Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-08-27
A Splendid Report on the Merchants Mining Com pany's Property From an Earnest Mining En= gineer of Years Experience, Who Backs His Judgment With Substantial
 Subscription for Stock.
The Baumann Copper Compays Monthly Letter to Its Stock holders Giving Interesting Report of Progress Being Made in DeveIopment-Notes of Interest
 From Other Properties.

B. H. Gray, superintendent of the 1 Merchants Mining company's pro perfy, was in town yesterday, and brought in a sample of ore from new strike made in the south drift of the 24O-foot level. It was found on the foot wall side of the ledge and IS very similar to the strike recently made in the north drift of the same level, though the ore is not so rich. Like the ore from the former strike | it is free milling and assays away up towards S100, which is considered good ore in any country and in any mine, but of course seems low when compared with ore going up into the thousands. The body of sulphide ore in this drift is also widening out as the drift is extended, and there Is now fine body of ore in the drift. Every foot of development work done in the mine increases the indicatio ns which have been apparent from the start of making big mine.
 Percey Williams, a mining en- gineer of great prominence, who has been connected with mines in Colo rado and Utah for several years visited the property recently and made cursory examination of it and took number of samples which he had assayed. He was so favorably impressed with the property that he immediately made a cash subsc1p- tion to the stock of 1900 shares. Mir. Williams represents Cleveland capi- talists in the management ot the Slate Creek Mining company. which is evidence that he is well up m his profession, and in fact few mining engineers stand higher in his profes- sion in Utah and Colorado than he: The fact that the property impressed him so favorably as to make a sub scription to the stock induced Man ager Ed. Block to request him to write his candid opinion about It, which he did. MT. Block has per mitted the Journal Miner, the use of this letter, which is here produced:
 Prescott, A. T., Aug. 2l, 1902.
 Mir. Ed. Block, Manager Merchants
 Mining Co.,:
 Dear Sir:-In compliance with your request I have made cursory e1ami- nation of the Merchants Mining company's property in Big Bug Dis trict. Arizona, and I enclose you here with copy of assays from same.
 The main vein, as exposed to depth of 240 feet in the new shaft and exploited by the 165 foot and the 2IO foot levels, promises a heavy milling tonnage of ore that will aver age about S25.00 per ton.
 The body of the high grade free milling" ore encountered in the north drift from the bottom of the shaft is not, in my opinion, a mere ''pipe" or astringerh of rich ore, but rather a valuable and we'll defined ore chute formed by the intersection with the main ledge at this point of a small cross vein which is also traceable on the surface near the hoist. l think upon further exploitation you will find that this high grade ore body is of considerable extent. The average assay obtained at this point was Sl, 78O.OO in gold and 60.2 ounces sil- yer per ton from a 6-inch streak. An other sample taken in the face of the
 north drift fifteen feet beyond this
 point of intersection, shows values
 from an inch streak of A OF. silver and S2S2.00 in gold per ton. This
 showing would indicate that thus high
 grade ore chute k of fair stze aDd-eS-
 tremely valuable There is every
 chance of encountering this same ore
 chute again by drifting from the 3Ot foot level south (when you attain
 that depth).
 Also the balance of the main ledge as exposed in the old shaft 2SO feet northbound on the vein, shows con : siderable tonnage of heavy lead orS of good milling value. It Is true that this ore contains considerable zinC , which would detract from its value 3 as a smelling ore, but by 'jiggIng' this ore in the mill (you contemplate I. this zinc blende can easily be separ : ated from the lead and iron minerals : and will undoubtedly make a vaiu l able product by itself when sent t' = the special zinc smelters.
 f The main ledge is one of tn 9 strongest and best defined of any 1. have examined in the Territory, an' r I believe will stand development t + great depth. l. Your plan now should be to equi k your property with 30 H. P. hois e and since the main shaft to the 1OO d foot level, at which depth you woul' S be below the bed of the creek at Bi @ Bug and would encounter plenty C Il water to justify the erection of t large concentrator. ,f Your property gives every promls O of developing into a valuable min e and I have no doubts, from my ot Il servation of your business like mt le thods of exploiting this property c. the past, but that you are keenl m alive to the present necessity of a
 energetic campaign of developmeI
 underground.
 I have examined so many pro- in critics which have spent 90 per eel S of their capital on surface imProV ot ments" and dead head salaries" tn d. I assure you it has been a p.easu d. and a relief for me to note an exec Id ton in the properties under yo t. management.
 te You are not to regard this letter en technical report, for 1 had no tin is to make such, but 1 have SCI ", enough, however, to justify my e he closed subscription to your treasu J. stock. This subscription is sm' d. but all I can afford at the prese h. time. With best wishes, l am, n- Very truly yours,
 Percy Williams, ar Mining Engineer and ManaG J. Slate Creek Mining Co.