter here Is q scientific sue.
cess, there are already produced more than
enough ores tributary to this camp to keep
it running continuously, and it is a near
approach to local calamity that 1t is not
IN constant operation. II the smoke from
its stack will drive out those who object
to it as a nuisance, the institution will do
"a greater service to this camp than II its
original object shall be richly realized.
"Of course, there is much ore In this
district that can't paw tor long railroad
hiuls, yet is Of sufficient value to pay
I,cal smelling charges. II Is the devel.
Ooment of this class Of mines that the
snel,er will aid,if 1t will pay cash for ores.
and producing mines and pay rolls are what
is imperatively needed here.
"The fact Of the business is-to give
this broad, comprehensive topic personal
appli .ati0n-if q whole lot Of men ase not
put to work in this district pretty soon At
wages Of about three dollars = day, IN
have to 10 to work myself, and that II
I've appalling catastrophe that an work.
Ing my jaw 50 enesseticslly to pTeveot."
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