The copper era., 1905-07-06
LOCAL MINES AND MINING.

The production of the Shannon
 company for last month was SOP tons
 of copper. The shipments were 62l tons.
 The Chase Creek Copper company
 last month extended their big tunnel
 40 feet. Considerable sulphide ore is
 now coming in, and the prospect for
 large body of ore seems better with
 every foot driven.
 The Standard mines last month
 shipped 10 cars of ore. The lowest
 grade was 1920 and the highest 1850
 per cent. Two cars of ore were ship
 ped from the San Jose mine by the
 Standard Consolidated company.
 The high grade ore went B per cent.
 copper and B oz. silver, and the sec
 ond-class IT per cent. copper and 233
 oz. silver per ton. A car load of each
 class was shipped.
 John Keppler, who has lease on the Fl Paso mine at Metcalf, came down to spend the Fourth When he took a lease on the mine there was nothing showing, but the first round of shots fired broke into good ore, and he now has an 1S-inch streak of glance, which will go about 50 per cent. copper. He also has consider able carbonate ore of lower grade. He is now shipping, and as his lease does not expire until January next, he is in a fair way to make some easy money, provided the rich ore holds out.
 CLIFTON COPPER co. LITIGATION.
 Clifton and Morenci people are deeply interested in the Clifton Cop per company, of Santa Rita, New Mexico, hence the following from the Silver City Enterprise will be of in- terest:
 Clearing of the suit of Paschal R. Smith, the Clifton Copper company and John l.. Burnside, plaintiffs, vs Charles L. Ashton and William Roach, before Alvan N. White, Esq.,, as referee began last week. Six days were consumed in taking the testi- mony offered by the respective par ties. The suit has been pending some time in the district court and the main point at issue is whether or not the defendants granted, about De- cember 13, 1903, a further extension of the option to purchase a one-half interest in the Wild Cat group of mines, then held by plaintiffs, who had been endeavoring for some two years to place the entire property, and had expended considerable in the development of the Wild Cat mine and in the erection of l mill thereon.
 The following is a brief synopsis of the history of the case, as brought put in the hearing before Referee | White. The defendants. in their with plaintiff, Smith, contracted to sell their mining prop 1 erty, comprising group of claims, | situate near Santa Rita, the Wild | Jat mine being the principal one of | he group, to him for the sum of | '100,000 As brought out in the hear ng, there was about Sl5,000 paid de endants within the year 1901 on ac- ;ount of purchase price, and accord l ng to the testimony of Smith, the additional sum of $35,OOO was ex- pended by the Clifton Copper con- ,any to which has been assigned the Smith and Burnside option, during hat year. Colonel Smith further estifed that about January, 1900, entered into deal with H. ,. Begole, of St. Louis, Mo-, ignoring he rights and equities of the Clifton Copper company. Suit was soon fter filed against defendants and 5egole, which was eventually dis nissed, and a new agreement entered nto between the parties to the pres mt suit; a deed to one-half interest 7as placed in escrow and upon the 'laintiffs to make the S120O balance on December 14, 1903, the withdrew the deed from scrow. The plaintiffs claim that he defendants granted an extension or this balance payment. From the estimOny given, as well as from well nown facts concerning the Wild Cat roup of mines, this property is one f the best copper properties of this ection, and will doubtless be operated upon the termination of he pending litigation"
 Archie Stewart, one of the old ime Clifton boys, left this week for Denver, Colorado, where he expects 0 locate. MT. Stewart has been rith s. J. Forbes for several years