Gilpin observer., 1905-08-24
A Norwegian's Placer Mining.

Lieutenant Hoggatt, formerly, l be-
lieve, of our navy, but now owner of
gold mines back of Juneau, has a story
to tell of a Norwegian, which con-
vinces me that Sweden is lucky to get
out alive from a union with a nation
so resourceful. There was time when
nobody who was not well stocked with
provisions was permitted to take the
trail over certain Alaskan pass, the
name OF which 1 have forgotten, if /
ever knew it. 1t happened, however,
that one determined Norwegian man.
aged to smuggle himself through. The
soldiers of fortune were sorry for him,
so that he kept body and soul together
long enough to stake out claim. 1t
was on low land rejected by the wise,
and one of the wise staked his claim
on ledge just above. Once upon a
day the wise man. looking down, saw
the Norwegian going through move
ments which showed beyond the
shadow of doubt that the unfortu-
nate creature had lost his senses. He
was on all fours, literally biting the
dust. He grabbed up great mouthfuls
of the soil and spat it out again.
Touched to the heart by the pitiful
sight, the wise man of the ledge has
ened down to the rescue. He seized
the Norwegian by the shoulder and
begged him to desist from so painful a
display of his madness. Food he might
have. He need not eat dirt in a hope
less attempt to sustain himself. The
Norwegian glanced up and did not re-
ply Immediately. Then he rolled his
tongue about and spat out mouthful
of tiny nuggets. 1t was merely his
way of doing placer mining. He was
supplying in a limited degree his own
water power. and it happened that not
being wise at all, but merely a Nor
wegian, he had staked out what proved
to be claim rich enough to make any
mans mouth water. 1t had made his
own water to a most profitable de-
gree.-Washington Post.
At meeting of the Black Hills Min.
ing Mems Association 1t was decided
to send representatives to the state
board of equalization to protest
against the raise in the assessment of
mining properties. The association
considered that the proposed raise was
serious blow to the prosperity of the
hills, and that 1T was the duty of the
association to take some steps to get
the state board to rescind the action.
A number OF men were recently laid
off from the Portland mine on account
OF the congestion of ore at the Port
land mill at Colorado City. The mill
has capacity of 1900 tons per month
but the mine has been producing in
excess of the capacity of the mill, the
switches are crowded with cars of ore
and the mill is overstocked. AS soon
as the mill can handle the ore now on
hand the force will be increased to its
normal strength.
A carload of rich ore which reached
Pueblo last week was so valuable that
a special agent of the Santa Fe from
Colorado Springs accompanied the ore
to this city. The ore is said to be
worth $4,000 a ton and the carload is
reputed to be worth 100000. A shot
gun guard was kept over the ore untii
1t was delivered. The Colorado Mid
land kept two watchmen with the ore
while hauling 1t. The ore is from the
c. X. & N. mine at Cripple Creek.
The Great Northern's holdings of ore
lands are estimated to amount to 5OO.-
100000 tons of ore. II the mines were
leased to the United States Steel cor
poration they could furnish 10000 900
tons year for fifty years. On a roy
atty basis of so cents ton, this would
mean a revenue to the Great Northern
of $S.000,000 a year. The Great North
ern would also benefit by the large ton
mage It would derive from the ship
ment OF the ore. A revenue of $S,000,.
900 year would be nearly 6h per
cent. on the capital stock Of the Great
Northern. The idea is held In some
quarters that the ore lands will be
turned over to a new $125,0O0, 900 COM
pany, and that the stock Of this com.
pany will be given to the Great North
ern shareholders. share for SHARE
Denver News,