Show THE DROPPING OF A SLEDGE the dropping of a heavy sledge in a shaft in a prospect in tintic gintic district brought to light what appears to have been a well laid scheme to secure possession of a valuable proposition in the near vicinity of silver city and as the story may prove interesting to mining 0 review readers and at the same time show up one of the many tricks resorted to in mining affairs and manipulation we reproduce it ornit omitting X the name of the property in question and the names of interested parties it seems that some time a ao ago 0 o the owner of a group of claims in the locality mentioned gave a bond and lease on the same to salt lake parties these parties did considerable development behind lock and key and eventually threw their option up anthe on the plea that the mine was practically valueless val uless yet at the same time they loaned the owner of the ground 2000 taking a mortgage on the group as security so matters rested until the owner fearful that he would be unable to meet the payment and so lose the property took a well known salt laker out to inspect the mine this gentleman went down the shaft a depth of eighty feet or more and wishing to break off some pieces of rock or vein matter asked his companion to drop a sludge down to him the sledge was a heavy one and when it struck bottom produced such a hollow sound as to cause some speculation in the mind of the gentle gentleman man making the examination as to the cause thereof the result of a careful inspection disclosed the fact that the shaft had been boarded over with plank on top of which a layer of rock and debris had been placed it was then found that the shaft continued further down a distance of thirty feet or more from the bottom of which a drift had been run some distance on a fine body of high grade ore the money was at once advanced to pay off the mortgage the promoter organized a company for the continued development of the property and placed the bulk of the treasury stock with eastern capitalists and it is learned that it will not be long now before active and systematic work will begin in the exploitation of this prospective bonanza had the owner of the claim failed in paying off the mortgage it is more than likely that the mortgagees would now be in possession I 1 of this promising property it was a smooth trick but it t failed to work |