Helena weekly herald., 1880-07-08

[JoTTINGs BY OUR TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENCE
Wickes is rapidly coming to the front as one
of the greatest silver producing camps in the
West. Here, as elsewhere, many changes
and improvements are noted. The large
number of men required to operate the works
has caused quite,a village to spring up, whose
people constitute community that is no
small addition to the section in which they
live. No liquor is allowed in the camp, and
any employe who becomes intoxicated loses
his place at once. The consequence is that
but a small part of the dissipated element
which is ordinarily found in a mining settle
ment Of this kind is represented here. A
public library, which has fine assortment
of books, papers and magazines, stands open
for the accommodation of all who desire to
make use Of the advantages it offers, and re-
ligious exercises, conducted by the Rev. Mr.
Wickes, are regularly held every Sabbath.
Since the works have been put in operation
100000 pounds of bullion have been shipped
to the Eastern market, and the daily output
now amounts to about 5000 pounds. The
amalgamator is doing splendid work. Ninety
seven per cent. of the ore is chloridized. the
tailings showing from assays made from one
to three ounces to the ton. The reducing ca
pacity is soon to be materially increased, a
complete concentrating apparatus, which will
be used for the ore from the Comet Mine,
being now on the way from the East It
consists of water jacket furnace of the Ca
pacity of fifty tons day, and material for
four reverberatory furnaces that have ca
pacity of seven tons each. The contract for
the brick to be used in these furnaces has
been let to II. G. Fullerton. When these ad
ditions are completed and in running order
the total capacity of the works will be from
seventy to seventy. five tons of ore daily. at
present there are from 1000 to 10, 900 tons of
concentrating ore from the Comet on the
dump. At the Alta there are 500 tons of ore
on the dump and 1000 tons in sight. No
great effort has been made 70 take out ore
from the mine, as sufficient supply is al
ready on hand.
There is now from seven to eight hundred
feet of stopping ground, which shows up
quartz enough to keep the mill in operation
for years. Believing it to be a matter of
general interest | insert few notes on the
developments which have been made in the
Alta. The vein runs northeast and south
west, and at the surface has width of three
feet. The first tunnel has been run in on the
vein at depth of 20 feet from the surface.
in this tunnel the ore body varies from ten TO
fourteen feet. The second tunnel is $50 from
the surface, and the vein is of the same width
as in the first. The third tunnel is $50 feet
from the surface, the vein being little wider
than in the others, varying from twelve TO
fourteen feet in width.
Work on the Custer is being prosecuted for
he purpose of Development There is but
)ne tunnel on this mine, which runs in ona
vein of ore from three to five feet wide. The
following is the roster of officers of the COM
'any: j. III. Coughin, formerly of Brook
yn, n. T., business manager and book keep
n; Charles Sterrett, superintendent; Walter
l. Hoyt, metallurgist Gordon F. Sheldon,
ssayer.
Since my last visit the firm of Vawter &
Nlckes have erected avery neat store build
ng, in which they carry large assortment
+ staple and fancy groceries, ready-made
lothing, dry goods, hardware, crockery, no
oDs, and everything which the people of the
amp require. The goods are of the best
uality. and the business standing of the firm
such that every customer will he satisfied
lat fair return for his money will be OBJ
nned. The new firm meet a want long felt
the place, as the annoyance of being fre-
uently obliged to send to Helena for articles
ill now be obviated.
Messrs. Dean & Street are keeping board
lg house for the accommodation of miners
1d visitors. The best recommendation for
lis firm is that the house is always full their
1siness being limited by their capacity to ac-
guests.
Mr.. }. G. COncannon has about completed
spacious two-story building, which is also
coupled as boarding house. During my
ay in the camp stopped at this place. end
n testify that the accommodations are ali
~ ~,.lI n