The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February
1, 1889.
From Honduras.
The following letters were received last
Friday by the President of the Cortland-Honduras
Mining Company:
NACAOME, C.
A., Jan'y 5, 1889.
C. E.
Ingalls, Esq.
DEAR SIR:
I will write you a few lines but as Foster is
writing you I shall not have much to say. I wrote you on board the ship that I
met two English gentlemen going to the same place I was, to look for gold
mines. They went with us when we arrived here, and after examining our property
with others, we sold them the old Amparo mine and we will send you the contract
by next mail. Foster is writing you and will probably say more about it. I
think it is a good sale, and we get 35 per cent of all they take out and they
agree to make developments to the amount of $10,000. That will save us the
expense of anything for development and we can use our own money on our own
mines, which we have plenty room for. I think our mines are splendid. We have
more ore in our hills than we can work in a hundred years; all it wants is
money to go to work with and then there can be no mistake but that we can make
all the money we want. I think we can get material and labor here for the
present to set our boiler and erect our machines. The house is nearly completed
and then I shall be down there all the time. We are making our own brick and
they will be done by the time we want them. We go to the Capitol to-morrow to
get our edict so that Foster can transfer the papers to me.
We have been very busy in making the sale of
the mine and have within the last hour got all papers signed and delivered and
they start to-morrow morning, as it is the last hour they have to take the boat
for England, or lay over one month before they can leave Colon for home, as
they go direct from Colon to England. Foster has been so much engaged in making
this sale that he has not had time to make out a statement of his accounts, but
will do so as soon as we return from the Capitol, and then I will forward it to
you so you can see how much money he has on hand. We owe $3,000
on our property yet and we must have it to pay when it becomes due. Foster has
some money on hand now, but it will take considerable to keep the mines and our
work moving.
The next four months will be the hard pull.
I shall not order our belting, &c, yet as there will be plenty of
time for two months yet. Things move slow but sure. By the next mail I will
give more definitely the work that has been done and the amount of ore mined
and money expended.
These English gentlemen have expressed their
gratification time and again for being so fortunate as to meet me, thus
enabling them to see Foster with whom they have made so good and satisfactory a
deal. If they had not met him they think they never would have made a purchase
for they do not like the natives to deal with.
It is hot as blazes here: how is it up in old
Cortland? I hope you are having some good cool weather, plenty of snow, and a good
time generally. I live quietly here as all must who come here. It is rather lonesome
for me, but I will try and endure it. Tell the boys to keep cheerful. It will
take longer than we expected but we will get there just the same.
Yours truly,
E. P. SHUTT.
NACAOME,
Jan'y 5, 1889.
GENTLEMEN: I have been so busy with my work,
Mr. Schutt and the English deal, that I have time but for a few words.
We have sold the mine Amparo to an English
company. Will send copy of contract by next mail. The terms are that they are
to open the mine, which will cost about $10,000, put on a plant and give us 35
per cent of stock. It is a good deal, as English stock is worth double that of
American. I could have dealt the others, but don’t think we want to deal them.
Schutt cables you to-day and says 'send money'
in order for you to be prepared. We shall be obliged to use the bulk of the erection
money soon for brick, tile, survey of zone, &c., &c., all of
which is preparatory to the erection of the mill. We have a good amount
of money on hand and will in my next, make a statement of finances and
proximate cost of putting up the mill. You will find both favorable and
to your satisfaction. Everything here in general and particular
is O. K.
I enclose a little report from the English
expert. The Englishmen start home tonight and will carry my letters
to Amapala for the mail. The days since Schutt and they arrived
have been very laborious for me and I regret that I cannot write you more.
Send 500 lbs. best 7/8 drill steel at once,
I mean the very best, it is
cheapest, if we don't wire for it before you get this. Hold on to your stock.
Respectfully
submitted,
J. E. FOSTER.
The following is the letter of Mr. Nichols, the
English mining expert referred to in Mr. Foster's letter:
To the Cortland-Honduras Mining Association:
GENTLEMEN: Being now on a visit to Honduras
from England, for the purpose of
inspecting and advising on certain mining properties here, in the interest of
English capitalists, I recently took the opportunity of visiting your
properties in El Gubernador District in the Department of Choluteca, and at
the request of Messrs. Foster and Schutt, whom I had the pleasure of meeting
here. I made an inspection of your properties El Trancito and San Rafael,
but the other mines belonging to you
I had not sufficient time at my disposal to
enable me to visit. With reference to the
El Trancito and San Rafael, I have pleasure in stating that from
the appearance of the vast lodes of ores now in sight, I am of opinion that they will well
justify the expenditure which I was
given to understand was about to be
made for the purpose of working the
same. My opinion of Amparo is very
patent to you; the fact that I have
recommended the same to favorable
consideration of an English gentleman,
who is accompanying me in this
country, and accordingly entered into an
arrangement for the purchase of the said
mine.
Congratulating you upon the favorable prospects
of your undertaking here, I remain, Gentlemen, your Obedient Servant,
JOHN B. NICHOLS, C. E., M E.
Honduras, Jan'y 4th, 1889.
From Honduras.
The
following letter was received by Dr. C.
E. Ingalls, President of the San Rafael Mining & Milling Company, from
Superintendent Foster on Thursday morning of this week:
NACAOME, HOND., C. A., Jan. 27, ’89.
San Rafael Mining & Milling Co.
GENTLEMEN:—The work at the mine is pushing
steadily forward. We are now working only on the crosscut tunnel of the San
Rafael mine proper. We could be taking out ore from other places, but I consider
it best to make this tunnel the ore audit, and after it in finished we can get out
the ore much cheaper than otherwise.
Some
considerable ore from other parts of the work is now on the dump. We are in 48
feet. This would have all been finished but for the want of dynamite of which I
have previously spoken.
The machinery is all in good shape in our
port El Tamarindo. The brick and tile are making $7 per 1,000. Our next steps
will be to open the road by cutting out a few small trees, removing some stones
and changing some ground and also getting the ground for the mill ready.
My financial report only awaits the
statement of our agent in Amapala, and I have expectation of its reaching me in
time to get it off on this steamer.
Just how much money we will need to complete
this work I can not tell, and do not like to make statements that will not be
quite proximate. Mr. Schutt and myself will make careful figures and give a very
approximate idea, inasmuch as at the beginning but a gold mill will be put up,
the cost will be much lighter and of such an amount as to give you no trouble.
I have covered the ground briefly, but have
covered it well. Will add that in a few days when I get more time shall with a
couple of men commence an examination and work on the other veins of the San Rafael.
Most Sincerely and Resp'y Yours,
J. E. FOSTER. [Cortland Democrat, Feb.
15, 1889]
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