Weekly journal-miner., 1916-09-06

ascertained no legal step affecting title to the ground is contemplated as there is nothing upon which an action could be based. With the unwatering Of the shaft, therefore, it is probable the troubles of the management win be of the past, and that opening of copper ore bodies at depth will pro ceed without interruption.
 Satisfactory progress is being made in developing the orc bodies on the property of the Black Chief Copper Company in the Black Hills. The new pumping plant recently installed has entirely freed and is keeping the mine free of water. As a result, op- erations underground are being prose cuted without the vexatious delays which hitherto had been the rule. New ground is being opened under mineral conditions indicative of the discovery in due course of deposit of commcr- cial ore.
 Verde Apex Control Changes.
 Control of the Verde Apex property adjoining the Venture Hill Company's estate in the Jerome copper belt, will within a few days be vested in H. F. Shumate and other mining men of Prescott and Jerome The first pay ment was made about ten days ago and will shortly be followed by pay mcnt in full and change in control as stated. The deal covers S acres of partially demonstrated mineral worth within the productive copper area of the Verde country and is one of the most important attaching of late to that section. Development work in 2 tunnel 600 feet long has exposed cop per orc of commercial value and ap- rarcntly in place. On the dump there are about l50 tons of ore that sam ples S33 in copper per ton. Another tunnel has length of 300 feet, but has not as yet entered the ore. A number of shafts from 25 to 50 feet deep have also been sunk at various points. Pending the passing of con trol the parties to the deal arc not prepared to announce their plans for future development of the acreage, other than to state it will be aggres- sive and will be prosecuted at depth.
 Montana capital, represented by George D. Case, former superintend- cnt of the Anaconda Copper Com- pany's smelter in Montana. is back of a plan to finance and develop a group of claims south of Jerome. Several prominent mining men of the Jerome field arc likewise interested in the pro- jcct, among them C. V. Hopkins. chief engineer of the United Verde Copper Company, and George Mitchell, form CT superintendent of the United Verde Copper Company Smcltcr.
 Will Operate True Blue.
 The old True Blue property in the Castle Creek district is to be develop ed by T. D. Pitkin, of Elko, Ncv. The property was formerly worked by his uncle, the late Major Pitkin, a pion- ccr mine operator in Yavapai county C"lc- thc l2::er's administration a considerable tonnage of coppor-gold ore was mined and treated in the old Barrett quartz mill. The younger PItl,in IS on the ground with the in tcntion of installing a Notation plant ] He states that he and his associates ! have ample capital with which to es- tablish the plant and open the mine at greater depth.
 \ contract has been let for an addi- tional 50 feet of drifting from the winze below the tunnel level on the | Hidden Treasure property in the Groom Creek country. The ore in the tunnel shows a good bit of native silver and is being blocked out with a view to shipment in the near future. Charles Bennett and other mining men of Jerome and Clarkdale are backing the venture.
 The shaft on the property of the Jcrome-Portland Company is down better than 75 feet in a schist lorna ton that shows copper indications. 4 compressor and other mine machinery have been installed. The necessary camp buildings are being erected. Eff teen men are on the payroll
 Hunt Abbointees
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