Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-04-23
A $4,000 COPPER DEAL
Patsy Clark Montana Capitalist.
Buys Joe Creek Mines.

A sale of mining property was CON
summated at Jacksonville Thursday,
that is of great Importance to all
Southern Oregon.
The Joe Greek copper mines were
sold by their owners, Cooper, Adams
and others, to the Montana mining
king, Patsy Clark. The owners have
been asking $3.50, 900 for their prop.
erty, but finally sold it for S2l0, 600,
and received payment of $65, 600
There were number of other
mining men in the party who are
interesting themselves in other proper
ties in tho vicinity. These mines are
located ON the north slope of the
Siskiyou Mountains, about 40 miles
southeast of this place, near the
Watkins postoffice, on Upper Apple
gate Greek.
The new owner will begin at once
to develop the mine with crew of
so men working in three eights-hour
shifts.
A daily stage line will be put into
operation by Mr.. Clark between Jack
sonville and his newly acquired prop.
erty as soon as the stock and coaches
can be provided.
While these mines are located in
California, they are practically in
Southern Oregon. Joe Creek, on
which the claims lie, empties into
Elliott Creek, and this in turn flows
into Applegate river, all of which
head on the north slope Of the Apple
gate and flow down and across Jose
phine county. The only means of
reaching the mines is from this side,
a good wagon road leading to them
along the Applegate from Grants
Pass. The mines cover some 800 acres
or more. The region, though isolated,
is rich and promising one, and for
several months past has been the scene
of great mining activity. Copper is
the principal metal, and the bodies of
this that have been uncovered in the
several claims being opened are said
to surpass in richness and extent the
famous veins of the Iron Mountains
and other Shasta mines farther north
and just over the divide of the Siski-
yous. In fact, it has been demon
strated beyond doubt that the Joe
and Elliott Greek deposits and those
of Waldo, across the line, are "A part
of the Shasta copper belt.
There are 16 claims in the proper
ties purchased by Patsy Clark On
some of these considerable develop
ment work has been done The lodges
range from six to 20 feet in width and
carry values in both copper and gold.
The average copper values are about
8 per cent, with from 50 to 80 ton
gold 1t is the intention of Mr.. Clark
to operate his newly.acquired proper
ties on an extensive scale Each and
all of the claims are to be thoroughly
and systematically opened up. Fol
lowing this, large smelters will be
put in and the mines worked as eX-
tensively as those farther south. To
do this will require railroad into the
district, as the present means Of
hauling in coke and hauling out
matter by wagon over bad mountain
roads Is far too inadequate for any
thing but very small property. A
railroad will necessarily have to be
built into the district Already
speculation is is being made as to the
probable route Of this line That it
will connect with the Southern Paci-
fic goes without saying, unless it
should make connections with the
proposed Oregon q Pacific, which
gives promise Of opening up "A new
route from here to San Francisco.
With the opening up Of these i'm.
mense copper properties, those Of the
Waldo Smelling 81 Mining company,
those of the Mountainview Copper
Company, all of which mines are
situated in virtually the same or ad-
joining districts, Southern Oregon
will become the greatest copper center
in the world. They are all enormous
propositions, and will necessarily
move slowly, nevertheless, all are
preparing for work, all are shaping
themselves for the beginning Of bust
ness, all are arranging for railroad
connections with the main market
centers, all are to be developed aud
equipped with smolters and worked
on mammoth scale all present vast
bodies of high grade copper ore, and
all.are managed by men Of means and
enterprise.