Mineral Kingdom. (Lawton, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 8, 1905 Page: 1 of 8
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Sl'KCIAF. EDITION K'o|| EDITORIAL, ASSOCIATION
MINERAL KINGDOM.
Devoted to tfye MiQeral Interests of t^e Wichita MountaiQS
Vol.2. No. 31.
LAWTON, OKLAHOMA, THURSDAY. JUNE 8, ] 905.
$1 Per Year.
Law tor) Welcomes the Editors to the Queer) City of the Southwest
. _ - . . 1 T" I J ' i ! . 1 U/tn mi PR
Ghe Wichita Mountains
Prior to the opening of the Kiowa-Comanche country to .settlement
in 1901, prospecting was done contrary to the orders of the Govern-
ment, and Indian police were employed to enforce the order. Since that
time many promising claims have been located, development work has
been done to the extent that valuable minerals have been unearthed,
and at this time smelters are being constructed for the treatment of ores.
Early History
The first exploration of the Wichita Mountains of which history takes
any note was conducted by Captain Marcy in the early 50 s, and this
gentleman reported the finding of free gold specimens, together with
samples of copper ore, and from this time until the time of the opening
several exploring parties have traversed these hills, the results of which
have seldom if ever teen made public, and many a prospector has lost his
scalp by persisting in visiting these mountains in quest of the precious
metals when it was inhabited only by the red man.
Mexicans Mined Here
From Mexican history we learn that Mexicans worked mines in this
district years ago, and in some instances packed the ore on the backs of
burros and transported the same to their own country for treatment,
while in others they built rude smelters on the ground and converted the
values into base bullion, and this in turn was by the aid of burros taken
to their refineries where the same was given final treatment. Rem-
nants of these old smelters have been found in the Wichitas and also
the workings of these primitive people, which confirms the Mexican
history and very plainly shows that values were taken out of these
mountains long before the white man invaded their recesses.
Like Other Districts
The history of this mineral district since the opening in 1901 has not
been unlike that of other mineral districts, and the prospectors have
passed through the hardships and vicissitudes incident thereto, having
been visited and reported on adversely by the Government expert, have
been ridiculed and called grafters by people who have never traversed
any part of the mountains and who have no knowledge whatever of
minerals or their occurences, and yet amid all these discouragements
they have toiled on and have shown to the world that they knew the end
for which they were laboring, and with no assistance whatever save
their own efforts have practically demonstrated to the world that we
have a mineral district second to none in the United States when equally
developed. Our miners are as fine a class of men as one could wish to
meet in any walk of life, and while they will not be found dressed in
broadcloth and silk hats, they have the principle of manhood and justice
in a degree which is surprising, and the latchstring of their cabin is
always found upon the outside.
Area, Minerals, and Facilities
This mineral district comprises an area about 18 miles in width by
60 miles in length, and finest this entire area shows to be heavily min-
eralized, being cut and recut by numerous veins of mineral-bearing
quartz and porphyry,some specimens showing free gold at a very shallow
depth, comparatively speaking, but the greater part being in a combined
state and requiring treatment before the values are discernible to the
untrained eye. Copper has also been found in paying quantities, and
one prospect of molybdenite is now being developed which bids fair to
make a mine which will make wealthy the owners. Crystals of zircon
have also been found in this district which rival those from any part of
this country, and the assay furnaces have in several instances shown
quite an amount of platinum. In several shafts lead has been discov-
ered that no better prospects in other countries are being worked at a
profit, and silver is quite a factor in our formations.
We have an abundance of fine spring water issuing forth from the
mountains on every hand, and in our streams which are clear as crystal,
fish may be seen hiding among the rocks. The district has sufficient
timber for all mining purposes for years to come, and the surface of the
country is such that roads are easily made to transport machinery by
wagon to nearly any point in the mountains. Our climate permits of
mining the entire year, and our water supply is adequate for all mining
purposes. Being at the door of civilziation we have a mineral district
which excels in facilities for the general prosecution of the work that
of any district known, ond the last item which is the most important
of all, we have the values in the precious metals which makes it a pay-
ing proposition to conduct this work.
We have at this time something like 1,000 sturdy miners and pros-
pectors working away in these hills to get a little more depth in mother
earth and show something in shape of ore that is richer than that of his
neighbor, and the cannonlike roar of the blasting can be heard on every
hand.
Smelters Being Erected
There are at this time three smelters in course of construction, two
at the eastern end of the mountains, near Mt. Sheridan, and one at the
western end, near the mining town of Wildman. It is expected to have
all these plants in active operation before the end of the summer, and
before another summer comes numerous stacks will be sending their
smoke heavenward, extracting the presious metals from their ores.
Experts Proven to be Frauds
While H. Foster Bain, Prof. Edwin DeBarr, and others have been
working overtime striving to prove to the public there was no semblance
of values in theoe mountains, the miners and prospectors have worked
unceasingly to demonstrate that these people were frauds -yes. worse
than that—they were using their best efforts to deprive a worthy class
of citizens of their discoveries, which held and developed, means all to
them. They have now become able to prove to the satisfaction of any
individual with an investigating turn of mind the fact that the present
conditions indicate this will be one of the most important mineral dis-
tricts in the whole United States, if not in the world.
Honesty of Purpose
There was never a legitimate business established that if successful
from a business standpoint, was not cursed with its grafters and rascals,
and we have been no exception to this rule, but investigation will show
that the greater part of our miners are trustworthy men, with honesty
of purpose at heart, and able to furnish abundant proof of their asserions.
Progress of Development
Our development is yet in its infancy, comparatively speaking, but
the same has already shown this district to be very heavily mineralized,
and as depth has been attained on the veins the values have almost
invariably increased. There are now a few shafts sunk to a depth of
100 feet on well-defined fissure veins, and every one of these proper-
erties have shown to carry values sufficient to make them a paying
proposition, and the indications are that befor e the 200-foot level is
reached they will be producing material that will surpass even the wild-
est dreams of the operators themselves.
At Present We Need Capital
We do not wish to solicit any man to invest in this mining district
against his will, but those who take advantage of some of the opportuni-
ties now offered in this field will see the day they will receive their
remuneration in return for the expenditure, and this remuneration will
be many times the amount expended. We are rapidly assuming the
stage of development which will place us in the front rank among min-
eral-producing districts, and when this condition is a little further
advanced the solicitation of the miners of the Wichitas will cease, and
those who come to investigate will do so of their own accord and first-
class properties will be very hard to secure. Opportunity knocks once
at every man's door, and it has been admitted to the lives of these min-
ers, and they are taking advantage of the visit. As years roll by they
will look back over their misfortunes and hardships with a smile. Ver-
ily, time will make a great change.
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Davis, Frank C. Mineral Kingdom. (Lawton, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 8, 1905, newspaper, June 8, 1905; Lawton, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc227107/m1/1/: accessed March 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.