The Parker post., 1916-02-05
MANGANESE
MINE SOLD
IN THIRTY MINUTES FOR SUM
OF $1o,o0o-LIVELY RACE BE-
TWEEN INTENDING PURcHAs-
*
ERs FOR COVETED PRIZE.

The Schellenger manganese mining
property, owned by E. E. Schellenger
and located in the westend of the Nc
Coy mountains, was sold on the 18th
ult., to San Francisco capital, repre-
sented by Major F. r. Burnham and
Robert A. Kensey, for a cash con-
sideration of $4,000. Work has has
actually started on the property and
roads are being built to connect with
the railroad midway between Blythe
and Blythe Junction. These roads
will be completed about March 1st,
when shipping of high-grade mangan-
ese ore will commence Immediately.
This is probably the largest deposit
of high-grade manganese ore on the
continent. 1t is estimated that there
are at least $4,000 tons of 70 per
cent manganese oxide ore in sight,
TO say nothing of about 100000 tons
Of ore of lesser vaule also in sight.
The sale of this property was eff
fected through the instrumentality of
j. H. Lightfoot of Parker, and it's ac-
QUESTION was brought about through
a rather exciting circumstance w.
A. Drake, general manager of the
Santa Fe company, F. d. Cruise and
other high officials of that company,
came to Parker in their private car,
bringing with them two representa-
tives of the Missouri Iron company,
who We're in quest of manganese ore.
Near the midnight hour these parties
Ealldd on Mr.. Lightfoot to inquire
about some manganese deposits in
the Chuckawalla desert country, and
he gave them all the information he
possessed with reference thereto.
1t so happened, that same night, he
met Burnham and Kensey who were
here at the time examining copper
properties. In the course of the con
yersation that followed, Lightfoot in
cidentally told them of the mission
of the parties in the private car,
when they too Immediately became
interested in manganese ore.
After hearing Lightfoot's account
of these deposits, Major Burnham
who had been among the first in the
rush to the Kiondike and was with
Cecil Rhodes in South Africa, said
with twinkle in his eye, t'Kensey,
here is a chance for a little excite
ment in memory of former days. If
these deposits of manganese are as
they are represented by Lightfoot
and worth the while for such men as
these to come all the way here in a
private car with a view to securing
them, what's the matter with our get
ting in the race and see what we can
dc?"
You're on" replied Kensey, 'but
how are We going to get there?"
We've never lacked transporta-
ton as yet" answered Burnham;
we'll buy car and beat those fel-
lows to it,"
Accordingly, E. F. Lauten, the Ford
agent was found, car purchased and
the next morning at Z o'clock, with
Lyman l.ightfoot as chauffeur, the
three iner started for the Mccoy
going by way of Blythe.
The Drake party left the same
morning in their private car, going
ais far as Blythe junction, from
which point they travelled by automo-
bile, after remaining there over
might
The next day the. Ford car passed
Drake and his party, about noon, out
On the desert about twenty miles
northwest of Blythe, ,and soon arrived
at the mine. Burnham and, Kensey
gave the property an examination
covering a period of about 30 minutes
and, just as they we're leaving the
mine, the Drake party drove up.
The next thing was to find Schel-
lenger, for the first to find this man
would be the one to get the mine.
The Drake people had men out on
looking for him but no.
body knew where he could be found.
All that could be learned was that
be was out in the hills somewhere.
ightfoot knew of a property where
he might possibly be, doing assess
ment work, so the three started for
the place on, foot. They found him
in the face of a tunnel, 200
feet under ground, and in less than
80 minutes an agreement had been
reached, Schellenger was paid his
price, and the next morning a force