Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-28
ORE STEAL STORY DOUBTED
Report Of Bigh Graders Shipping to Omaha
Fronou1ced Fishy.
NO CHANCE TO GET IT OUT OF COLORADO
Federal secret Service Men and Man
ager Page of Shelter Regard
story rs Downright
FalsehOOd.

The story from Denver to the effect that
Omaha IL the headquarters Of an organized
gang Of high graders" and "ore dump
looters," who dispose of their stolen ore
In Omaha on commission, is pronounced
by Omaha men, claiming to be in a posi-
ton to know what they are talking about,
as downright false. Walter T. Page, man
ager of the American Smelling and Re
filming company, said:
Il Go not think there Is anything to the
story, which on the whole looks to me like
a frst-class fake. In the first place, stolen
ore Of a high grade could not be shipped
from Cripple Greek or any other district
in any quantity without the knowledge Of
the mining authorities Of the district. The
only possible way that valuable ores that
have been stolen can be disposed of is at
the small smelters. No ores are accepted
for treatment by any Of the large smelters
unless the smelling companies know from
where the ores come and that the con
signment is properly stamped. In the case
of valuable ores being sent in small guam
titles. the smelters first ascertain the origin
OF the shipment by communicating with
their agents in the district from which
the ores are shipped. Hence 1t would be
less likely that the ore thieves would send
the ores long distance. as TO Omaha, than
to have the ores treated at small smelters
in the vicinity of the mines, where no
questions would likely be asked.
No Chance Here.
THE American Smelling and Refining
company takes no chances in treating any
ores to which the slightest suspicion could
possibly attach. No ores are disposed of
to this concern on commission. While II
may be possible that stolen ores are shipped
through Omaha, 1t would be impossible for
any gang of ore thieves to dispose of such
ores I'm this city for treatment in Omaha.
do not place the slightest credence in the
story and am disposed to think there is no
truth whatever I'm it. We would be imme-
diately notified by our western agents II
any such condition existed. We have not
received any such notification"
The United States secret service depart
ment has nothing to do with any ship
ments OF the precious metals except in
bullion or coinage form. one of these Off
cials more or less familiar with this work
said:
1.-THE Denver story looks very fishy to
me and l do not believe there is a par
ticle of truth in IT, The Mine owners as
ISOLATION of Colorado has one Of the most
perfect detective systems in the world and
It would be next TO impossible for the
high graders and hooters to send any val
liable ores out of Colorado to any smelter
without immediate detection. The Smelter
trust also has a perfect system of detec-
ton against any irregular practices in this
line The government has nothing to dc
with ore shipments but know from prac-
tical experience and observation that nc
valuable ores can be shipped out Of any
mining district in small or large quantities
without the knowledge of the detectives OF
the Mine Owners association, and then nc
regular shipments are made without being
accompanied by guards who watch the ship
ment from the moment it leaves the mine
until It reaches the smelter."
DOnnhue Says 1t Looks Bad
''It sounds a good deal like fake" sale
Chief Donahue when asked about the story
IF such place as this referred to in tn
report is maintained in Omaha I neve
heard Of IT, and I don't believe It woult
be possible to keep the existence OF sucl
a place from us very long. Nor do 1 be
lieve It would be possible to get ava!
with that much ore from Cripple Creek
In fact, the whole story looks decided!
| bad to me-"