The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-09-04
OREGON 5Tk
GOLD
FIELDS
Sumpter the EIdOradO
of the Pacific
Coast
Mines are Yielding Well and
Many New Properties
are Developed livery
Year

Geo. z. Allen. a well-known salem
nan. who vas quite prominent in Ma
rion county politics. and has been a
resident OF sumpter for three years
favored The Journal with an interview
about that interesting mining center.
He has been visiting his son who Is
in the government service at Fort
Stevens. and seeing a few friends at
the Capital before returning.
He sold a farm here and invested
in real estate at that place. which he
has sold al a profit. He built three
residences and has disposed OF them
All Property has advanced about 20
per cent az Sumpter the past year
The Cripple Greek Of Oregon is locat.
ed 81 miles west Of Baker City and is
reached By the Mormon railroad.
called In miners slang the Polygamy
Central. and transportation rates are
all that conscience and the law will
allow. There have been several at I
tempts TO get legislation TO fix freight
rates at a more reasonable figure. but .
none have been successful.
Talks Of the Mines.
1T is impossible for any intelligent
man. said Mr. Allen. TO see these
mines and the general prospect for
mineral wealth and not become a rab.
ID enthusiast over them. / went there
~ a mechanic and farmer. but I have
got the fever about as bad as the
most excitable prospector TheSump.
er mines are all doing well and new
properties are being opened all the ,
line. A 25O.ton smelter has lust now
'een completed. My son. Frank AL :
en-, Is foreman at the North Pole ,
nine. where they run 40 stamps. Two ,
ears ago II was valued at $4,000 and !
oday IL is a slOO00,0OO property !
'wned In London. Sumpter is one OF
he largest towns in Eastern Oregon. !,
md the supply center for large min. J,
'ral region. The climate Is very
much Ike Western Oregon. except .,
hat we have snow from December 10
April. and there Is good sleighing. All :,
he heavy machinery and freighting p
3 done on sleds. rigs on runners haul y
ng loads OF rs 20 90 tons.
There Is no farming or gardening. =.
,ut good summer grazing for stock -
The stock Is then taken down the 40 40
alleys 10 feed and winter. There Is ~
'lenty OF fruit and garden truck w
'rought In by the railroad and the w
armers from the adjacent fruitful n
alleys bring In big four.hourse wagon w
Dads OF green stun and fruits that Is ~ ~
old al good prices and have an abun. .a .n
ant supply OF such things. The ni
awmill az Baker City. owned By wy
ig Mormon syndicate that has i'm ui'
tense holdings of pine timber gets ~
q logs adjacent 10 Sumpter. The VIZ
ood timber lands are all gobbled up Ia
y large corporations Some OF the 81
reatest mines at Sumpter are the VI
olconda, 30 stamps; the Columbia. ~
stamps: the Cracker Oregon. 10 h'
amps, and the Z. & r.. 10 stamps. uh
le latter one OF Jonathan Bourne's n
roperties. The monthly clsanuns VIC
these mines are from $4,000 10 Vol
'vo'ooo' but are not made public. ~
diaeent to sumpter, aud tributary 10 ao
are the Granite. Greenhorn and io
eiser districts, Here are some sblen. ch'
d properties. The BOnanga al OF
aiser. producing with 40 stamps. only
OF which are running owing 20 de ,
'lopment work being done about
n.o,o per month. The Red Boy near no,
ranite 20 stamps. $4,000 a month.
ne Psiche has 20 stamps. the Phix ., enH
Cougar 10. Don Juan 10. Golden hi,'
lgle 3. All OF these are mrnI,e All
4 good money, though the amounts ,hu
q not made public. The Daues 90 hal
putting up 20 stamps. the snow CIV
'eek. Worley Big Johnny. Virginia IN
y. l.. huttercup. Phoenix, MAming cen
e ore bodies blocked out and are ar cen
ore bodies blocked out, and are AR We'
nging for machinery. The sunni. cal
section Il Is safe to say. produces oy
silly s5,00oo 600 In gold a year ana cen
many years will more than doublr lei
production.