(By Jack Bell.)

Rawhide, Nev., June 26. - A nice little personal interest yarn in connection with the early efforts of the original promoters of the now world-famous Grutt Balloon Hill lease is not amiss at this time. The two men to whom credit is due for the discovery are Will E. Casson, of Carson, Nevada, formerly in the Indian Allotment Service of the United States government, (and by the way, he has letters from the government, lauding him as the best that has ever been in that branch of the service) and L. L. Looney, cowpuncher and miner, of the United States. Few men have met with more difficulties in an attempt to finance a mining proposition than have these two men. Looney had ideas and no money with which to carry them out. Casson had energy but the times were not propitious for the financing of mining ventures. Casson was tireless in his efforts and advanced money from his personal funds at a time when he could least afford it, all the while trying in every way to get assistance from outside capital. Looney never grumbled with the small amount of money his friend Casson sent him to keep the lease alive, but only worked the harder when grub and powder got low. Two weeks before the rich ore was discovered Looney was down to his last few sticks of powder and the larger was very very low. Then like a blessing from above Casson succeeded in placing a block of 132,000 shares of the stock and from the sale secured enough money to push development according to Looney's ideas. The result 2 weeks later was that the ore was found and the first shipment put the two men out of debt and gave them a neat surplus. Last week Looney left with his family for a well-deserved rest and Casson is looking after the interests of the company and will remain until Looney returns. The hardships of the past are now but a dream, and it may be said to the credit of both that they are entering into their new state of affluence with a grace becoming men who have won wealth through their own efforts.

The Grutt Balloon Hill still remains at the head of all Rawhide producers. The more development reveals richer ore than previously found. This afternoon the local telegraph office was deluged with telegrams destined to points all over the United States advising stockholders of a strike of bonanza ore in the southwest dift on the 185-foot level that surpasses anything heretofore seen. It is useless to attempt a description. Everything is broken down and shipped. Assays received from 19 inches of the ore laying against the hanging-wall in the southwest drift give a return of $9100. What is known as the southwest drift is but one of three radiations going out from the hub that was formed where the ore was encountered at the 185-foot point. This is the most phenomenal strike that has ever been made in the district and has already been carefully sampled by not less than 20 mining men of the district. The southwest drift, where the strike was made, is at this time, according to the survey, the extension of the ore-shoot south, which now measures 121 feet in length, so it will be clearly seen by men of experience in high grde ore in any country that the estimates made on a basis of $800,000 in "backs" is conservative when development so far shows a shoot better than seven feet wide for these dimensions and with a breaking average in excess of $200.00. When the stoping begins next week from the 120-foot level the real value of this phenomenal mine will be shown by settlement sheets as have the shipments from ordinary development shown in the past. At this time the mine has shipped $69,820.00. At Fallon today is a carload of ore that goes forward Tuesday, a 50-ton shipment that controls show should net the company not less than $15,000. This will bring the production on development alone up to $84,000.00 One of the most remarkable returns that has ever been made in mining history. The main shaft is already 10 feet on its way to the next lift which will be a 75-foot point. The management states that the payroll will amount to something like 150 miners within the next 60 days. Thirty miners are now employed in the big mine and more are being added daily. The shaft will be raised from the hub at the 185-foot point which seems to be in the center of the ore shoot.

On the great Bethania estate development is daily revealing more and larger ore bodies. On the Bridges-Daniels lease on this estate in the drift on the west vein the owners are breaking down four and one-half feet from this perfect fissure that all the varied samplings give a net return of almost two ounces in gold with but a trace of silver, a perfect milling product. They are hoisting five tons daily and making ready a 200-ton shipment to be sent to the National Ore Purchasing company during the latter part of the month. The east crosscut is going forward and is now in 137 feet toward the big vein exposed in their No. 2 shaft. At the 90-foot point four feet of ore was encountered that will go to the mill; at lamost $10.00.

The Lawyers lease, on the same estate, is now down 789 feet and breaking to a high grade milling product across the entire bottom of the shaft. The mud is slowly disappearing from the fissure and the footwall shows a good hard material. While waiting for the hoist a "whip" has been installed and the work of sinking continued. The vein has been named by all the most perfect fissure even seen. This lease will also have a tonnage ready for the big mill.

The Little Four lease on Queen Bethania claim has something over 100 tons of $30.00 ore that will go to the mill this month.

On blocks No. 1 and 2 the Gold Reef company are making ready to swing up their gallows-frame. The machinery will be in place and the shaft started for the 300 point during this month. This company has also a big tonnage of mill dirt ready to be sent for treatment. This is one of the most promising leases on Bethania estate.

The Victor lease on Coalition estate are transporting 200 tons of their dump to the Murray mill for treatment. The work being done at this plant under the new regime is eminently satisfactory, and the saving made on shipments from the Royal Mines and other holdings show a saving of 94 per cent.

The Kearns No. 2, now being operated by the Queen company, today secured 66 sacks that run better than $380.00 per ton. The company is throwing a $27.00 product onto the dump awaiting the completion of the local plant of the National Ore Purchasing company.

The Mint lease now has its shaft down to the 422 foot pont and will continue sinking until the 500 point has been reached. The ore has dipped out of the shaft and values show for the 22 feet in the shaft a product of better than $50.00. The management states that they will begin development at the next lift and start breaking out this immense body of ore.

The Marigold continues taking out the same high grade product and is treating the same at the local mill leased recently by the Marigold company.

The National Ore Purchasing company's plant is rapidly nearing completion. Already most of the sampling works have been put together and the company states that they will be ready to begin buying ore very close to the 15th of the coming month. They have also announced that immediately following the completion of this plant work will be begun to double the capacity of the plant, making it a 200-ton capacity mill.