Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1903-01-28

The Merchants Mining company has placed an order for large vulcan cut gear clutch friction steam hoist of the Hendrie and Bolthoff make and a large return tubular full flush steel boiler of Kewanee make. This plant is capable of sinking to a depth of one thousand feet and the intention. of the company is to reach that depth as soon as possible There has also been an order placed for three cars of lumber for the purpose of building commO- dious quarters for the miners. This property is no longer a prospect. It is producing a great deal of ore and will no doubt be on dividend pay ing basis as soon as it is equipped with the proper machinery. Parties who have examined the company's mines all agree that they rank with the best properties in Arizona and will be at the head of the list with producers ere long.
 The company's stock is in great de- mand being dealt in by the most con servative business men of Prescott and other parts of the country.
 The greater portion of their share holders are men engaged in the mer- camille business. who are considered a very desirable class of shareholders.
 The Big Bug district in which the mines of the Merchants Mining com pany are.lOcated, is just now experi- encing somewhat of boom all along the line. The Poland mill is running day and night to its full capacity. The Poland Extension company is pushing work actively on its recently purchased property, under the super intendency of John Gray.
 The Postmaster, which adjoins the Merchants Mining company's property is also being worked by Kent Bros, who are taking out splendid ore, and another old time property of that dis trict is again coming to the front. This latter is now called the Midnight Rambler mine, but it was formerly known as the Mesa mine- During the early days it produced large quantities of gold, the ore being worked in an arastra. Chunks of ore were found in it as large as an apple which were one fourth pure gold. The property is located directly across Big Bug creek from the Poland tunnel. and adjOins the Poland company to the south, and adjoins the Poland Extension mine on the east. The present owners of this old mine have added five other claims, forming group known as the Rambler group, two of the claims having recently been patented. Two samples of ore were recently sent in from this group for assaying, the re- turns being as follows: Sample num- Der 1, gold S234, silver, g. Sample number ?, gold s196, silver g. 50. The present owners intend shortly to in- corporate to work the property, when a long tunnel will be run to intersect the ledge of the Midnight Rambler, or old Mesa claim, at a great depth. The ore down as far as development work has progressed is free gold, and very rich. In early days the Mesa mine was known as the banner prop erty of Big Bug.
 Douglas, Lacey S Go. have the most favorable reports from the properties being worked by them Between tif- teen and twenty men are employed on the Prosperity mine, in Copper Basin, and the showing has been excellent from the time they took charge of the property. A good wagon road has been Luilt from the mine to the Skull valley railroad station. at a cost of between S4,OOO and 5000 and ore is