New-York tribune., 1879-09-30

been taken from the mine ana snlppeu Oun VI tno
Territory for reduction, most OF II to l.. pal
bach * Son. Newark. n. j.. and IL has averaged 70
produce 800 worth of silver and SO worth OF gold
to the ton, besides go per cent OF tho wn1ie noe
weight of the ore in lead. The statistics or TINS
mine have given as furnished me by the supeIln-
tendent as could 90 into the mine on account OF
the water. In selecting for shipment. there nave
been left upon the dump about 1000 tons, when
assays show contain 10 the ton $40 worth OF SILVER
$40 worth of gold and 80 per cent OF leah'
which, when they can be reduced AT reasonable ex-
pense will net their owners a large sum of money.
The Gregory Mine Is On the same lead with the
Gregory Consolidated. and covers, as the latter
does, 500 feet of the vein. This ~ owned by Colo
mel W. T. Saunders and W. G.. Child, of Helena,
George Is. Archer, of New-York and l.. K. METRE.
the superintendent. This is comparatively "A new
mine, having been opened only about three months
The shaft il Il feof deep and there two leveB
2 feet apart with drifts opening up the vein for y
distance Of about 400 .eet. There Il also tuhnci
525 feet long, connecting this mine with the ureR-
ory Consolidated. THIS lead is true insure vein
with vell-tieined wall rocks, its general direction
being north j4o 80 east, aud lts dip 10. from the
perpendicular, The ore y similar III chaIact@er @ ~
that which | have described as having been lounu
in the adjoining mine. The mineral III place IN the
vein looks very solid and rich and the mine can be
made to produce very largely with httie moro
development.
Across the divide which separates the Prickly
Pear from the Boulder Creek, and about 4i2 miles
from Wickes is group of mines, OF which the
Rumley and Comet are the most important. The
lower tunnels of both of these mines pierce the noun
tam side by side not far above tho guch, but work
is now suspended on both, and as the Comet was
locked up at the time Of my visit was unable 10
see IT, The Rumley, which owned IN Pnih-
delphIa and Montana, was discovered nearly ten
years ago. but the work upon it was OF a very
desultory character until 1875. During tue years
1875 and 1877 development was pushed forward
very vigorously. and $500 tons of good ore were
q this toms IsSS''S %be5 n5
averaged 10 produce 13O ounces OF silver lwOrtn
about 81 lJ), $S worth of gold and from 80 to 4O
per cent lead. The expenses of mining, selecting
shipping and treating were so great that there was
10 profit in operating the mine unless there was a
market Tor the lower grade ores as there was not,
and so work was SUSPENDED about two years ago.
The q 800 tons of ore on the cOmfany's dumps
are mostly sccOnd-class. carving from 90 70 lOO
ounces OF silver. The Comet Mine has also a pile OF
similar on its dumps WHICH looked 10 mo IaIBSA
than that of the Rumley.
This mine land the Comet, lam told, Is similar 10
itl shows larger bodies OF gaena than either of
those have described in tins letter. The direction
OF the vein Is northeast and southwest, IT'S dp lO
to the north from perpendicular, and It's wall rock
gIanlte. The average width Ot the ore III ihe VEN
is from to feet. went INTO the lower tunnel ol
tn mine, bat unable to examine II very care
fully on account of the mud and water. ms tuu-
mel is 700 feet long and Iuns 10 feet on oO-ounce
ore. A shaft 10 feet deep connects tins tunnel
with the surface and. part of the way, shows q
body of ore 2 feet thick. Another shaft 22O feet
east of the hrst. has been sunk 100 feet, and CON
tans ore from 10 feet wide. he discovery Shait
200 feet from the last. is down 81 feet IN the yein
/
in the 30 feet apart which are believed 10 JOIN
at some unknown depth.
4 mile or two east Of the Rumley and Comet
Mine, is another group in the Boulder District not
as much developed those 1 have described, and 10
this paid brief visit. No work Is now being done
Oh any of these, and was asle, therefore, to give
them only "A superficial examination. The best
known mine in this CUP Is the Eusif faii, owned
bv Montana gentlemen. no only development
that has been made ON II Is tue sinAlng "a one s'iL
20 feet deep. the bottom of which shows q
vein of solid feet inches wide, IN which there
is no waste. httle hIstciaS ore has been shipped
from this mine which produced 10 ounces OF silver
to n ton The second-class ore which Is now lying
near the top of the shaft assays 6l ounces
10 tom This mine Is certainly a very promising
one but is probably no better than several Others
| in ITS immediate ne ghborRood-
| have not visited the Ten-liile or Red Mountain
District, stpated about twenty miles southwest OF
Helena, no miuing Is now being prosecuted there
am told by dsinterested persons that the veins OF
galena ore larger and richer there than In either
of the districts have visited, but work is sus-
pended for the reason have 30 often assigned tor
the idleness Of other mlnes-the want OF "a natsot
for the Ores Timber is plenty noar all " these
Nv conclusions IN regard to TIE sllvcr-mining
enterprises within thirty miles OF Helena are 40
follows
yeloped winch are capable OF producing an enOT-
NOUS quantity of silyeread ore, and there ls every
reason to believe that many other odcs VIII be dis
covered and opened as soon as there Is MARKET tor
2. The districts | have visited have almost
ceased producing because attempts 10 reduce their
ores in Montana have heretofore failed aud the
penses OF sending them East have been 50 great as
| to leave litte or no profit for the miners
3. The galena ores of these districts are not less
rich OF less easily mined and are more difficult
TO treat than the ores In some ot the districts Of
Colorado and Utah where mining has been maoe
very profitable There is, therefore, every reason 10
suppose that whenever capital can be induced 10
take hold Of of these mines, proper machinery
is provided for treating the ores and expertsk Is
employed tho mines / have described, aad many
others the districts, Viii yleld large re tuT1S
| to their owners.
| 4. If the Alta Montana C0mpany's enterprise is
successful other capitalists wil probably be in-
duced TO invest in similar works.
3. In any event, the completion of the Utah and
Northern Railroad will make these Mining districts
more accessible than they have ever been bciole.
will reduce the cost of all machinery by furnishing
cheaper frcights and will probably make 10 easier
TO interest capitalists in all Kinds OF Montana enter
prses which offer large returns for legitimate bus-
ness Investments
Nothing which have said in this letter applies TO
the mines in Butte City, Pnilipsburg or Glendale,
the points in the Territory whore mining now be-
ing prosecuted with the most yigor, and which
shall visit after leaving Helena. Z.L /. W.