Gilpin observer., 1909-12-30
THE WAR DANCE
Termination Of the Suit Means In
creased Operations.

A decision in the matter OF the
War Dance is expected January Sd.
The case has been pending since
June 1st, 1908. at which time A. G.
Elliott, the discoverer Of the proper
ty, brought suit for tenth interest
claiming he was entitled to that
amount of stock as part payment OF
the sale Of the mine to ]. c. Hutchin-
son and A. G. Brown for $4,000. The
company was formed. but according
to accounts, Elliott never received
the stock for various reasons. Wheth-
er he failed to apply for it and was
refused even after 1t was made out
and of record in the books. was not
brought out.
Elliott worked the mine for time
taking out from it fourfoot streak
of gray copper ore worth between
s25, 900 and 100000. 1t remained idle
for fifteen years. Seven years ago B.
J. Smith and VIM. Couch did con-
siderable work on the property their
reward could not have been very en-
couraging or they would have continu-
ed. Then along came c. o. Rich
ards & Co., who secured lease
from tb' company, intending to ex-
tract the gray copper ore which was
known to exist in the mine. 1t is
claimed that the big strike in the
mine was purely accidental. An as
say determining the value Of the ore.
Previously the gray copper mined in
the War Dance contained big values,
running as high as $500 and $500 per
ton, but by some trick of fate the
party working the same either lost
the vein, Orwell, it is not rightly
known just why worked ceased. With
the remembrance of this, probably, in
the mind Of the present iessees, they
thought it worth while to spend a lit
tie money in an attempt to discover
more ore of the same grade. In the
14Ofoot level east there were three
veins. Smith drifted on one Of these,
did some stopping and twenty feet
from the shaft sunk a winze hun
dred feet, all to no purpose, 1t would
seem. Had he driven the level east
instead of drifting away from it, he
might have broken into the rich ore
found by the present lessees. The
rich find was made in the 140-foot
level west OF the shaft, a vein eight
inches wide was encountered in the
center of which two-inch streak
was disclosed that ran $64.0 to the
ton. 1t is this strike that has caus-
ed the litigation. Presumably, the
point at issue is who legally owns
the War Dance? OF course. 1t is hard
on the lessees, but they will be glad
to know the legal statutes of all the
parties to the suit, for it will rightly
determine to whom they must pay
the royalty. While they have not
been stopped entirely from working,
the output is limited to $3.50 per
month. anything over that must go
into the bank until the case Is
settled. In consequence of this con-
dition OF affairs only development
work has been prosecuted. Since the
first of the year they sunk the shaft
$50 feet making the present depth
300 feet. The ore taken from the
shaft averages about 800 per ton, all
Of 1t being of a smelling grade.
In connection with the subject,
shortly after the strike. the lessees
gave an option on the property to
parties who undoubtedly would have
been abundantly able to finance 1t.
Now the lessees also have a bond
and lease from the company claiming
to own the mine. OF course the suit
interferes with any transfer until a
decision is rendered as to who is the
rightful owner, that determined, the
lessees. might or might not feel re-
lief in getting rid of a property
freighted with SO much litigation
They seem to be playing in hard
lines. First they strike a big body
OF ore Of high values, then they are
stopped from working; they give an
option on the property. this they are
prevented from carrying out due to
litigation. 1t is hoped. upon deci
sion being reached, that the general
public will be the beneficiaries, mean
'ng that the mine may be worked to
Is full capacity.