Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-01-06
Oregon Metal Mine
Production in 1915

AiOiihiiudly estimates OF the out.
put of metals from Oregon mines in
1915, by the United States geological
survey, show material increases over
the figures of 1914 in both gold and
copper, and slight decreases in yield
of silver and lead. The gold yield
for 1914 was 1851, ,461 and the
estimate for 1915 is $1,771,61S,
which is an increase of $1S0,157 for
1915. The silver output for 1914
was 1852 ounces, and the esti-
mate for 1915 is 1908 ounces less.
The yield of copper in 1914 was
99,24S pounds, while the estimate
for 1915 is 91O,104 pounds, an in
crease for 1915 of S7O,S56 pounds;
and the yield of lead was 16,436
pounds in 1914, as compared with
$3.50 pounds in 1915, or 9,7S6
pounds less. These preliminary fl
cures are compiled by Charles G.
Yale, of the San Francisco office of
the survey.
1t is noteworthy that such material
increased in output of gold and cop
per should be apparent when the
fact is considered that the number OF
producing mines in Oregon has fallen
off fully one-third in the past two
years, Those which have dropped
from the producing list, however
have been mainly small placers oi
various kinds where the ground has
been worked out, or has failed tC
pay. The larger deep mines continue
their productive career, with few ex.
ceptions, but not many new prop
critics of moment have of late beer
opened. More capital for mine de
velopment is needed in the state
where there are few extensive prop
critics in operation.
Baker county continues to be b!
far the most productive county o
the state, yielding annually fully 81
per cent of all the gold. The mos
productive deep mine in Oregon IL
1915, as also for the preceding two
years, was that of the Commercial
Mining company, operating the Rain
bow mine in Cracker creek district
Baker county. This property 4
shortly to be turned back to its orig
inal owners. Among other larg,
producers in the same county 1t thu
Cornucopia Mining company, II
Cornucopia district, which in 1911
Increased its output for the reason
that they encountered higher grad
ore on the lower levels than they hat
before.
The Baker Mines company, In tn
same district, has put in 500-tol
mill, and has been operating most o
the year. In Cracker creek dlstric
also in Baker county, the Columbia
Mines company made about the same
yield as in the previous year. The
output of the Humboldt property IL
Mormon basin district, Malhuer coun
ty, was not as high as in 1914. The
Ben Harrison mine, in Granite dis
trict, Grant county, was closed dowr
most of the year 1915 and will moi
begin operations until next spring
OF the placer mines in Oregon
most important enterprise is that ol
the Powder River Dredge company
Cracker creek district, Baker county
This company which owned but one
dredge in 1914, put another one In
operation in the same field in 1913
and it is to the work Of this com
pany that the increase in gold yield
in the state for the year is mainly
due.
Other placer mines are the Os
good, Waldo district, Josephine coun'
ty; the Layton, in Applegate dis
trict, Jackson county; and the small
er mines around Grants Pass, ir
Josephine county. The gold yielC
from the dredging operations If
greatly in excess of that from al
other forms of placer mining com
bined.