The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-02-20
MAKING A NINE.

The Southern Minnesota and Wash
ington Mining company is preparing
to mine extensively and mine right.
The company holds what was at one
time known as the Lone Pine mine,
situated near the top of the ridge a
short distance northeast of Nighthawk,
and only few miles directly west Of
Oroville. 1t was property that was
relocated on the alleged ground that
the former owner had failed to COM
ply with the mining laws in keeping
up the annual assessments, and after
long litigation the rights of the pres
ent holders have been sustained by the
courts. At least such Is the informa
ton that reaches this office.
This property has been prospected
spasmOdically for a number of years,
and long ago excellent ore was un-
covered on the surface but the main
ledge was never located definitely un-
til the present holders started syste-
matte exploration. At one time it was
thought that the ore existed in the
nature of blanket, as pit sunk al
most anywhere on the side hill would
expose the presence of mineral, but
Mr.. Holley, manager of the present
company, and a miner of wide prac
teal experience, was convinced that
ledge existed and with almost uncanny
accuracy figured out just about where
that ledge would be encountered with
the tunnel that was being driven into
the hill for that purpose. And the tun
mel struck a large and well defined
ledge just about where Mr.. Holley
had calculated that it would be discov-
cred. Moreover, the ledge is some IA
feet wide and while the quartz is
strongly mineralized throughout there
are lenses of very high grade ore
throughout the ledge.
Owing to the uncertainty that ac-
companies all litigation the company
did not push work with vigor until
there was an adjudication of the case,
but now, that those interested feel
that they are justified in spending
money in equipment that equipment Is
being provided to not only carry on
further exploration but to remove the
ore in sight for shipment to a smelter.
All the machinery necessary for carry
ing on mining in modern and expe-
ditiOus way has been purchased and
will be installed as rapidly as it can
be delivered on the ground. A concen-
traitor and power drills are to be in
stalled, and the Southern Minnesota
and Washington mine is to be vigor-
ous1y worked, and from the evidence
of the mineral in sight it Is safe to pre-
dict that by early spring this will be
a producing mine.
This statement Is predicted upon the
extent of the ledge encountered in the
Submarine, the claim in the group up
on which the discovery was made, and
the choice character of the ore and
from the values indicated by numerous
assays there seems no reason why
this mine should not at last solve the
problem of producer for Okanogan
county. The quantity and quality of
the ore warrants that expectation. The
mine is fortunately situated in it's re-
lations to transportation, as it is so
near the railroad that at comparatively
small expense tram could be run
from the mouth of the tunnel directly
to the cars. This method of handling
ore will undoubtedly be adopted as the
mine comes into active operation, al
though the haul from the mine to the
depot at Nighthawk is only a short
distance and all down hill. The public
will watch proceedings at the S. M. &
w., mine with a great deal of interest,
for that property should be made a
paying mine it would be an incentive
for renewed development upon several
other properties within that mineral
zone, where there are other excellent
showings.