The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-12-30
Local News.
tFrom Tuesdays Daily.l
THE MINING
|rhe Great Future Of the Copper Interest.
Fhe Prospects OF Montana as q Lead
Country.

MeduCIs VI liz lNCW VI SOppCJ OOLlDduy,
10 undertake the reduction of copper ore on
| scale and plan never before attempted in
Montana. In order to acquaint the public
With the nature, extent and prospects of the
contemplated enterprise, a reporter of the
MINER yesterday sought an interview with
Er. Wortenweiler, of Utah, a gentleman who
has been long and successfully identified with
he smelling interests of that Territory, and
whose services have been engaged by Mr..
bIeader for the management of the reduction
korks now being erected at Meaderville.
although MI. Wortenweiler has not been in
he northern country long enough to form a
|ettled conclusion as to the probable future
If our extensive mining interests, he has
b%evertheless given the mines of this imnedi-
he vicinity a sufficiently careful examination
b place his utterances IN the subject high
|bove the value of ordinary speculation.
When interrogated as to the prospects of
Summit Valley District, he replied:
"If the mines at present being developed,
pntinue to be opened up under skillful and
conomic management, I see no reason to
oubt that Butte will soon boast of aproud rec
rd among the great bullion producing camps
h the Pacific Coast. The improved trans
~prtation facilities consequent upon the COM
letion of the Utah g. Northern, will give an
Newspapers call it. A number of small min
g companies which are at present, owing to
korbitant freight rates, unable to procure
bachinery for the reduction of their ore and
bually unable to pay for its transportation to
L smelted elsewhere, will soon get reducing
tcommodations of their own Thus many
R%operties now lying comparatively idle will
l actively developed, and the facilities for re-
uction being increased, vast deposits of low
ade copper and silver ore, which heretofore
hve been unmarketable, will be in active
emand at good prices"
"What do you think of the prospects of
ofitable copper mining in this district :"
1T is certain to become an important IN
lstly and may be relied upon to add largely
! the material wealth of the territory. The
lcentage of copper which some of the ores
ry is unusually high. There are thou
nds of tons in this district in which the pro-
Prtion of copper is so large that the crude
oduct of the mines pays well to ship as far
4 Pennsylvania for reduction.
"Canthe low grade deposits of copper ore be
ade available for reduction ?"
"Certainly. 1t is the object of our company
reduce all the copper ore in which the per
ntage of That metal is not sufficient to war.
1nt transportation as extracted from the
ine."
" How low IA grade of ore can you afford to
ork."
I'VE propose to regulate the grade by con-
~ntration. This can easily be effected by the
lpioyment of jiggers, which will enable us
run the ore up to any required value
What do you app;ehend will be the chief
P~stacles to be overcome in the process o.
~luction, and can you neutralize the effects
the large percentage Of arsenic said to be
ntained in the ores?
|" In regard to the first question l would say
at the main difficulty to contend with will
that arising from a lack of suitable tlux.
le proper kind of iron ore which generally
swers that purpose is both scarce and costly.
leoretically, however, manganese can be
fployed as a flux, and if We can find a de-
sit of manganese ore containing not too
[lch quartz, or Silica, there is little doubt
at it can be used to practical advantage, and
ps iron ore can be dispensed with until it
comes cheaper"
f'Do YOU propose to refine your bullion
Cduct or ship it as matte?"
rNe have not yet decided, though from the
fculty of transporting suitable machinery
will most likely be shipped as copper-silver
Fttc Tor some time at least. In respect to
building of a refinery, Mr.. Meader will
Rst likely be guided by the extent of our
Ecess in smelting.'
the demand for copper in the Eastern
(rkets likely to remain steady !"
FROM present appearances, yes. There
az ihulCtttiOllS VI an oNtl-oNlpiys IN
r between Chill and Peru has already
fcted the market to some extent, giving it
upward tendency. Before hostilities began,
se countries furnished a large proportion
the copper used in the United States, but
mines having ceased operations the expor-
on of that metal, of course, became impos-
L."
What do you think of Montana as a lead
lntry ~
l am unable to make any positive state
nts in that regard. At the same time am
Confident that lead veins will be proftaoly
rked in this Territory that ! should have
hesitation to invest in a lead prospect of a
iciently permanent and extensive charac-
but can not Nevada, Utah and Colorado
IN tha ,nnri,nt ,,,nal;nlO ss