The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-08
is THERE COLD
in THE HILLS?
H. Foster Balm of the Survey
Makes Report.
INFORMATION Is OFFICIAL
Government Is Making an As
say Be Believed.
INFORMATION is OFFICIAL

Washington, Dec. III Foster Balm of
returned to Washington after strenu-
Gus sojouIn in the Wichita mountains of
Oklshoma While there he was an object
Of interest to two hostile classes of the
community. He had been instructed to
ascertain whether precious metals exist
In paying quantities in that district The
miners, promoters and speculat tors who
swarm the hills We're naturally desirous
that he should be favorabiy impressed
with the mineral promise of that local
ity, whereas the homesteaders settled
along the river banks felt an adverse opin-
ion would protect them in their rights.
The report that he will write as the result
OF his investigation is sure therefore to
be received with more than usual in
.efsst.
Mr. Bain's visit to the Wichita noun
tains was made primarily for the pur-
pose of procuring information for the
secretary of the interior. The attention
of the secretary had been called to con-
tests that have arisen between prospec-
tors and homesteaders on whose claims
the prospectors have made mineral filings.
This locality has been the setting for
some exciting scenes during the last two
years. When the district was opened up
in 1901 the miners were permitted to go
In and prospect. For fifty years or more
Iumors have been abroad of old Spanish
mines rich in gold and silver that were
once worked in those granite hills, and
there was nc dearth of fortune hunters
10 penetrate the solitudes when once the
opportunity offered. In that same year
Joseph A. Taft of the United States geo
logical survey visited the district Of
fcially and began the compilation of a
geological map. Before it was completed
he was ordered to Indian territory to seq
regate the coal lands in the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations Later he resumed his
work on his geologic map of the Wich-
ttas and it is expected that he will have
It ready fer publication some time this
winter. Mr. Taft study had special ref
erence to the geological formations of
the district, but he gave considerable at
tention TO the mineral deposits, which
he reported TO be valueless. Mr. Bain's
Investigations in this field nave been con-
fined exclusively TO a study Of ore de-
posits, and his report will be considered
as supplementary to that of Mr.. Taft.
At the same time that the territory was
thrown open to miners. homesteaders were
also allowed to take up lands. Cnfusion
and strife soon resulted. The miners
got onto school lands and Indian allot-
ment lands as well as homestead claims.
The Indian police took occasion then to
interfere, and in defending what they
considered their own, burned buildings,
destroyed mining machinery and created
considerable excitement.
The ultimate question involved is
whether or not there IS mineral wealth
In the district sufficient to even partially
Justify these contentious. Local opinion
rejected Mr. Taffs verdict on the ground
that his examination of the field was too
- cursory to be entirely satisfactory. Mr..
Pain was accordingly sent TO pursue the
Investigation to an absolutely definite
conclusion. He spent some time in the
district, examining particular mines in de-
velopment as well as unstaked ground
and taking samples Of everything that
the miners said was ore. He shipped over
800 pounds of rock to Washington. where
the survey assayerS are now industriously
determining what values it contains, If
any.
Samples from this field have been as
saved before both in Lawtoa. o. T.. the
principal town of the district, and in
Denver. Miners claim that a car load of
ore was recently shipped from the noun
tafns to Denver and that payment was
made on il at a good round rate per ton
The incident involved the possibility OF
fraud. however. in sampling. assaying
and settlement. so that the returns cam
not he taken as a safe indicatio of what
the field may bring forth. Mr.. Balm eX-
eroised the greatest care in procuring
his samples and the government chem
lists will test them with all the nicely
and conscientiousness of which they are
capable, so that the assay results should
represent the value of the Wichita ores
rs accurately rs il 10 possible Tor any
human test 10 check natures work