The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-03-07
IN THE N l N s
CHAMPION MINE IS
 RE-0PENED
Colonel Fleming, Engineer Osborn and John crampton Explore Work inss and Find Vein Carrying
 Good Values

mines of the Globe district, discovered ed by L. J. Webster, we'll known merchant of Globe. The mine produc- ed phenomenally rich ore from the grass roots. tn 1876 a sample of ore from the Champion mine was exhibit ed at the Centennial exposition in Philadelphia and was awarded the blue ribbon.
 From 1875 to 1884 the Champion is said to have produced two hundred thousand dollars worth of silver and like many other silver mines in the district, was shut down only after silver was demonetized and the price of the white metal had fallen below point that made it profitable to operate. The last work done on the I'Champion was by leasers in 1884, since which time it has stood idle and practically abandoned, although the property had been patented by it's owner. fda
 Cave-in Blocks Tunnel.
 In the twenty nine years that the mine has lain idle the weather creat- ed havoc at the mouth of the tunnnel and finally caused a cave-in which eff fectually obliterated all signs of the former workings. Irs exact location even passed out of the mind of the present owner of the property, Mr. G. T. Webster, who is not mining man.
 Recently MT. Webster decided that something should be done with the property and so he disposed of a half interest in it to Colonel James A. Fleming Colonel Fleming sent Engi- neers Bottsford and Osborn to the property and now, after careful invest igations, these men located the portal of the tunnel and succeeded in re- moving the earth and rock that had hidden it from view for these many years.
 Yesterday Colonel Fleming, MT. Os- born and John Crampton, who had been employed in the mine in the early days and is familiar with the workings, went to the property and explored the tunnel for $50 feet and one wing to the depth of fifty feet, locating the vein and finding good ore in both openings. There were two or three other winzes that were con their investigations, as far as made, convinced them that there was suff- cient ore in the mine that could be readily followed to justify further de- velopment.
 For several weeks the owners have had ore sorters employed sorting the old dumps and have thus far discover ed about a carload or ore running six ty ounces or more in silver to the ton. One specimen taken from the dump by Engineer Osborn is covered with horn silver and will assay prob ably several thousand dollars to the ton.
 Tunnel Dry; Air Pure.
 After they nad explored the work ings the party sat down and ate their lunch in the tunnel which was per fectly dry with walls every where in- tact and air pure.
 It is the intention of the owners tc begin work with a small force at once to develop the property further. A shipment of the ore taken from the ] dump will be made in the near future. l
 The Champion was only one of many silver mines here that gave Globe it's early renown as one of the richest silver districts in Arizona. It is hoped that the re-discovery of the l Champion will lead to the re-opening | of other silver properties that were producers in the late seventies and |