The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-12

 MAY WIN HIS
 PENDING SUIT
To Gain Possession of the Mines a: Lundy, Cal, Operated by Crystal
 Lake Mining Company.
Letters From BOdie Describe Situation and Express Belief of Bodie Citizens in Ultimate Victory for Claimant.

Friends of George w. BUtterhe1d m this city have been writing their friends in Bodie, Cal, relative to the mines at Lundy operated by the Crys- tai Lake Mining Co.,, for which Mir Butterfield is suing to gain posses sion and damages of s5,O00,O00.
 Dhe information received is a fur ther proof of MT. Butterfield'S con- tention that the property is very val uable. It appears that the Crystal Lake Mining Co.,, realize that it is not judicious on their part to work the Lundy Mine, (said to be the biggest gold mine in the country) very exten- sively until MT. Butterfield and his suit are disposed of.
 One letter to a substantial business man of this city, who vouches for the integrity of his correspondent in Bo- die, is as follows:
 ''I received a letter from you a few days ago in regard to the Crystal Lake Gold Mining Co.,, at Lundy and will state that, as company, they are very close and allow as little informa- tion to get out as possible. I have never worked for the company myself although have been in the same county for 27 years, so all the 1nfor- hand, and for any misleading infor- mlation I will not be responsible, but I will try to give it to you straight and will not write anything I am very doubtful of.
 'HThe Crystal Lake Gold Mining Co., which, until a few years ago, was called The May Lundy, has been working almost steadily as long as l can. remember. They work from 50 or 60 men to 4 or men, just as they see fit. At present they are working about 25 men in and around the mine and mill. Some four or five years ago they worked 35 or 40 men in the up per workings of the mine and had a train f0 rrv their fine mill and were making expenses very easily and the outlook of the mine at that time justified them in starting a. long tunnel from the mill to tap the ore bodies at that level which would give them about 1000 feet of backs, as near as can find out. The tunnel is over a mile long, but since the tunnel cut the ledges they have shut down the upper working and are just doing a little developing work in the tun- ne1 and when they get out ore enough to run a few weeks they run the mill. The mill runs about one month in every three or four months, but from what can hear, they could run steady if they wanted to and make it pay ing proposition, but as it is they are always two or three months behind in wages to the men. One of the men working there told me that it looked like a freeze out game to him; he said they had ore enough in sight to run a hundred stamp mill for 10 years duu pay ulhtQeuUS every three ulOnIuS if they wanted to, but that it looked to him like they intended to run in debt as faf they dared and levy an assessment and freeze somebody out.
 "AS I said before this is all hearsay gathered on the street, so would ad- wise you not to put too much stock in it as it might not be so.
 'R. T. Pierce is superintendent of the property and he may be able to give you any further Information that you may desire, or anything that I ter. I will gladly do at your request"
 Another correspondent from Bodie writes: Yours of the 5th and 18th re- ceived, also copies of the Bridgeport Farmer showing the new arrange ments in mining suit. I am much. pleased to hear of them and wish you all success. Pierce (the superinten- dent) told the men on the hill, Butter field had lost his suit and it was all are working about the same crew. They have paid one more months pay to the men and are only one month behind. Times are very dull in this section of the country now. .'Luckboy' mine, this side of flaw thorn on the Bodie Road, is boom ing. Theyehave a very rich mine. , 1.-The Lundy" could undoubtedly be worked on a more extensive scale if 1t were not for the Butterfield suit. If the Crystal Lake people should in time it might be a total loss to. them if Butterfeld dispossesses their. com pany, and there are many here who believe he will win, basing their be- lief upon the documentary evidence in the case"