New-York tribune., 1879-10-27
MINING IL MONTANA.
XII

WILDCAT SCHEMES -. THE 7wO GEr4T sIL-
YER CAMrs-LYGInMATE AND SPECULATIVE
MINING.
PROV sTAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THY TRIrUSE.l
GLENDALE Mont. OFT. IL have now visited all
Of the more important Guartz-ninug camps Of this
Territory. and n the series OF letters which closes
with this have written such a general description
Of the country in which they situated. the geo
logical formation OF the rocks in which the mines
occur, ani what has been done in the way Of de-
velopment 10 each, as one who sees with the eyes Of
las and not of expert able to give. Ay con-
cluSions have been based on the most careful exam
ination and study Of The several districts which
under the circumstances were possible. and
liberal use Of that prerogative Of all Yankees-the
right 10 ask questions professional mining en-
Gineer, employed to examine one of these districts
would spend rs many weeks in IL as / have been
able 10 spare days. and while his report might be
as full OF scientific and technical terms the
answer Mir. Clarence King once made III memoir
able suit court III which he was Wit
ness II would le hardly more nteiicbe TO a large
portion of IuT TRIBuNE's constituency.
Has that story about Clarence King ever been
printed have never seen II, aud OF any rate II
Is worth repeating Mr. King was called as
pert witness IN the famous Raymond and Ely suit.
and after he had given his direct testimony
taken hand for cToss-examination BY Keen
wItted lawyer named Meuick The attorney was
disposed TO worry the witness if he could and
finally pressed him har that the latter. IN order
TO get even with him, gave lOng answer IN
which there was hardly "A word that was not a
technical or scientific term. 1he bar smiled al the
lawyers discontinue. and the Court, to help him
out of bis dilemma. ordered a for dinner. In
the afternoon MIR. Merrick again adopted tie same
tactics, and at last when Mr. KING hesitated over
ragged urchin who sat the from; of the spec
tator.. with his chin on the railing. and who was
o,ldently getting excited over the case called out
10 the witness so loud that everybody in the court
house heard himi "Shovel him oul another bucket
full!H The reader may make his own application.
/ am not sure that have any to suggest
Before closing these letters Oh NJ ming in Montana
there are "A few conclusions and suggestions which
wish to set down.
l. The chief source OF Montana's mineral wealth
has heretofore been her rich pacer. which are est-
mated 10 have yielded about $4,000 600 worth
of gold dust The placer ground m most OF the
guches was originally worked over with pick and
shovel m a time when wages were high and no one
could afford 10 wash the gravel with very great
care Now much of this old ground has fallen into
the hands Of men who are able 20 spend large sums
in new water bitches and bedrock fumes. enabling
them by means Of Chinese labor to work
over by tie hydraulic process and ground
sluicing not only the old tailIngs but also
the lean ground that ws-s lett before. Besides
this, some of the Old guiches have never been
worked out. aud ones are discovered almost
every year. During the past summer there has
been a stampede to the Judith Basin, where there
are uuquestionably good pacers. The eastern por-
tion Of the Territory which has only recently been
opened, has never been thoroughly prospcctel, and
new diggngs will undoubtedly be discovered IN
many parts of 10. am therefore of opinion that
although the product Of the placers Of Montana
viii not ~ the future be great il was IN the
first few after the discovery Of gold here It
viii continue 10 be several millions year for long
time to come.
9. The gold quartz mines Of this Territory which
have been developed are not very numerous, and
have been operated with varying degrees OF success
The Wnitlach Union Nine, near Helena. after yield
inQ three or four millions. has suspended. There IL
a division Of opinion TO the cause Of Its present
condition. some holding that It due 10 bad mining
and the failure 20 open new ground while The Old
was being tIpped. aad Others declaring that the
vein has been worked out. The Atlantic Cable in
Deer Lodge County has been. and perhaps suil is,
very promising mine, but has been involved IN lit-
cation for ten years which has not only sucked the
feblood out OF IT, but prevented the investment Of
capital IN It's proper development The mines
in the Silver Creek District the Lexington, Bel
mont Hickey and Othersl excellent properties,
now producing about $4,000 month with
probability Of an increase. The Lexington. the
largest aud best known IN the district will prob
ably begin to pay dividends AT the opening OF the
new year, Int whether il will be able to pay high
rates of interest the enormous price az which the
nine was bought, and the cost Of the expensive
improvements that have been necessary remains
Il.
monthly product will be a large and III
creasing one. / think there are some excel
lent openings for the investment of capital
IL gold-quartz mines IN Montana, but in order
ure success IL ought 70 be associated with the best
and most experienced mining skill. New leads
constantly being discovered. and some OF hem will
uudoubtedv be de evelOpcd into good mines.
g. The two successful silver camps ~ this Terri
tory to-day are Butte and Glendale. The former.
bel eve will offer uurivalleo InduCeness To capital
and enterprise and look TO II become one OF
the blooming" camps of the West. At Phillips
burg and Wickes preparations are being made for
the mining aud milling o. large quantities OF ore !
and the former Of these camps are now sending |
some silver bars To market. There are hundreds ot |
silver III Montana chat are only waiting Tor the
advent OF capital and cheap transportation To be |
converted into tirst-cla-s properties
A. IL IL unnecessary to warn Eastern people /
AGAINST wildcat schemes. No man company can /
afford TO expend capital IN the purchase and devel-
opment of "A mine and IN the erection OF reduction !
works until the property has been examined and re-
norted favOraDly upon bv competent, disiDter- |
sssted expert disregard Of this fundamental rule |
has been the OF more than one disastrous fal-
nre in Montana. wildcat scheme cannot be |
fosted upon capitalists II proper precautions are |
taken If they neglected, mining operations be-
come lotteries which one may draw prize but IS |
yery much more Likely ~ get blank.
s. The reduction of silver ores is process requir-
ing a knowledge of chemistry and metallurgy ana |
nr,cf,cal experience in the application of scientific
nrIncIples o the treatment OI different kinds of
rock Th. failure of the Montana Company nj Jri- /
ferson a year ago confessed due TO neglrct |
ia observe this axlOmatIc rule. O.her silver INNING
enterprises in this Territory have failed the ZANE
reason. The losses incurred III these cases VIII PROB
ab,v serve a. "A warning to those VINO inaugurate |