Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-09-15
OUR MINES DEVELOPING
This Section Looks Good to
Mining Engineer.

Lawn vi uSNtiOlincut III Cuutitiu
Oregon may be attributed principally
to the ease with which, in the past.
prospector could secure workable
location from which to secure easy
money" said Horance ]. Pullen, a
well-known mining engineer, in re.
sponse to question. "As long as
this condition lasted the prospector
was content Now, with the narrow.
ing of the circle of placer mining
chances. these men are hunting for
quartz mines, but with their penchant
for seeking speedy returns and seeing
the golden values in form they can
appreciate, they have been directing
too much effort to finding pockets.
rather than making great mines by
development of veins and lodges "
"Hod" Pullen, as he is known
among his intimates and mining men
generally, has been spending several
days in Portland, while superintend-
ing tests of ore brought from mine
just examined in Southern Oregon.
Socially, Mr.. Pullen is pleasant,
cosmopolitan sort of man, who can
adapt himself to the conditions of any
land or cline where duties call. He
is an enthusiastic member Of various
Masonic and other fraternal organiza-
tions, and has a fund of information
and anecdotes gained from experiences
in foreign lands that makes him
pleasant companion in any social
gathering. Although hail-fellow-
well-met among his confreres and
friends of the mining world, it is
said that he is a rather frigid, nonen-
thusiaatlc investigator Of mines and
prospects, There was time. several
years ago, when for brief period,
the glamor of rich Gre which he dis
covered and lost in the Gore Range.
of Colorado, made him famous, and
he dreamed of fortune; but rich
specimens no longer enthuse or cause
him to entertain visions of sudden
wealth. Older and riper in mining
experience, the only side of mining
that appeals to him is summed up in
general averages and commercial
value. Asked his opinion of Oregon
as a mining state, he repled
That is rather broad question.
but l take it for granted you mean
Southern and Western Oregon, for the
Eastern part of the state is beyond
the experimental stage. As to
Southwestern Oregon, have formed
a very favorable impression of its
mineral possibilities. 1t is just shak.
ing off swaddling clothes and awaken
ing to the great possibilities that
exist there. -
"You think exploitation has not
been extensive?"
1t has hardly been scratched at
the new is not worn off yet
"The Oregon miners have awakened
to the fact that the man who is real
mine operator and not stock broker
is looking for large bodies of low
grade ore, and the desire of the
miners to produce something that full
fills the desire Of the buyer to whom
he would like to sell has awakened
the Oregon propseotors to energy in
endeayoring to develop their proper.
ties and disclose that they have
merit.
For several years mining men
have had small, rich veins offered
them from this country, and these
offerings have had interest for but few
of the heavy operators; but Of late
reports have begun to come in which
speak Of large low-grade veins. The
mining engineers are inyestigat-
ing for the capitalists who are inter
ested in these new propositions,
which means that with confirmation
Of the reports this region will pass
into mining era ia which ample
capital and experience will be prime
factors
Lack Of transportation facilities
keeps out men Of limited means TO
a certain degree, was the answer to
a question on that line; "but gener.
ally speaking do not think it is
necessary 10 have railroad transpor.
tation in the early stage OF a country's
development. The fact is that rail
road managers are as hungry for
dividends as mining investors, aud
when the mines are opened sufficiently
to demonstrate to the railroad people
that there is enough tonnage, they
may be relied upon to do the rest -