Show 0 REGON METAL production IN 1915 1 I f preliminary estimates of the output of f metals from oregon mines in 1915 by the k united states geological survey show mat aerial increases in creases over the figures of 1914 in both gold and copper and slight decreases in yield of silver and lead the gold yield for 1914 was and the estimate for 1915 is which is an increase of for 1915 the silver output for 1914 was ounces and the estimate for 1915 is ounces or ounces less the yield of copper in 1914 was 39 pounds while the estimate for 1915 is pounds an increase for 1915 of pounds and the yield of lead was pounds in 1914 as compared with pounds in 1915 or pounds less these preliminary figures are compiled by charles G yale of the san francisco office of the survey it is noteworthy that such material increases in output of gold and copper should be apparent when the fact is considered that the of producing mines in oregon has fallen off fully one third in the past two years those which have dropped from the producing list however have been mainly small placers of various kinds where the ground has been worked out or has failed to pay the larger deep mines continue their productive career with few exceptions but not many new properties of moment have of late been opened more capital for mine development is needed in the state where there are few extensive properties in operation baker county continues to be by far the most productive county of the state yielding annually fully 85 per cent of all the gold the most productive deep mine in oregon in 1915 as also for the preceding two years was that of the commercial mining company operating the rainbow mine in cracker creek district baker county this property is shortly to be turned back to its original owners among other large producers in the same county is the cornucopia mining company in cornucopia district which in 1915 increased its output for the reason that they encountered higher grade ore on the lower levels bevels than they had before the baker mines ines company in the same district has put in a ton mill and has been operating most of the year in cracker creek district also in baker county the columbia mines company made about the same yield as in the previous year the output of the humboldt property in mormon basin district malheur malteur county was not as high as in 1914 the ben harrison mine granite district grant county was closed down most of the year 1915 and will not begin operations until next spring of the placer mines in oregon the most important enterprise is that of the powder river dredge company cracker creek district baker county this company which owned but one dredge in 1914 put another one in operation in the same field in 1915 and it is to the work of this company that the increase in gold yield in the state for the year is mainly due other placer mines are the osgood waldo district josephine county the layton in applegate district jackson county and the smaller mines around grants pass in josephine county the gold yield from the dredging operations is greatly in excess of that from all other forms of placer mining combined |