(By Jack Bell.)

Rawhide, Nev., March 29. - Ore shipments sent to the local mills and to the outside have increased almost 100 tons during the past week. The grade of ore is much higher, as the returns show, than has been expected by leasers and owners alike. Take for example the 103 tons of dump ore shipped from the Miller lease, of which Frank J. Cavanaugh the old time Cripple Creek operator is principal owner. This ore from samplings made by the management showed that the dump was not in excess of $18 per ton. The settlement sheets from the Murray mill, however, gave returns showing an average of $30 per ton. The splendid results of this try-out applies to some half dozen other leaseholds in the camp. Bradshaw shipped 15 tons that control $400. The Marigold shipped to Hazen, 12 tons that assays show is better than $300 per ton. Miller lease is shipping 200 tons more to the Murray mill. Grutt Hill Coalition 30 tons to the Hazen sampler. Kearns No. 1, 60 tons to the Knight-Conlen mill on the flat below town. Mint lease 60 tons to the Knight-Conlon mill. Queen estate, 50 tons of dump ore to the Dayton mill. Czar lease, 30 tons to Murray mill. Little Four of Bethania Mines, 10 tons, to Weiss mill on flat below town. Bridges-Daniels, 3 tons high grade to Knight mill. Proskey No. 1, 10 tons to Hazen sampler. Grutt Mining, 60 tons to Knight-Conlon mill. Victor, 20 tons to Truitt mill at Sexburg. Nugent, 30 tons to Weiss mill. Daytonh-Toledo started 50 tons to the Knight-Conlon mill. Grutt Hill Truitt is starting 15 tons to the Hazen sampler. Besides these lots there are at least 20 smaller shipments being hauled to the mills on the flat for mill test. The Grutt-Balloon Hill are sending their high grade out by express at the rate of two tons per day. The King-Heisner mill is installing their big pumping plant, the engines having arrived today. The ground work on the mill structure is completed. The heavy timbers are arriving from the railroad point and all work is being rushed as fast as possible with a force of some 50 men. Walter S. Evans, of Chicago, and associates have purchased the mill site on Gold Dick hill, opposite the Murray mill. Their contracts for water with the King-Heisner mill people have been signed. Twenty stamps for this plant, with the cyanide tanks, are at Fallon now. A force of menw ere put to work today grading for the foundation of the mill which will be a 100-ton capacity plant. This work will be rushed as fast as men and money can do it, and it will be ready to receive ore not later than June 15th. The Knight-Conlon mill is to be moved up into town on the south slope of Murray hill and its capacity doubled. This is to be done at once. This conclusion was arrived at immediately after the recent successful runs made on the ores from several Rawhide leases. At this time the mills below them are capable of handling a daily tonnage of 200 tons. These mills are now swamped by Rawhide ores and are considerably behind on their work. Besides the ore already delivered to the mills there are thousands of tons of milling ore on the dumps of leases waiting their turn at the mill bins. The milling facilities are wholly inadequate to meet the demands of the shippers. Thus the five and ten ton producer has no show whatever at thsi time to get his product through the mill. This congest will be remedied to a great extent when the new King Heisner mill and the new Evans mill get into full swing. It is a positive fact that the latter two mills, and in all liklihood the mills now in operation, will have sampling departments in connection with the mill and buy the ore direct from the leaser or producer, and make settlements within 24 hours from the time of delivery of the ore. The benefits of this system can be best appreciated by the Rawhide leaser.

The Grutt Mining lease on the Grutt Brother's Fraction of the great Consolidated estate is the sensation of the past few days. A new ore shoot was opened up a few feet east of the shaft at the 40-foot point in the new workings. A little better than three feet of ore has b een developed that is sampling $60 per ton and breaks down without sorting. It is the northern extension of the main vein and lies a little to the east. It is producing at the rate of 10 tons of this grade of ore per day. Work is going on as usual at the 100 and 200-feet levels in the old workings, and the drifts are in high grade milling ore. In the open cut on the surface where the big strike was made over a month ago the management is still sacking at the rate of three tons per day of ore that samples over $300 per ton. Some of the most beautiful specimens ever aken in the district are to be seen in the ore bins of this company, where crowds are congregated daily waiting for specimens. At the present ime this mine is producing more ore and of a better grade than any other property in the entire district. Men are being added to the payroll on this property and the ore is going out with daily regularity to the mills below town. This mine is situate but a very short distance from the summit of Grutt hill, on the southerly point of this famous mountain. At the present time this mine has more development work done, more ore blocked out and in sight than any property here, and the veins that have been opened and are developing, are perfect fissures in place, with a due north-and-south strike, and the ore shoots invariably come in from the north, showing the same regularity of the big Mother Lode fissure of the camp which shows to best advantage for the entire length of the Queen Bethania claim, on which there are five sets of leasers sacking ore.

On the Grutt Balloon Hill lease on the Queen estate, Manager Looney stated tonight that this property is producing 30 sacks per day of ore which according to the last shipment made will net the company not less than $1,000 per ton. This property has the earmarks of being one of the most famous rich producers that has ever been discovered. The ore is no less in value, no less in extent, than was described by your correspondent in a recent letter. The wealth that is being taken down daily from this vein seems almost inconceivable. Upon examination today veins of solid silver, varying in width from one inch to eight inches, band up and down in the face of the drift. The end of the richness is not yet in sight This will be developed as fast as possible with additional miners and mining facilities and the shipments will continue going forward daily. This stock before the strike was selling at less than $3.00 per thousand shares. Today the market is strong at 27 cents with absolutely no stock in sight.

On the Revenue group of claims, situated three and one-half miles north of the camp, at a depth of 20 feet, an 18 inch vein of quartz in which gold is plentifully distributed, has been opened. The assays show returns of $160 in gold and $319 in silver. This discovery is one of great importance, as the strike has been made in the northern section where very little mining has so far been done. This stretches the Rawhide proven area for a distance of seven miles north and south and four miles east and west. The Revenue group is owned by the Sunflower Mining and Leasing company and is made up of St. Joseph and Kansas City people. This outfit is well financed and plans for development are on an extensive scale. This strike has started the owners of adjoining properties upon development of their estates and there is a marked activity in that section already.

On the Little Four lease on the estate of Bethania Mines the owners after cutting through 37 feet of an absolutely solid dyke of material closely resembling phonolite they are coming into the big ore shoot that lies against this cantact. This work is in the south drift and east crosscut. Samples of the ore show it is a hard composition in which are myriad streaks of quartz carrying sulphides and gold. This shoot has been opened now a distance of 210 feet at either end and drifting will be started on the ore at once. The management states that within the next two weeks they will be on a daily shipping basis.

The Murray is still sinking and its shaft continues in a good grade of milling ore.

Mr. Cottle representing G. S. Johnson, of Goldfield, the principal owner of the Lucky Strike claim on which leaser Jewett recently opened a bigt shipper, reached town this morning to consult with Mr. Jewett as to the best disposition of the ore now sacked and being sacked. Mr. Jewett favors sending the ore to the local mills, but on account of the congested condition of these plants it is rather uncertain about early returns. A decision will be arrived at within a day or two and shipments will begin.