The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-04

iginating with the works of the Algonquin Co.,
and the last named with the Northwest Co.
| Two saw mills, 10 and 20 miles distant, supply
excellent lumber at reasonable prices. Taylor
4 Son run a we'll stocked and appointed stage
and express line, connecting whistle overland
at New Chicago, running through to Butte via.
cable. Their route is a day one and prices ex-
tremely moderate for passengers. Philipsburg
is As miles southwest Of Butte and 60 miles south
of Deer Lodge City.
The camp was discovered in the spring of 6l
by Hector Horton, q veteran miner and pros
pector. This gentleman, ever since a respected
citizen of the place, owns TO this day, the first
location made, the Cordova Lode. The princi-
pal characteristics of Vhis region, are its rugged
ness, high and precipitous mountains and deep
ravines. The mineral deposits are found in a
belt of two and a half by five miles in area. 1t
contains several
DISTINCT SYSTEMS OF LODEs.
many of which bear all the features of true ifs
ure veins and are by those competent to judge,
considered as such, the walls being smooth and
in some places striated with clay castings. The
composition of the prevailing rocks in the geo.
logical structure, is granite, sienite, limestone
and porphyry. The general character of the
country is indicative of its having had a vol
canic origin, there being no regular stratifica-
ton; the sedimentary rocks laying in broken
and detached masses. The lime overlays the
granite for at least two-thirds of the entire dis
trict, the point of contact occurring at the End
interior line of upheaval. The assure fractures
have a northeast by southwest strike, are gen.
orally vertical and dip but little to the horizon
either way. Beds ofmanganese cross the coun-
try intersecting the fracture at nearly right
angles, lay near and along the line of contact.
They are usually of immense width and dip
about As degrees to the east. Manganese often
appears in large quantities in the fisureS.
Where such is the case, the fracture is large and
ore chimniesof great size are of frequent occur
renee. The veins, for the most part, are we'll
situated for the extraction of their contents
from the start. Many of them crop out boldly
and are traceble quite a distance. The location
of all the principal mines in the central portion
of the belt is on the Trout, Franklin and Hope
hills. The character of all the ore is the same
in the same relative position. Thus, the ores of
Trout and Franklin hills are very base and
must be treated by the dry process, or furnace
chlOrinization, while those of the Hope, paral-
lei to them on tht north, are free milling.
crushed wet and chemically chloridized. The
gangue of all the mines carries the same char
acter of minerals, the proportions Of which vary
as before stated, with locality. To avoid mo-
notonous repetition, it will suffice for all to say
that it is a silicious quartz, carrying native,
wire and ruby silver, carbonate of copper, oxide
of manganese, Sulphide of iron, sulphurets OF
lead, anthony, zinc and arsenic. The limits
of this article do not permit a full description
of all the mines of the camp known to De de-
serving. Those only that sufficient develop
ment has been placed upon to establish the fact
of permanent value will be commented on. OF
p,,pI IN ,,ngf p,,,Drtnrt an1 x,a1,ahla halcrr
to the mining plants Of three joint stock COM
panies composed OF eastern and southwestern
capitalists, and known as the Hope, Northwest
and Algonquin mining companies. Each has
constructed large and costly mills, the first be-
ing "a wet crushing, the Others working dry.
The first and last named are now in successful
operation, while the second; after an uneXam-
ped career of unfortunate and disgraceful mis-
management, has hung its stamps up indeii-
nitely. Commencing with these corporations in
the order of seniority, the first upon the list is
HOPE MINING COMPANY,
of st. Louis. Mo. The plant of this company
consists OF a large three story stone structure
erected at a cost of $3.50, 900, a fine vanner build
ing, offices, superintendent residence, store
rooms. shops and stables. Their best mines
are the Hope and Comanche on Hope Hill and
the Cliff on the Trout Hill. The mill, conta in
ing ten stamps. was constructed to work by the
wet process and brushes ores from the Hope
Hill only. The method of reduction is of little
interest to the general public, and will therefore
be omitted.
The concentration department., though intro.
duced by a former superintendent, did not meet
the success that characterized it under the
present one. The Frue vanners have been run
continuously, Or nearly SO for the past year on
tailings from the immense dumps below the
mill with the most fattering results and the sup
ply is not yet half exhausted. The tailings are
hauled to the rear of the mill aud are fed to the
pan room direct, the process of amalgamation
being precisely the same as that used in treating
ore. "he labratory and metallurgical rooms
are in charge of DR.. ]. NJ. Merrill. He is a COM
petent and highly esteemed officer whose appar-
atus is very complete. Two shipments of bull
lion are made each month, the bars weighing
some over 100 pounds. They average 9S5 fine.
The only mines in Montana that can produce
silver in the same or a higher degree of purity
are those of Sloss & Hammond on Romeo
Hill, Silver Lake district, south of Cable,
Immediately above the Office is the residence
of Superintendent Clark, who is now east ar
ranging for the complete
OF THE MILL.
1t is the intention to double the stampage ca
paclty, add to the amalgamation department.,
introduce roasters and work by thedry process.
This company has recently bonded five leads of
great value, from Messrs. Holland, Estell and
others of the camp. Developments are now be-
ing pushed ahead on two of them and ore bodies
nave been exposed of great extent and richness
In each.
The principal mines of the company are the
Hope and Comanche of Hope Hill and the
Cliff on Trout Hill. The first, Zone of the Oldest
locations in the camp is not open to visitors
and its developments must be left to conjecture
1t is worked from inclines and perpendicular
shafts and the ores hoisted by whim power.
From 1900 to 5000 tons of low grade ore now
lay on the various dumps. The mine is a steady
producer of good ore.