Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-08-12
Mining in Montana.

Publishers american Being familiar
with the locality, and with many Of the peo-
pie interested in mining in Maine think
perhaps few lines from Montana regarding
mining may be interesting, as probably this
territory is now gaining prominence in
mining matters second to none.
Mining in Montana has been in former
years confined to placer working-or in 9TH
er words washing gold from dirt" This
has been very profitable, and with the pro-
eecds men are now following the beds of
creeks to the mountain summit, and there
constructing mills TO crush and reduce the
ore. from which the rich placer mines have
their origin.
1t is very interesting to watch "profes-
sional prsspector'. He sinks hole on the
mountain siie-takes some Of the earth in a
pan-washes j; ou, by degrees until there is
not more than fraction Of an ounce re-
naming. This he holds so the sun may
shine on it and he easily detects the smalles,
atom of gold
II he finds a sufficient quantity Of gold in
the sediment, he marks the spot and from
this point magines angle the apex of
which shall point toward the summit Of the
mountain.
To make the subject clear TO
any who MAY be Interested in
the matter. let the angle A. b,
c. represent the "prospector's
i lines / the place at which he
sunk the first hole. Now what
Is the miner object IN constructing these
lines First, will say the prospcctor knows
the gold in his pan came from the mountain
side. And second he knows that IN washing
down it has spread in either direction from
It's starting point. Therefore from the first
hole he sunk tl) (see diagram he goes sew
eral rods towards \ and sinks agaln If he
finds gold here also he proceeds further and
tries again. When he has reached the out
side limit Of the gold he marks the point.
returns to the first hole which IL INK tll
and in the same manner prospect, ard {.
a. soon a. he finds the limit Of gu.4 IN this
direction he also marks the point now
continues to sink holes and wash the earth
To find the apex Of the anglc-or the place
from which the gold washed. Having found
this point. he SINKS a shaft and this deter
mines, when sunk to a sufficient depth the
value Of the lead.
OF course many leads are found by acci-
dent, but prospecting in the mountains j.
considered trade or profession Of consider
able Importance, as to This branch Of indu,
Try, the country is indebted largely for It's
mineral wealth.
Among the mines that have been actively
pro-pected and worked may mention those
Of Glendale, Butte, Boulder. Cataract and
the Alta veins OF Alta Mountain
Perhaps one Of the most curious fnrma-
ton. i. the Bonanza Chief Gold Nine, eight
miles from Helena THE Capitoh. This seems
TO be a possibly "land slide"
BE that as it may it extends for several hum
dred feet and to a depth Of seventy feet, the
ore is still good-thi, being the depth Of
the present workings Of the mine. The ore
Is not particularly rich, running from 50 10
S33 per ton. The ore, however, is so soft it
may be worked for $500 per ton, thus show
ing good profits. Hoping that the mines
Of Maine may prove a financial success, |
remain. Yours Respy
Gro. J. BABSoN.