The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-11-07
BUTTE AND IT'S N e

BUTTE AND IT'S MINES.
AS Seen by One of the Late Press
Gang.
MI. John l.. Thomas, of the Balti-
more american. was n of the news
paper reporters, forming q portion Of
The Willard party, who visited Butte
some time ago. In = cOmmunica-
ton to his paper, Mr.. Thomas has
the following to say concerning
Butte and her mines:
AS we approached Butte, the high
mountain peak after which the city
was named, became conspicuous. in
spite Of the smoke from the smelters
that crowned the hills that environ
the place, and when we STOPPED at
the station We found that Butte was
at least a mile away from US, not nes-
tied in between the mountains. but
struggling, and apparently struggling
to cover q number of high hills
which stood before us dotted all over
with white spots. indicating the loca-
ton Of mines Of silver or copper.
You could see that we were
IN THE MIDST OF AN IMMENSE MIN
ING CAMP,
where all was life. energy and work,
and where ar attractive city had
been built up, the foundation stones
OF which were assure veins contain
ing gold, silver and copper. Car
riages were in waiting, and it did
not take us long to drive I'VE the
dusty plateau that interviewed be-
tween the railroad and the city. Our
party was divided up-some at the
Centennial, some at the St. Nicholas
Hotel, and others at the Virginia
House, kept by worthy German,
full manner indicated what he proved
to be-a jolly, good-feeding landlord;
and after enjoying a good dinner all
around, we started out to view the
mines.
AS we assembled the long hill from
our hotel We went out Main Street to
the Anaconda copper mines and the
Lexington silver mines, and in going
along We noticed that the street was
broad and unpaved, and that the
sidewalks We're planked and built
like stairsteps. We also noticed
many fine storehouses of brick, we'll
stocked with goods; several banks,
and, Of course, We could not fail to
notice that the prevailing dryness of
the climate had necessitated the
erection of a number of saloons,
where the inhabitants could slake
their thirst. At the rise of the hill
we looked ahead of us, and to the
right and left of US, and still other
hills or buttes o. one above the
other, and all Of them literally coy
cred with now white drifts, on the
tops of which were the extensive
works OF the various companies of,er-
ating the mines.
In company with Colonel LAM
born of the Union Pacific Railroad,
Sheriff Irvine, Colonel Estes,
H. T. Brown of the MINER
newspaper, and Hon Lee Man
tie of the Inter Mountain, we were
first driven to the Anaconda mines.
Here we saw the finest and most
complete hosting works in Nor
tapa. From the Anaconda we pro-
ceeded to the Lexington, passing on
the way several hne mines, more or
less developed. Arriving at the Lex
ington. the whole party was kindly
welcomed and Hospitality entertained
by NJ. Medhurst, the gentlemanly
and efficient managing director OF
the niue and mill. After examin-
ing the fine cabinet of mineral spec
linens in the office, the party placed
itself under the guidance Of Mr..
'Medhurst, who conducted them to
mine and hosting works. FROM
thence it was taken over the tram-
way to the mill, where all the pro-
cesses to which the ore is subjected
were infinitely explained by Mr..
Medhurst. The r j.. raised from
the shaft ia cars, which are run from
the cage to the track, and sent down
the traInwav to the mill. Here the
ore is dumped and put through a
Blake crusher. From the crusher 1t
is sent to the drying kiln, where all
its moisture is evaporated; from the
kiln it is transfer ed to the self-feed-
ing batteries. After passing through
the batteries it is carried to the Stete-
ieldt furnaces, where it is thoroughly
roasted; from the furnaces it goes to
the cooling floor; from thence to the
pans, ana from the pans tc the set
tiers. Here the silver is collected in
the form of amalgam, that is, it has
been taken up by quicksilver used in
the pans aud settlers. From the set
tiers the amalgam is taken to the re-
x1x,k froons fprSvY1 fhnrp0o fn tho
strong box, which Mr.. Medhurst
kindly opened for the inspection of
his visitors, and which, by the way,
contained $25, 900 in silver and gold;
from thence it is taken to the bullion
furnace rnd melted and run into
bricks or bars, eech weighing about
l2O pounds. These bars are shipped
East, where they are refined and the
silver put upon the market. The
Lexington mines are in a suburb
called Centerville, which is said to be
one-haIf mile from Waikerville. Still
higher up are where the Moulton
and Alice mines are located.
GOING DOWN INTO A MINE.
was one of the three who Ven
tured to inspect the Alice mines, to
the depth OF 800 feet, and we do not
think we care much about going into
that mine, or any other, the second
time. We were put into an iron cage
aud securely locked or fastened in,
along with Mr.. Hall, the superin-
tendent. The cage was made just
large enough to fit the drift, and we
we're told if our arms or toes stuck
out the result would be the loss of a
foot or a limb. This information, of
course, made us feel pleasant and
cheerful as We descended, and the
sense of feeling became 81 acute that
before we reached the last levelthere
was a numbness about our feet and
arms that was truly delicious. At
the 90 foot level we stopped, and,
creeping under the cage, we found
ourselves on a platform and con-