Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-05
SALTED MINES
STILL EXTANT
JOHN H. HAMMOND ALLUDES
TO ARIZONA GAME
FINDS THREE KINDS OF GOLD IN
TAMPERED ORE
Attempt to Sell Noted Engineer Prop
erty in Territory Recalls Fradu-
lent Transactions in Early
History of Nevada

PHOENIX, Feb. A good many
mining men of this territory have
known for some time that John Hays
aapmond lately got the pointed end
of a gold mine deal in - county,
but they have said nothing about it,
thinking that Mr.. Hammond hlmseH
would probably not allude to 1t, but he
has done so publicly. Therefore, what
ever seal of secrecy there was on the
transaction has been removed.
In an address at banquet in Brook
lyn recently Mr., Hammond spoke OF
it. He was talking Of mining in the
west and he took occasion to tell his
hearers that the "salted" mine was not
entirely obsolete, as many supposed;
it was an error, said Mr.. Hammond, TO
conclude that that particular form OF
fraud, time-worn and threadbare, as
it had become, had been abandoned.
The "salted" mine, he said, was not
thing of the past, because l know. l
have been up against it out in -
county, Arizona. Don't forget the
place, county, Arizona"
Mr.. Hammond did not say how much
it cost him to rub against it, but that
was in a general way known among
local mining men-$10,000 to the mine
owners, in addition to the expense Mr.
Hammond incurred in putting the deal
through to that stage.
Under Examination
The mine had been under examina
tion by his chief engineer, who was
about the works for two or three
weeks. His report was favorable, and
finally Mr.. Hammond came himself,
with his private car and retinue. The
report of the engineer and the appear
ance of the mine met his approval, and
the sum of $4,000 was paid to bind tho
bargain. Other sums were to be paid,
until the aggregate was fabulous. But
such a mine as this seemed to be was
worth a fabulous sum. There appeared
to be enough $34 ore to make $50, 100000
These were the figures which entered
into the report.
Mr.. Hammond took samples of the
ore back with him and made further
assays of it which aroused his sus-
picion, and well 1t might, for he found
in the same character of ore three
kinds of gold. He later accounted for
this metallurgical phenomenon on the
theory that the solution of gold which
had been injected into the ore had been
obtained from gold coin whose alloys
had irregularly entered into the solu-
ton. Considering the area of rock
which had been treated, it was the
subsequent opinion of experts that not
less than $1,000 of coin must have been
dissolved.
One of the proprietors OF the mine
was q former resident of Phoenix, who
came here dozen or more years ago
an unsophisticated youth from the
eastern middle states, and was, during
his stay in Phoenix active in church
work, while Mr.. Hammond was en-
gagged in the sordid occupation of build
ing up his fortune in South Africa, and
erecting at the same time the fabric of
his fame as the chief authority on min
ing in the civilized world.
Recalls Nevada Plot
This incident recalls in the minds of
old mining men an attempt to sell the
late Senator Hearst gold mine in
Nevada. The mine had been dressed
for the occasion. Ore of startling rich
ness had been arranged in the walls in
such a manner as to deceive the elect,
but Senator Hearst was of the very
elect. Dressed in an old duster and
armed with a hammer he was con-
Quoted into the mine, whose walls gilt
tered. The practiced eye of Mr.. Heast
detected the deception. But what was
believed to be awe in the presence of
such marvellous wealth was only the
deep admiration of Mr.. Hearst of the
skill with which the thing had been ar
ranged. He was an unframed but
natural lover of art in all it's various
forms.
Don't be afraid, senator" said the
mine owner; knock off chunk and
take good look at it,"
"Oh, no." replied the senator; ITS
too pretty; too pretty to hit with a
hammer. / haven't the heart to do 1t.