The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-22
.WILDMAN
BECOMING
MINING TOWN
Small Mining Camps Are
Dotted Over Hills.
GOLD AND COPPER
Is Reported 10 Be in Paying
Qualities.
AND


Wildman, o. T, Aug. 21.-Tour CORES
pondent has been making tour OF the
Wichita mountains investigating the min
erai prospect More than two thousand
mineral claims have already been re-
corded and there are hundreds more that
viii be fled on miners. perhaps a thous-
and are prospecting for sold. copper, zinc.
oil, coal, asphaltum and other minerals.
The work is not confined to any par
ticular district, though the oil prospec-
tors are nearly al working on the east
side OF the mountain range near Lawton.
one can drive along any road or cattle
trail in the hills and see from two to q
score Of men at work with pick or shovel.
Two or three little mining towns have
already sprung into existence and there
win doubtless be others. Wndman, on
section twenty-five. in town four north,
range seventeen west, is probably taking
the lead just now. Nearlya hundred
miners make their headquarters there.
The townsite IS beautifully located on
Otter creek and is surrounded by the
highest mountains in the entire Wichita
range. The government located a post
Office at this place some three months
ago on petition signed by two hundred
miners and prospectors. Otter creek
never runs dry and there are nunberless
springs of pure water along its course.
The water is filtered through the rocks
on the mountain sides. and is pure and
clear grocery store. a bakery.
blacksmith shop, and few other lines OF
business have already been established at
Wldman since August 9Th.
As to the mineral prospect, your CORES
pondent is not geoIogist nor and exper-
fenced miner. but he has seen enough
pay dirt" to satisfy him that there is
gold and copper in paving quantities ln
the mountains around Wildman. While
here yesterday we met old miners from
all the American gold mining districts.
California, Kondike. Cripple Creek and
the Black Hills. All of them are hard
at work on their claims and they conf
IDENTIFY believe they have untold wealth
within their grasp. And what makes
their contention seem more plausible is
the fact that they are spending their
money on the prospect. No man has yet
offered TO sell his claim though several
companies have been Incorporated for the
purpose of developing the mines.
1t is no secret that some OF the miners
about Wldman have been delving into the
hidden treasurers Of TIE Wichitas for
seven or eight years. Two old fellows
from Canadian county showed your cor
respondent assay certificates dated IN 1907
ore from ten or dozen claims was as
saved by z. VI. Tucker OF Granite, for-
merly Of Colorado. last May and June
The ore ran from s. to in gold with
the traces of silver and copper More
assays were made in July. bu the miners
refused to state what the results Were
The writer took some specimens from
two Of the best leads and sont them to the
Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical
college at Saltwater for analysis We
also sent piece Of ore TO an assayer in
Galesburg. III. for analysis The result
viii be reported In these columns IN
few days II the statements and assay
certificates OF the miners arc cor-ohorated
We may expect a great mining boom in
the Wichita mountains before many
weeks. One thing sure. II the ore con
tains minerals in paying quantities there
VIII be a new batch Of miilionaires In
Oklahoma I'm the near future. for there
are millions of tons Of ore in sight.
Most OF the ore is free milling. though
some Of # is refractory. What the miners
call their best stuff IS kind of deep
black slate. Then there is q greenish
white quartz which looks very rich. One
elaine near the creek contains a siiod six
foot vein Of black and brown material
and very brittle. which contains gold
ard silver. When we get reports from
the chemists the readers Of the Eagle
shall have more accurate Information on
the mineral prospect IN the TVIchitas.