The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-03-23
THE LDEN CHEST
ITS EARLY TORY
Continued nom Page II

N----~~
sharp points Of jutting rock with alb
solutely no sustaining power Tor the
weight OF water the heavy snowfall OF
the winters and the windfalls OF the
large trees that may always be consid
cred a big menace in water convey
ance. The architectural work OF the
buildings, their location, except lOca-
ton Of the mill, were universally
praised, but the two blunders militia
ted against the manager, and had a
great deal to do with the ultimate col
lapse OF the company, and the success
fuI operation of the property ever
since. The water power to be obtained
by properly constructed flume was
adequate for several batteries the year
round and during the wet season for
perhaps 80 stamps. with the mill at the
base of the flat bar on bedrock, which
was available, and is yet. Work in the
mine continued favorably and the
ledge by the two parallel tunnels was
opened up satisfactorily In fact as
says were made daily of every foot OF
progress. This prompted Mr.. Scow-
den to request an installation of so
stamps with 100-horse power steam
energy. This was ordered by the COM
pany, now designated as the Idaho,
from the Excelsior Iron Works of Chi
cago. The machinery began to arrive
promptly, by rail to Thompson Falls,
and then by wagon to the mine. The
latter leg of transportation was ex-
tremely difficult at the time and
freight five cents a pound. The paral-
lei tunnels had reached a depth of $50
feet. Square sets were put in and con-
siderable quartz taken out. The min
ers. however, were taken out of the
mine and put to work installing ma
chinery at the mill.
Unexplained Shutdown.
Two mortars had been set and part
of the steam plant, when Geographic |
orders were received by Mr.. Scowden |
to close down everything, discharge
the men and forward all accounts. The |
men were promptly paid From the
beginning of the work up to the date |
of suspension including the purchase |
of machinery and freights the COM
pany paid out $4,000. Only residue |
of $4,000 was left unpaid, due the Ex-
celsior Iron works in Chicago which |
firm took a mortgage on the property.
AS about 100 men were still unem-
ployed, the discharge of the force, the
consequent loss of bushes incidental
thereto and the prospect of a big mine
producing steadily, created a feeling
of depression akin to a panic No
reason. has ever been assigned for the
sudden suspension. The writer, how
ever, believes it was due to a species
of blackmail with a strict injunction
of secrecy, resorted to five times in the
history of the camp and developed by
positive evidence involving local bust
ness men, three of whom have already
passed to the beyond, the remaining
one hunting for space in other dis
tricts. Mr.. Scowden had a very long
list of the assays made, and these were
shown to Judge VIM. H. Clagett and
the writer, the judge being counsel for
the company. These induced the writ
err and from a knowledge of the prop
erty otherwise, to write to a member of
the company at Louisville, urging that
the company ought TO complete the
mill and get it into producing stage;
that $500 more would do this, and
from that time on the property might
at least pay expenses and be no fur
Their burden to them; also that the
property would remain intact and sale
able. It was no use; the company de-
clined absolutely to do anything fur
Their or to expend another dollar. A ,
a few months later the writer was re- ,
quested to take charge of the property :
by the Excelsior Iron works, installed :
a care taker and employed Charles w. ,
O'Neil as counsel for the iron works. =
All these precautions did not prevent
and much property was
stolen, including practically the entire
assay outfit and the charts and as :
says. Representations were made to g
the iron works of conditions, and Mr.. +
O'Neil, thinking it to be in the interest
of the iron works to foreclose the q
mortgage, that company told Mr.. 1
O'Neil to proceed at once. This was f
done, and in due time the sheriff sold r
everything loose about the place, Clar- r
ence Cunningham becoming the sue =
cessful bidder for a mere pittance, 2
$500. This left a big balance due to r
the iron works, but it could not be car :
ried away. r
Taken Over by O'Niel and Finch. f
Charles w. O'Neil induced John A e
Finch to join him some time after n
ward and they took over the properly, e
bought back much machinery taken o
away by Mr. Cunningham, and with I
John Coumerilh, Frank Stevens and o
another man completed 20 stamps and t
the steam power. put in a tramway and d
the flume. The job was done Il
by Peter Spaulding as manager and I
under an expense of about d
s25, 900, Messrs. Finch and O'Neil alone II
the cash. This was late in r
tta faT NJ 1890 whom the weather he