The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1902-09-10
MAN WHO WANTS
TO BUY A MINE
Something Of the Tenderfoot
In a Mining Camp.


sale, Of his tricks, Of his persistency, of
his successes and his failures. These
stories are usually highly colored, some
are based on fact, others are the product
of the REALTORS imagination, entirely.
But OF the man who comes out Of the
east to the mining camp for the purpose
of buying II property, one hears and
reads but little. OF the two, he is the
more interesting study. The man who
Is selling the mine is at home, il pursu.
ing his life work, is strictly within his
own province and merely displays his
own individual characteristics.
On the other hand, the buyer is fish
out OF water; he is engaged in a task,
nine times out Of ten, altogether new to
to him and there could be written col
umns on his antics that would add vastly
TO the gaiety Of nations. As a general
thing, he represents conservative busi-
ness men In some town or city east,
who. having heard Of the great fortunes
made in mining and having money to
invest, have decided to take flyer ut u
gold proposition. They have also deter.
mined that they will 20 at the job in
business.like way; will take every pre-.
caution TO protect themselves. With
this idea in view, they select one Of their
number to make the trip out TO the min.
ing district, look over the ground him.
self and be sure that gold brick, IN.
stead oi IA mine, IL not unloaded on them.
They choose man reputed tn be shrewd
On trade, considered u wise guy by his
friends, generally u lawyer. OF course,
he doesn't know q mine from building
stone quarry, the waste dump from q
pile Of concentrates.
He lands in Sumrter and loafs around
town for u day or two, enveloped In
mystery. lie is stranger and the local
middlemen spot him. They throw them.
selves in his way, start conversation
and the chances are two to one that be.
fore the interview terminates he confides
20 his newly made acquaintance, In
strictest confidence, that he has come
here to buy mine. This thing happens
with u half dozen brokers in the course
OF u couple Of days, and In another every
mining man in town knows the object Of
his visit and Is trying to unload on him.
In n week, he doesn't know "where he
IL at"
He inspects halt dozen or more prop.
critics, listens IN Orations on their NJ
spective merits, IL widely disappointed
in his preconceived idea Of what mine
looks like, and can't be convinced that u
really promising prospect IL not the
rankest kind Of transparent fraud. In
nine cases ont Of ten he becomes sue
picious and in,ssinss everyone 10 trying
10 "do" him. In the rare instances
where he IL willing to pay for the exam.
inatlon BY and opinion Of m expert. he
brings one in here from soms other state,
vho is not familiar With the district.
knows nothing Of local formations and
conditions, inspssss seme ous o. two
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