The Wallace miner. [volume], March 06, 1919, Image 1

About The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current

Image provided by: Idaho State Historical Society

                
Metal Quotations
Stockholders
THE WALLACE MINER
Lead, $5.30(85.40.
Spelter, $6.20@6.35.
Copper, $14.75@15.
Silver, $1.01'/ 8 .
WILLFINO MINING NEWS
AND COMPANY NOTICE8
OF INTERE8T TO THEM
IN THE WALLACE MINER
WALLACE, IDAHO, TH URSDAY, MARCH 6, 1919.
VOL. XIII.
NO. 4.
FIVE CENTS A COPY
As East and West
Drifts Advance
Shoot Widens
BOTH LEAD AND COPPER
Looks Like Big Mine Assured
After Twenty Years
Persistant Effort
WO WEEKS ago the Miner re
ported that tlie crosscut on the
1100 level of the Amazon-Dixie
mine had cut the vein, showing
a liberal distribution of ore through
out the vein as far as penetrated.
Since that time the extension of the
crosscut showed the vein to be 14 feet
wide, strong and undisturbed and with
every indication that its exploitation
would result in showing up a large
body of commercial ore. Upon the
completion of the crosscut drifts were
started both east and west and the
combined distance run up to yester
day was about 45 feet, according to a
statement made by Wesley Everett,
manager, who was in the city yester
day. The sliowing developed in this
short distance abundantly Justifies the
predictions made when the vein was
cut. The amount of ore has steadily
increased, particularly in the west
drift, and the pay shoot varies in
width from 18 inches to 4 feet of
good milling ore. The ore is bright
cube galepa, extremely brittle and Is
admirably adapted to concentration.
The shoot is apparently widening as
the drifts advance in both directions.
An interesting and favorable feature
of the ore is the presence of copper in
tiie form of cholcopyrite, bunches of
which appear continuously and have
the appearance of carrying not less
than 30 per cent copper. This level is
1100 feet from the surface and 410
feet below the main working tunnel,
in which continuous ore has been fol
lowed for 700 or 800 feet. The forma
tion Is still St. Regis, a fact that leads
to the conclusion that still better ore
and a larger body will be found with
further depth when the Revett is
reached) and eventually the Burke.
This expectation is strengthened by
the pronounced improvement that has
taken place as compared with the ore
on the 700 level or main tunnel. On
this level the vein was soft and brok
en, requiring timbering practically Its
entire length. While there was con
tinuous ore In varying quantity, there
was at no place a showing tp com
pare with that now exposed 400 feet
below.
T
Mine in the Making.
Manager Everett made no attempt
to disguise the fact that he was
greatly enthused over the showing,
which he regarded as positive proof
■that the Amazon-Dixie is a miine. He
confidently expects to develop an im
portant ore body on this level, and
stated that it would be necessary to
extend the west drift about 200 feet
to j;et under the best showing on the
700. But with his expectations real
ized on the 1100, his plans contemplate
exploring the vein at further depth,
probably 500 feet, before taking up the
question of providing the mine with
a mill. The character of the ore at
this depth and the steady improve
ment noted seems to remove all doubt
to its continuity at further depth,
With corresponding improvement in
grade and Increased size of shoot.
'The company Is handicapped by an
Insufficient supply of water for power.
This will soon be remedied by the
melting snow high on the mountains,
when ample power will be available
until well into the summer. By that
time Mr. Everett hopes to have elec
tric power Installed which will pro
vide power for all purposes, which
would supplement (the water power
and take its place altogether If it
should become necessary In unusual
ly dry seasons.
Record of Twenty Year*.
It was in 1899, Just twenty years
ago. that Wesley Everett packed his
blnnkts from Mullan across the Idaho
Montana line and started to make a
mine of a prospect called the Leslie.
How he financed the undertaking,
equipping the property and accom
plishing thousands of feet of develop
ment, is an Interesting story in it
self, being a fine example of w-hat one
man can do with no other resources
;'( than faith in the enterprise, unyield
ing purpose and an honest expendi
ture of the funds that came Into his
hands. Wlhile still prosecuting de
velopment on the Leslie, a sensational
discovery was made on the Amazon
Dixie. joining the Leslie and on the
same vein. Ore was found practically
on the surface, and Mr. Everett turn
ed his attention to the organization of
as
IDAHO & LOS ANGELES.
Cut Vein, But Not Believed to Be the
One Sought. •
Peter Johnson came down from the
Idaho & I.os Angeles yesterday,
bringing with him samples of the
vein which was cut two days ago.
These samples evidently carry values
in zinc and lead and the vein will be
explored by drifting, but for the pres
ent the crosscut will be continued up
on the belief that this is not the main
vein. It is about 18 inches wide, well
defined and the vein filling is said to
be •identical with that found in the
Interstate-Callahan, which the Idaho
& Los Angeles joins on the north.
This vein was cut after crosscutting
246 feet, while the survey indicates
that 350 feet would be necesasry to
reach it. This difference might be ac
counted for in the change of dip, but
it appears more probable that it is a
branch of the main vein, and on this
theory the crosscut will be continued.
Mr. Johnson came out on skis and
found it a difficult trip even for a man
skilled in this manner of travel. Snow
at the Idaho & Los Angeles camp is
over eight feet deep.
AJAX WILL EXPLORE
CONTINE DRIFT FROM MOON
LIGHT SHAFT—START UP
IN TWO MONTHS.
Alva C. Blxby, manager of the Ajax
Mining company, left Tuesday morn
ing for Boston, where he goes to con
fer with the controlling owners of
the company who reside in that city
and Lynn, Mass. Work on the prop
erty was discontinued last week. Mr.
Bixby stated upon his departure that
he would probably be gone about two
months, and that upon his return de
velopment of the property would again
be taken up. Recent work has been
through the Oom Paul tunnel, the
porfal of which is a short distance
above „Burke, but when work starts
again it will be in the shaft sunk from
the Moonlight tunnel, (which is about
700 feet above the Oom Paul level and
some 3000 feet west. It is now down
200 feet and a drift west from the bot
tom has developed considerable ore,
there toeing about two feet in the face.
It is proposed to continue this drift
west toward the Hercules, the distance
to the common end line being about
COO feet. The company is well equip
ped with hoist and compressor and
other facilities for prosecuting the
development on this level, and the
showing in the shaft drift together
with the large ore body found on the
corresponding level of the Hercules
indicate that the work now planned
will result in disclosing an important
ore shoot.
Oom Paul Level.
After crosscutting the Ajax vein
from the Oom Paul tunnel west of the
Oom Paul fault, the drift was extend
ed westerly several hundred feet,
showing a big strong vein of groat
promise and considerable ore, but not
in commercial quantity,
crosscut was run from the Oom Paul
crosscut east of the fault about 480
feet northerly, but without finding
the Ajax vein.
(transferred to the point of intersec
tion of the Ajax vein 'West of the fault
and a drift was run east to the fault,
distance of about 500 feet,
again failed to develop commercial
ore, although there was ore continu
ously. Upon the completion of this
work It was decided to suspend for a
time as stated above while Mr. Bixby
goes east for a conference with the
chief stockholders.
Later a
Wlirk
was again
Tli is
MARSHAL FOCH.
He Would Be a Good Substitute for
the Peace Congress.
(Harvey's Weekly)
The more we know of Marshal Foch,
the more we like him. When the Ger
mans try to evade the terms of the
armistice by withholding their ships,
he says, "Very well; we'll march in
and occupy Essen." When they refuse
to evacuate Polish territory, he says,
"Very well; we'll occupy Dantzig and
the Dantzig-Thorn railway." If the
Huns keep on defaulting their obliga
tions, he will be marching an army in
to Berlin; which is what really should
have been done at the outset. If the
peace congress gets tired of its job,
and wants to atodidate in favor-*of
Marshal Foch, we shall not object.
a company for Its development. Much
local capital was secured, tout tlie
chief reliance of the enterprise was a
syndicate of Cleveland
What lias been accomplished in the
way of equipping the property and de
veloping It has been told from time to
time in these columns, and at thiji
time It is only necessary to add that
the strike that has just been made
bears all the evidence of merging in
to a great mine, 'Which will amply re
ward Mr. Everett and his associates
for their prolonged and persistent ef
forts.
capitalists.
Mining Companies Must Reduce Cost
of Operation—Consider Reduction
of Wages
HILE NO authorized information has been given out on the
subject, it is nevertheless known Unit the mining companies
of the Coeur d'Alene district have under consideration a re
duction in wages. Meetings of managers have been held ut
which the subject has been discussed, us well as other matters af
fecting the companies and their employes, and it is probable that
within the next week announcement will la, made of the policy
adopted. A reduction in wages has been fully anticipated from the
time the armistice was signed and especially since the sensational
drop In lead a few weeks later. Employes as well us employers have
generally regarded a reduction as inevitable, but they have Uopod
that there would ibe a readjustment of living costs before the cut was
made. And it is no doubt true that this consideration explains tile
delay on the part of the mining companies in announcing the reduc
tion, for there has been no perceptible reduction in the cost of gro
ceries, clothing, rents, fuel, etc., and to reduce the wages of the miner
places him in the same position with his employer with a peace price
for what he has to sell and war prices for what he has to buy. How
ever, the situation must be met, for the mining companies are con
fronted with the necessity of either reducing operating expenses or
suspend operation, Just as several have done already. Tile question
that will soon be presented to employes will simply mean whether it
is better to accept a reduction in pay and continue working, or to re
fuse to accept the cut and be out of a job. Three big mines have
already suspended on account of the low metal prices and weak mar
ket while minirig costs remain or a war basis, and there is reason
to believe that others will be forced to do so unless there is a sub
stantial reduction of wages and other concessions in mining costs.
Prices Must Come Down.
But it would be manifestly unfair to expect the wage o;yner to
sustain this loss without some concessions to offset it. One of these
should be the restoration of the rate of board to $1 per day, the rate
now being $1.25, this to take effect with the reduction of wages.
Then there should be a systematic effort throughout the district
to reduce the cost of living. It is realized, of course, that this is a
matter beyond the control of local influences generally, but similar
investigations in other places, notably in Butte, disclosed the fact
that there were profiteers among local business men. If there are
such here the facts Should be known in order that the public may
be protected against their detestable practice. The condition
faced by the operators and employes in the Coeur d'Alenes is the
same that has been met in the copper catnips* of Montana, Utah and
Arizona. In some instances the radical labor element attempted
close down the mines rather than accept the reduction of wages,
but iwiser counsel soon prevailed. The copper mines are working
under the new scale and employers and employes are cooperating for
mutual advantage until the readjustment which is hound to come,
restores normal peace conditions.
W
[
|
nnvv
to
The Sliding Scale.
Wages in tlie Coeur dAAlene district are based on a sliding scale
dependent upon the price of lead voluntarily adopted by the min
ing companies on February 1, 1916, and supplemented a year later to
cover the higher prices of lead. The scale of wages follows, based up
on tbe average price of lead for the preceding month:
The basic wage is $3.50 per day and prevails when -lead is not
above 5 cents per pound.
Over 5 and not over 5*4 cents, $3.75 per day.
Over 5% and not over 6 cents. $4 per day.
Over 6 and not over 6*4 cents, $4
Over 6*4 and not over 7*4 cents, $4.50 per day.
Over 7*4 cents, $4.75 per day.
When lead reached a figure above that contemplated by the
scale, the mining companies voluntarily added 50 cents per day,
making the rate $5.25 per day, which is still maintained in spite of
the continued war cost of mining and peace price of metals. U_ is
not believed that wages will be cut more than $1 per day at this
time, which would make the rate $4.25 per day and which would still
be 50 cents above the rate required by the sliding scale.
per day.
INTERMOUNTAIN.
Level From
Will Open Intermediate
Bottom of Winze.
According to Edward Evans, presi
j
|
dent of the Intermountain Mining |
company, the winze that is now being
sunk from the 400 level of the Inter- j
mountain mine, near Iron Mountain, ■
Mont,, is now down 75 feet and is in
ore all (the way, varying from four to j
five feet wide, all of good milling grade
and some shipping. When the winze,
is down 100 feet drifts will toe run in |
both directions. The (main
down 700 feet, but is not pumped
shaft is |
on the 700 |
is reported to be 400 feet long, and it
is believed that it will prove that long
on the new level that is to toe opened
from the winze. Under the direction
of E. G. Gnaedinger, who was super
intendent of the Intermountain until
recently, a pocket of shipping ore
tvas found practically on the surface
which produced 10 or 12 carloads. A
tunnel is now being extended with tlie
expectation of finding another such
pocket. Mr. Evans says the tunnel is
now*' following a narrow and rich
streak of ore. Tlie mill will toe start
ed as soon as sufficient ore has been
developed on the intermediate or 500
level. The track of the old Iron Moun
tain railroad is being taken up and
the company will use motor trucks
for hauling ore to tlie railroad at Iron
Mountain, about 10 miles.
The ore shoot
(low the 400.
White at Home.
Rush J. White, engineer represent
ing the Elm Orlu side of the litigation |
between that company and the Butte
& Superior, Is home for a visit with
his family. Since his last Visit Mr.
White has been in Washington in
i
j
■
company with John P. Gray, attorney j
for the Elm Orlu, Senator Clark's pro-!
perty, where the case was heard on
appeal to the supreme court.
j
I
|
Practically ail development work
has been suspended in the National
mine. The mill is running on ore al
ready broken, of which there is suf-[
fldent to keep it running for about
two months. Unless there is a favor
able turn in tlie copper market and
substantial reduction in the cost of j
mining toy that time, it is probable
that work will be suspended.
National
SUCCESS DELINQUENT SALE.
(Entire List Sold for Assessment Plus
Costs.
With the exception of stock owned
by men in the army and navy, who
(generally had no notice of the assess
ment, or if they had were probably in
most eases without means of paying
it, the entire list of delinquent Sue
cess stock, which filled a little more
than seven columns in tile Miner, was
(sold for 2 cents per share, tlie amount
0 f the assessment, plus the cost of
advertising
be-'stock in the name of soldiers
and expenses of sale,
amounting to $23 per 1000 shares.
and
sailors was withheld from sale toy the
(company and the owners will have an
another record of substantial profits,
opportunity to redeem it. The stock
was purchased by brokers generally
who had large orders from clients.
The total number of shares sold was
231,361. Tlie feeling prevails toy those
who are Informed on tlie condition of
the mine thait it will "come back"
when normal mining conditions are
restored. Much ore has been develop
ed on the 1400, 1500 and 1600 levels,
with every Indication of Increasing the
ore reserves. It is therefore not im
probable that the eventful history of
this old mine will be rounded out wiith
i
UNDERGROUND SCHOOL.
Dean F. A. Thomson Tells of Vocation- ;
at Training of Miners.
F. A, Thomson, dean of the school of
mines, returned Sunday from a vish |
to the miners' trade school at Wiallace,
which is in charge of F. H. Skeels. The
'school has (been in operation for about
ten days.
It is proceeding along entirely novel
'lines, the class room toeing the 1400
foot level of the Morning mine, says
j
the Moscow Star-Mirror.
[lows Just returned from service in the
Young fel-J
j army are being taught tlie arts of rni
I nlng as applied to peace.
| The work is being carried on by the
|state of Idaho In cooperation with the
federal board for vocational education
operating under the SmSth-Hughes act.
So far as is known, this application of
Industrial training to mining work is
the only one of its kind in the world,
(The school has taken a contract to
a'run a drift for so much per foot and
j whatever amount is left after paying
for explosives is to be distributed pro
rata among the pupils.
TARBOX.
Crosscutting Vein in East Drift Shows
Much Copper.
The latest developments at the Tar
box indicates that copper Is to be an
| Important factor in the future of the
mine, accompanied by a silver value
' that may combine to make the most
I valuable product. Samples of this
copper ore were brought over last
j Saturday, the showing being disclosed!
probably 15 feet in width while cross
cutting the vein in the east drift on
the 1000 level. F. J. Davey estlmat-J
Jed that this ore would average 4 or 5
; per cent copper, while spots of gray
(-copper indicated increaesd value in
silver. Mr. Davey and Manager Rich
ard Daxon went over to the mine yes
terday, and upon tlmir return more
detailed information will be obtain
able.
j Steady improvement is reported in
I the west drift, there being three feet
of excellent lead and zinc ore, some
I of which would be classed as shipping.
:
THUS KB
PURCHASE OF SHERMAN AND
CROWN POINT RATIFIED
PAY NO DIVIDEND.
At tlie annual meeting of the Tam
Iarack & Custer Consolidated Mining
company oil the 26th, tlie purchase of
the controlling interest in the Sher
man Lead company held by E. R. Day,
was ratified, the purchase price being
$153,000. Of tills sum $100,000
used to pay the balance due on the
bond held by the Sherman company
on what was formerly known as the
Union group and the remainder Is be
ing spent in developing the property.
Tlie purchase of tlie (Town Point and
Indus claims from Mrs. Eleanor Day
Boyce was also confirmed, the consid
eration being 100,000 shares of treas
ury stock. The Indus claim lies par
allel and adjoining the Custer claim
on the north and the (Crown Point has
a common end line with the Custer on
the east, filling the gap between the
Tamarack Ai Custer holdings and the
Sherman. These transfers are what
might be termed family affairs, as the
Tamarack & Custer is controlled by
jthe Day family, and the properties in
volved were presumably acquired by
was
Mr. Day and Mrs. Boyce with the view
to turning them over to the Tamarack
& Custer company.
Provide Outlet for Tamarack.
of the Sherman
In securing control
Lead company the Tamarack & Cus-]
ter company seems to have landed
two birds with one stone, one of
which is an outlet for the mine on
(Canyon creek (within easy access to
ltht , miu> an d the other is what prom
ises to be a great mine in the Sher
man. Ore from the Tamarack &
[Custer mine is now delivered to the
:mill by means of an aerial tramway
two miles in length across the divide
between Canyon creek and Nine Mile
It js understood that the deep tunnel
now being driven through the Sher
mnn ground will toe extended into the
Tamarack & Custer, giving a depth
of some 700 or 800 feet below the
present workings and delivering the
ore at the railroad at Burke, about
two miles above the mill, thus elim
inating the tramway, which it is un
derstood has never reached the car
rying capacity contemplated to meet
the requirements of the mill.
Tamarack Ore Shoot.
Those who are familiar with the
Tamarack & Custer mine regard it as
one of tlie greatest mines of the dis
trict. An ore shoot, ranging in width
from three to 40 feet, Is said to have
been proved 1800 feet in length, the
east end of which Is in the Crown
Point ground, adjoining the Sherman.
While the Sherman tunnel is toeing
driven primarily -to develop a mine in
the Sherman ground, it will no doubt
toe continued into the Tamarack &
Custer, entering tlie Crown Point
claim in probably not to exceed 2000
feet.
showing in the Sherman,
encountered in the lower Itunnel much
sooner than expected and according to
the last information received the en
tire face of the drift was in comoner
dal lead-silver ore.
Old Officers Elected.
No information has been received
for several weeks regarding the
Ore was
At the recent meeting of stockhold
ers (the old officers and directors were
reelected as follows: Jerome J. Day,
presldept arid manager; Eugene R.
Day, vice president; Harry L. Day,
secretary, all of Wallace. These with
Ramsay M. Walker, of Wallace, and
E. H. Knight and F. M. Rothrock, of
Spokane, constitute the board of di
rectors.
It is understood that the report of
the manager showed a surplus on
hand of close to $500,000. No divi
dend was declared, however, for the
reason that it was regarded probable
that the company was facing a long
shutdown and it was therefore desir
able to retain a large balance on hand.
MFFTINiH flN A PDII QsL
IC ' 1 - 1 ArKlL Oth
DUD IS DENIS
Retains Large Sur
plus to Pay
Tax
Much Interest in Annual Re
port of Company Covering
Tax Question
q
N MARCH 1 the Hecla Mining
company announced a quar
terly dividend of 15 cents per
share, payable
amounting to $150,000.
eo that tills Is a little less than the
actual earnings of the
Hie present time, due to the low price
of lead and the continued high cost of
mining. Sliver is the salvation of the
Hecla at tills time, the steady demand
and high price of that metal making
profit possible which Justifies
ation under the present adverse
ditions. Tile company
lug production and the force employ*
ed Is considerably less than that
normal times. Botli the
and the leased Federal mill
lng as usual with no indication of
further cyrtallment or shutdown. Last
Friday the mine was forced to sus
pend on account of ore congestion, the
railroad company being unable to
move the ore from the bins to the
mills on account of the heavy fall of
The situation was relieved by
Monday, when the track was opened
and operations resumed.
The payment of the dividend this
March 28,
It is estimat
company at
oper
con
is not crowd
of
Gem mill
are rim
snow.
month Will bring the total dividends
paid by the Hecla company up to $7,
405,000.
of the company were
Last year while the earnings
probably well
above a million and a half, the com
pany paid only $350,000 in dividends.
This was due to the uncertainty
the amount the company would have
to pay under the excess
of
profits law.
In anticipation of this and in order to
be prepared for whatever tax payment
was required, the company discontln
ued dividend payments after the Jan
lull '- v disbursement of 5 cents per
share. Up to that time the company
had been P a ylng monthly.
On Sep
^ emiber 1 announcement was made
that a dividend of 15 cents per share
would be paid on September 28 and
that thereafter payments would be
made quarterly instead of monthly.
The same disbursement was made on
December 28.
In the meantime the
tendered the government
$128,000 income tax for the year 1917,
but no formal acceptance was made,
and the amount due for that year and
also for the year 1918 is still awaiting
adjustment. The company is still "up
Ip the air" regarding the amount the
government will finally demand, but
the surplus on hand 1 h ample to meet
it whatever the amount and still leave
comfortable bqjanee on hand,
cording to current reports, the sur
plus in the Hecla treasury is upward
of $2,000,000.
The annual meeting of stockholders
of the Hecla company will be held Ir
Spokane on April 8. Unusual Inter
company
Ae
est Ir taken in the meeting on Roamin'
of the controversy with the aroverr
ment regarding the construction
the excess profits tax law, a sutojec.
that is expected to be covered by the
annual report of the company,
company is capitalized for $250 000
having 1,000,000 shares
value of 25 cents. While there
numerous features of the excess pro
fits law subject to various
of
The
of the par
are
. construe -
tions, it is understood that the Issue
between the company and the govern
ment turns chiefly upon the question
of what constitutes Invested capital
a basis for computing profits for the
purpose of taxation.
as
GEORGE GRAHAM RICE.
George Graham Rice, a poet of sur
passing imagination when it comes vo
promoting oil and other sto'ks that
ere warranted to make
wealthy even faster than a grand Jury
can return indictments, was .djujgel
Insolvent by Judge Martin T. Manton
of the federal district court, February
3, in the face of his claim that he had
"Rice oil stocks" of gTeat value, says
tlie Engineering and Mining Journal
According to the federal
Rice's
though he asserts he has assets con
sisting of outstanding accounts worth
$237,000, stocks and other securities to
the Value of $200,000, and the afore laid
oil stocks. Two indictments for grand
larceny against Rice wei» found by
the grand Jury Inst July, two days af
ter he was arrested toy federal agents
on a charge of using the mails to de
fraud.
pun hnsera
nutfiorit X3,
$700,000.
liabilities
exceed