One of the most promising ore shoots that has been opened in this camp in some time is reported from the Uintah claim on Battle mountain. It adjoins the Ajax mine.

Necessity—This mine, on Battle mountain, is said to be producing a carload a week of 2-oz. ore.

The Uintah-Ajax G. M. Co., a new corporation, will work the properties on Battle mountain, over which there has been in the past six years considerable litigation by the two companies, that have now combined.
The mine will be worked through the Uintah tunnel and active developments have been started.

DENVER, COLO, May 2, 1898—The Woods Investment Co., of Victor, who are the successful promoters and developers of the great "Gold Coin" mine, and many other enterprises of merit in the Cripple Creek district, have bought for the Battle Mountain Consolidated Company, a controlling interest in the Uinta Tunnel (a very valuable property now driven into Battle Mountain some 2,200 feet), for $150,000.
This is a noteworthy transaction, as besides being a most desirable acquisition for the stockholders of the Battle Mountain Consolidated, in connection with the development of their property, it practically disposes of the oft recurring question of litigation as between the former owner of the tunnel, James Doyle, and the Portland Co.

UINTAH CROSSCUT.
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New Management is Working for the Necessity Vein.
The heavy output of the Uintah tunnel has been temporarily stopped by the injunction secured from the United States district court by the Necessity owners and the bore cannot be pushed ahead into Lowell ground, owing to the injunction granted to the Portland company by the same tribunal, so the new management is contenting itself with driving a crosscut into Viola ground to open the ore chute in its own undisputed territory.

SALE OF THE UINTAH TUNNEL
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Woods Investment Co. Purchase Controlling Interest.
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DOYLE TO BE MANAGER
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Trail Group of Mines Also Purchased By the Same Company.
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LEGAL BATTLE NOW SHAPING
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One of the Biggest Fights in the History of Mining is Now To Take Place.
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Colonel James Doyle has sold a controlling interest in his celebrated Uintah tunnel to the chief stockholders of the Woods Investment company, on a basis of $150,000, of which more than half was handed Mr. Doyle in cash.

In connection with this transaction the Woods Investment people have also purchased the Trail group of mines, or a controlling interest thereof.

This group is located on Battle mountain, extending from the saddle between Bull hill and Battle mountain, south over some of the richest territory in the whole camp. This was taken on a basis of $65,000 for the group, a great part of which was paid in cash.

The great tunnel will be known as the Uintah Tunnel and Mining company, and Colonel Doyle will remain as manager, but the officers of the Woods Investment company will form a majority of the directors, and it will be practically part of the Woods Investment company's holdings.

Work on the tunnel will now be pushed vigoreusly in two directions. First, drifting will immediately begin on a vein cut by the tunnel at a point 1,200 feet from the mouth. The vein is claimed to apex on the Viola, a claim of the Battle Mountain Consolidated company, another company in which the Woods people are the controlling spirits.

The other work outlined for the big tunnel is the cutting of the famous Necessity vein at the point where it crosses the Woods Investment company's holdings. This is the vein from which Colonel Doyle made such phenomenal shipments before the court enjoined him from working the vein, and which is expected to prove quite as rich as where cut by the tunnel bore. The Viola vein has been opened on the surface, and is said to have been found very promising. The cross-cut will tap it at a depth of 600 feet, and will doubtless find it much richer than at the surface.

The Trail group includes the Ironsides, Big Banta, Trail and Lost Fraction claims, amounting to thirty acres in all. One of the claims, the Big Banta, is held under lease by S. M. Perry, and it is thought to be the intention of the Woods people to buy his lease and gain immediate control of the whole property. It is understood that the Trail group will be added to the Battle Mountain Consolidated company's holdings.

These changes in ownership have a very important bearing on the great legal battle which is impending on Battle mountain, and still further complicates an already tangled web. It means that the Woods Investment company, having back of it the Mount Rosa townsite of 140 acres, the wonderful Gold Coin mine, the Battle Mountain Consolidated company with 130 acres of rich mineral ground, and other rich holdings, will now take up the fight for the Uintah tunnel.

Opposed to it will be the famous Portland company, whose leaders are shrewd and experienced men in mining matters.

The Strong Gold Mining company, one of the richest in camp, is also interested, through the Necessity, recently purchased by L. D. Ross for Messrs. Lenox and others of the Strong company.
Likewise, the Smith-Moffat syndicate comes in for a share of the trouble, by reason of its ownership of the Granite mine. The legal struggle will be a veritable battle of giants, and the whole mining world will watch the outcome with interest.

The Uintah tunnel which penetrates Battle mountain is the oldest tunnel with 1,800 feet completed.

Principal Producing Cripple Creek Mines - 1898:

Name: Uinta Tunnel
Owner: James Doyle, Victor
Capital:
President:
Vice-President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Superintendent:
Manager:
Lessees:
Description: 1,400-foot tunnel; 80-horse power horizontal Stearns-Roger boiler; 5-drill Ingersoll-Sergeant compressor.
Employes: sixteen employes.
Contact:
Notes: