The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-04-22

the richest gold mines and saw the miners
use hydraulic pressure to wash gold out OF
the ground.
We reached San Francisco at s p. NJ.
| I'll p. m. Waynesboro time) March 3,
and spent two days there. of course, we
went sight seeing, and saw, among other
things, wonderful Chinatown with its 60,
600 or 20, 900 inhabitants. There we
visited also the Cliff house, the Sutre baths.
where we went in bathing, and other noted
places. In this city We met Mr.. Oellig,
brother of Rev. c. r. Oellis, Waynesbo-
70. He was extremely kind to US and put
in an entire day with US, acting as guide.
After two days in San Francisco we left
for Portland, Oregon, Sunday evening,
March 9th, and when daylight came,
| Monday morning, we were ascending the
/ foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains We
stopped at Mt Shasta springs aud drank
some of the water that is famous the world
over. Mt. Shasta is Il, 600 feet above
the sea. 1t was within our range of vision
from Z a. m. until p. M, during which
time we travelled about 1870 miles. In
ascending the Sierra Nevada mountains the
! grade was so great that three locomotives
were used to pull and push the nine pas
senger coaches. Where there were par
ticularly heavy grades and short curves We
went 10 faster than ten miles an hour and
were satisfied to 90 at that comparatively
slow speed Night overlook us when We
reached Grant, pass in Oregon.
We arrived at Portland on the morning
of March {. There we remained two days
and visited, among other places, the
grounds on which are being erected the
buildings for the Lewis and Clarke exposi-
ton, which promises TO be very big. About
500 carpenters were in strike on the build
ing. We made a quick trip to Van
couver, Washington, where we met ). NJ.
Beard, president of the Commercial bank.
He was formerly from Harrisburg, where
he was in the postoffiee for IA years
He took us out driving and showed us
about % miles Of the city aud country
From Vancouver we returned TO Port
land and left that city the morning Of
March and went up the Columbia river,
which has the most beautiful scenery we
saw. 1t even sGrpaSses the Hudson river.
There are huge high rocks running up into
the air straight as house for 200 feet.
There are great salmon fisheries all along
4 the river for distance Of 100 miles. After
travelling along the river for IS miles we
came to great mountains Of sand The
railroad company has large board fences to
keep the sand from drifting on the tracks.
These were miles and miles in length.
ALL o clock on the night Of March we
landed in Baker City, Oregon. There we
were met BY Neil j SorenSou, president
Of the Highland Gold Mine Co, and Sec
rotary Shelton. On the morning Of March
10 we left Baker City and drove to the
mine, distance Of % miles, in four
horse team. We reached the mine about
4 o clock in the evening aud found the
concentrating mill in operation. put on
snow shoes to walk to a mine after supper
The snow was about - deep and was not
hard enough TO support me. got up to
the mine all right with my snow shoes but
coming down fell number Of times and
sank into the snow Afterward ! re-
moved the snow shoes aud got along better
We stayed al night at the mining camp
Next morning after breakfast We went over
| to the main shaft Of the Highland mine
and went back 1000 feet under the noun
tain. making an examination Of the mine
We were 45e feet under ground when
at the extreme length OF the 1000 feet
tunnel There We saw the manner in
which the ore is mined and handled. The
ore is blasted out Of the veins, which are
from 10 to 20 feet in width. and dropped
into large shuies under which are cars,
These cars are filed from the shutes. This
operation is called stopping. The ears ara
run out on an incline and the ore Is dropped
into a bin at the mouth of the tunnel
| From the bin il goes into Il mill ia which
il is crushed. The waste Is washed out OF
the ore BY water. The metal which re
mains Is called concentrates and is put into
sacks ready to be sent 10 the smelteT,
which Is some distance away. There it Is
smelted and the gold and silver taken out
/ of the ore sent to the United States mint.
| Al the gold and silver that was in the
ore il in the metal when il comes from the
mill, this operation being for the purpose
of reducing the bulk and weight. The
glitter Of the sulphides in the ore a. i,
showed in the vein was very beautiful
We were pleased with the mine aud the
method Of operation. This mine is con.
sidered one of the largest in the district.
We had thrilling experience in de-
seending the road from the mine. This
road, it may be stated, Is very steep and
in $500 feet has fall Of 1000 feet. This
portion cost SIS, 900 to build We came
down this portion in four horse sled which
is used for hauling concentrates. The
driver was typical western cowboy, who
answered to the name of 81 He knew
he had several ltenderfeet' with him and
very gravely informed us that his occupa-
ton was supplying a demand for tomb
stones. When we started at the top Of
the road he swished the long lash of his
whip over the backs of his big horses and
ficked their eas smartly. The horses
leaped into a terrific gallop and travelled
the $500 feet in almost less time than il
takes to tell of the trip.
am frank enough to confess, now that
it is all over, that | held on to the seat as
if | was in imminent danger of being
pitched into eternity or the canyon below
me. They both meant the same to me,
then However, the journey was soou
ended but not the laughter of the western.
ers in the party who enjoyed my discom
future as much as do now, at this safe
distance and in this capacious chair in thu
newspaper Office.
We left the mine Saturday, March IL,
and arrived in Baker City that evening.
There we met A. Edgar Beard, formerly
of Union Bridge, Md. He is son of A.
L. Beard, for many years ticket agent a
Union Bridge. A. Edgar Beard liveC
three miles from my home in Carroll coun
ty, Md They entertained me at dinne
Sunday in the most hospitable manner.
He is a close personal friend of W. NJ.
r. r. Agent Rossman, this place, ant
asked many questions concerning him.
Raker CITY is the second city in sizt