The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1901-02-13
RICH MINE NEAR
PRAIRIE CITY.
Three Tons Run $500 a Ton
and Six Goes $500

While scouting about the country one
dav last week, endeavoring to round up
some news, the Miner man noticed q
dump, an ore car, bins, sheds and other
evidences Of the presence mine IN field
near the forks Of the Dixie creek and
Sumpter road, about three miles above
town. Going to investigate, he "discov
cred" the George Washington, a property
about which the general public has heard
little AID knows less, but which has
turned out more wealth during the past
nine mouths than any other mine In the
Dixie Creek district. 1t is owned by the
Ward brothers, W. Sexton and George
W. Sheriff, and was discovered BY Mr..
Sheriff last spring while he was pocket
hunting.
Making his mission known, the pencil
pu>her was guided through and about the
mine by Mr.. Sheriff. and during the visit
obtained the tolloain facts and figures
as evidence that another rich mine has
been added to the Dixie creek list:
The adit, about 200 feet In length, has
reached depth Of about 7s feet ~ the
foot wall. IN another 50 feet the owne:s
exrect to reach the point where the Min.
nie spur on the east and another spur on
the wet intersect The Washington vein,
and where surface prospecting indicates
they will strike big body Of rich ore. A
crosscut Of "a feet has not reached the
hanging wall. In this crosscut are shown
three paw streaks six to fourteen inches
wide. Pay on the footwall varies from
one to twenty seven inches wide. How.
ever, what these pay streaks lack IN size
they make up IN richness, as the ore bins
testify. An air shaft connects the first
stope with surface workings, and this
gives the mine excellent ventilation.
No stoping has been done, but two
slopes are being opened. The ore taken
out during the progress Of development Is
divided into three classes. The first, Of
which there are upwards Of three tons
sacked, samples $500 per ton; the second
grade, Of which there are about six tons
In the bin, samples 5000; the third grade,
whi;h runs from SIo to SIS, goes into the
dump, to be worked by some process to be
determined when the mine has reached
more advanced stage Of development.
The high grade ore (deeomposei Qua'tz
and iion oxide) Is washed as II comes
from the drift, and these washings are
manned ont and retOfted
The writer saw panned about a quart Of
dir, that was seraped up from the floor Of
the dritt after the coarse material from a
shot had been cleared away. From this
were obtained several pieces Of gold that
would weigh from 10 to rs cents; the
quart netting between $3.50 and s.. As
high As S37 to the pan have been washed
out af er shot. In August last sI384
were picked up and washed out after a
shot; the largest piece weighed ~ ounces
and was tree from quartz.
In a shaft started from the drift on this
ore shoot, IL to 10 inches of high grade
sulphureis were encountered. At depth |
ot nine feet a spring was tapped; this
flooded the shaft and work upon it was
suspended.
The owners will continue development
ment work until spring, then determine
what process is best adapted for trea ment
Of the low grade and sulphuret ores
Prairie City Miner.