Nodummy,
You raise some good questions, some I already have the answers to but some I need a little time to look into. If you don't mind, please allow me some time to try and dig around a little to make sure I don't inadvertantly mislead you. I know how it reads but think it's actually not as complicated as we both may perceive it be at times.
Something I have long personally believed was that perhaps Dienhart was a little innacurate in his accessment given to others of what it would really take to get the Benton Mine producing and profitable. Clearly Hollis is a financial guy and not a mining guy. It's not inconceivable that he was advised that Benton was a better bet than it actually was. There was a lot of money sunk into that place and they were moving a lot of rock at one time, even finding a lot of free gold. Unfortunately they appeared to get off vein and it quickly became uneconomic. In addition, Oregon is a tough place to mine due to environmental issues you well know. Ironically, I have numerous friends who have physically been their when it was actually producing, they've seen the mine and the mill operational. It's really there and it was really producing in recent years.
With respect to all the notes, you have to wonder what Dienharts negotiating power really is. If Dutch went under, he's not getting a penny. What is he going to do, take the property back? I'd have to assume he probably owes Hollis a debt of gratitude for him keeping this thing alive.
I'd hazard to guess that if you asked Hollis if he had it all over to do again, he would not have entered into the same transaction with Dienhert for the Benton property based on what he now knows. I think had that property lived up to what Hollis and many early investors, including myself, thought it to be or were advised it was, things would have been different. Unfortunately it wasn't until considerable resources were invested in the project that it became clear. Fortunately Hollis realized that he needed to add to the resource base which lead to subsequent acquisition of Basin Gulch and Jungo.
As promised, I'll do some checking and get back to you on the balance of your good questions.
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