Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-02
MILLIONS IN
M'CUNE MINES.
John F. GrOcsbeck Returns from
Peru With Glowing Account
Of Enterprise
THE GREATEST IN The WORLD.
That Is the Way He Speaks Of it and
Says II Is Going, Forward to a
Gigantic and Certain Success.

John f. Groesbeck, the we'll known
mining expert, returned yesterday from
his trip to Peru, having been absent
exactly eight months.
Mr., Groesbeck was summoned TO
South America by A. w. McCune to
examine and report on a number of
placer claims, located In the heart of
the interior of Peru, that had been OF.
fered for sale TO McCune, j. Il. Haggin
and other members OF the mining syn
dictate with which the well known salt
Laker is associated He left here on
six hours notice eight months ago to-
day and his experiences since his de-
parture would fill an interesting vol.
ume.
AT his home on West Temple street
this morning, Mr.. Groesbeck talked in
terestingly Of his titp and his observ-
ations. He did not care TO discuss the
business that called him there until Mr..
McCune himself IL ready 10 make an
nouncements, but he was free to speak
Of the Cero de Pasco, the big Peruvian
proposition in which the local capital
list is heavily interested, and he is en-
thuslastic over 1t.
WORLDS LARGEST MINE.
From all | could gather while In
Peru, said Mr., Groesbeck, the Cero
de Pasco is the largest mine ever dis
covered IN the history OF the world, 1
am not exaggerating this at all, firm
~ believe II Is the largest. For more
than 300 years 1t was worked by the
Spanards, They extracted something
like 100000 ounces of silver from It's
depths, and | do not believe that the
metal gave out all at once.
RICH BEYOND BELIEF.
I'm fact, such a theory Is ridiculous.
They have now millions of tons OF rich
copper ore In sight and will take out
millions and millions OF dollars /
care not what the reports are locally,
II Is q tremendous proposition. have
heard II said that McCune has failed In
his great project, Never was falser
report spread, Everything is looking
better every day. The wealth OF the
mine Is almost beyond belief,
SPENDING MILLIONS.
"Of course. II is necessary to expend
millions before they can get at the
profits. And 1t takes time TO expend
millions, They have spent a good deal
of time on the railroad, and In develop
ing the property, and they are now
constructing one of the largest smet-
ers In the world. They Will not be able
to work the ore for another year, but
after that all will be plain sailing,
RAILROAD ABOUT COMLETED.
"The railroad is practically COM
pleted, and the greater part OF II was
turned over to the operating DEPART
ment some time age. only seven miles
remained unfinished when left and by
this time no doubt trains are being OPP
Grated over all parts Of it,"
Mr.. Gr0esbeck states that the syndl-
cate encountered much difficulty In get
ting the railroad through because OF
the poor quality Of labor. The Peru
vians, he said, are a dull lettering, ig-
norant lot, and five OF them are not
worth one fair American laborer, They
work for about IS cents per dag. Amer
lean, except IN mining. As miners they
receive as much as 50 cents per day,
SHOCKED AT LIVING.
II was shocked at the manner Of llv-
ing In that country" continued Mr.
Groesbeck II lived practically on
grease, garlic and dirt | had to shud-
der every time | swallowed is,
while among the natives-but had to
swallow to keep alive. 1t IL terrible.
While In the interior, | walked around
In mud and water eight inches deep for
the better part OF 80 days and lived
under the native conditions / have
described, But, withal, | did not ex-
perience a single day OF sickness. |
never have felt better In my life.
was among the sayages at one time.
There | found the women industrious,
always weaving or spinning. but the
men are absolutely worthless. Their
unclvllzed condition is due, OF course,
to lack Of opportunity. There are prac-
tically no railroad facilities, or educa.
tional possibilities. carried by pack
train all my supplies for l,O12 miles,
never approaching railroad during
the trip,
SALT LAKERS IN PERU.
OF the Salt Lakers who are In Peru.
Mr.. Groesbeck speaks OF A, w. Nc
Cune, Jr., who Is Of great assistance TO
his father in the general work; Louis
Seckels, one Of the chief members of
the Office force; Victor V. Morris, on o,
the railroad agents, and VIII schoppe,
who Is at the mine. They are all do.
Ing well, he states and In the best of
health, while Mr.. McCune himself
stated just prior TO Mr. Groesbecks de-
parture that he never had enjoyed bet.
ter health.