The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-10-03

termed overhead workings, not in the
Andes proper He said that there had
been long intervals between ship
meDts. there being as much as nine
| months intervening between one ship
ment and the succeeding one. His ac-
counts itemized operations covering a
period from April, 1908, TO September
/, 1912.
During the present year. according
to Mr. Browning testimony. the Con-
solidated company has expended more
than 5000 in mine operations, and
the ore shipments he valued at little
more than Sl400. His secretary s
record showed that in the Andes the
total operating expenses recorded each
month exceeded the item of eX
penditure for labor from three to four
times, During one month, he testified
the labor expense was $500, while the
total for the general operating expenses
for that month was $500. The first
month that work was begun on the
Andes claim the labor charge was So
and the general expense $9l
Fails to Explain.
Judge Dickson, in examining Secre-
tary Browning, tried to get HIM
to make an explanation of the
disparity between labor and gen
Browning said he entered the items
as they were handed him by General
Manager Splro and officials OF the mine
operating force. He had entered an
item of $4,000 paid Solon Spiro, the
president and general manager of the
company, for mine timbers. Upon cross
examination Secretary Browning was
unable TO tell whether these timbers
were ever delivered at the mine, and
explained that the payment had been
made upon presentation OF the claim
by Mr.. Spiro, who. as president of the
company, signed all vouchers, including
this one.
Later. in reviewing the accounting
made by the secretary, Judge Dickson
asked Mr. Browning whether or not he
would be surprised to learn that his ac-
counts showed an item Of more than
$4,000 for little more than one and
oue.half miles of surveying under
ground workings.
Secretary Browning testified that he
did not know what the company paid
for coal delivered at the mine nor how
many tons were used. He said that
President Spiro received salary OF
5000 a month, but did not think he
visited the mine as often as once
month, as he was away a great deal OF
the time.
The secretary's record showed that
powder. caps and fuses had cost the
company $l6.724.22. OF at the rate OF
1925 per foot for work performed. The
surveying has cost Il little more than
$4,000 per mile Machinery maintep-
ance is charged at $l1,3ll, or about
per cent of the SUN total Of all
money expended for development.
Solon Spiro Testifies.
President Solon Spiro was the last
of the three witnesses Of the day, aud
was on the stand when court adjourned
Yesterday afternoon. He will be called
again this morning when court con
venes at 10 o'clock. He testified that
he had been engaged IN mining IRON
nine TO ten years, and been interested
in other properties in the camp. lie
said that he was general manager Of
estimated the value of the Andes
claim, comprising about eight acres, at
$2j 900 previous to the time that any
development work had been done on
the ground, He based this valuation
on his knowledge Of prices of proper.
ties comprised in the Little Bell group,
though be said the distance between
the Little Bell and Andes property
was from one TO one and opc-half
miles, lie cNpIdlneu Iudt ne nau Dcel
Informed that the MoDtezuma claim,
adjacent to the Andes, had been pnr-
chased by the Coalition company for
S25 900. Upon cross-c2aminatiou he
admitted that the Montczuma ground
contained the rich Jewel stope, which
he had heard Of. but had not examined
until some time later
On a number OF points regarding
operations and other matters pertain
ing to company affairs, President Spiro
was not prepared TO answer the ques-
tions put by counsel for the de-
fense lie said just before adjourn.
ment that he was quite sure that he
had The letter or telegram containing
the information relative to the state
ment made 10 shareholders in his let
! ter IN which he announced that in
opening up this stopc orc bodies Of
great richness aud increasing ma2ni-
tude arc being disclosed
He promised to have it i'll evidence
! this morning.