The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-16
Rapid Development and Perma.
nent Outlook of Butte Mines.
Present Prosperity the Result Of
Local Pluck and Energy.
by the Copper Interests.
Bullion Output for the Week.
Items of Interest.

mining properties, at time when other. mining
di 'tricts were showing the most palpable indi
cations Of decline, has attracted the universal
attention Of mining men and caused our camr
to take foremost rank among the great mining
centezs of the world. One year ago the genera
complaint was that 1t seemed impossible t.
interest outside capital for the purpose of de
veloping our mines, or furnishing facilities 70,
the reduction of our ores. But few of the lar
ger properties were worked with full force Of
men. and tho velue Of these properties at q
lower depth was problem yet to be solved
while many of the smaller mines stood idle fol
want Of capital to develop their ledges or reduce
their ores when extracted. To-day, although
the amount Of capital which has come in from
abroad, bears but sma i proportion to the lib
eral Investments which have been made by 10
cal capitalists the lower levels of every leading
mine may be pointed to. as establishing beyond
all peradventure the improvement In value
and extent of our rich siver-bearing ledges and
great copper belts with The depth attained. A
score Of properties which were idle last year
are now worked with steam hoists and every
approved appliance of modern mining. Every
quartz mill and smelter in the district has in
creaaed its reduction capacity; new concentra-
tors, blast furnaces and quartz mills are in pro
cess Of erection, and capital is at this moment
| on the ground, seeking investment in custom
mills, sampling works and the purchase Of ores.
While this marked improvement in the condi-
ton of our mining interests is directly attribut
able to the pluck and energy of our local min
ing men, whose confidence in our silver ledges
and ore bodies induced them to invest large
sums in their development, It is also
evidence that the value extent and permanency
of our great silver belts and zones of copper
bearing ore has been fully proven to the world,
and that the permanency of Butte as great
mining center is assured not only by the rapid
development of our mines, but by the conf
dence which has thus been created abroad, in
their pr0ductiveness and permanency.
ouR COPPER INTERESTS.
The copper output of the camp has by its
rapid increase and gigantic proportions been an
important factor in bringing the district to the
attention Of capitalists in all the great money
centers of the world, and while such leading
copper properties as the Anaconda, st. Law
renee. Parrott. Bell, Calusa, Clark's Calusa and
the Lfquidator may be said to be yet in their
infancy. the output from these mines has as
sumcd such proportions during the present sea-
son as to place the copper interest clearly in the
lead, as the most important mineral resource Of
the81istrIct, and to make Butte equal, if not far
ahead of any other district in the country as
copper producer Heretofore the Calumet and
Hecla WORKS, of Michigan, has taken the lead
in the production of this metal but in 1883 their
output was only thrty-three million pounds,
while for the half year ending June LIST, 1884,
the ore and matte shipments from Butte were
about SO 600 900 pounds, or at the rate of 11s,
0OO. 600 pounds per year more than three times
greater than the yield of the Michigan works
during 1855. That this splendid output will be
maintained in the future is abundantly evi-
denced by the mountains of ore which are piled
up at every dump pile. awaiting shipment to
the reduction works or destined for future con-
centration preparatory to shipment.
WEEK OF PAY DAYS.
The second week of each calendar month is |
always looked forward to by the miners, mill
men and top men from its close until the |
monthly cycle has again brought round the
regular pay day, as during that week the prin- !
cipal mines of the camp liquidate their scores
with their employees. During the past week the
Anaconda company disbursed $4,000 in Butte.
and about the same amount at the new smelter
In the valley, the Lexington company paid
s25,O 900 on payroll account, the Parrott company
put in circulation $4,000, aud the Alice $4,000,
making total of sz6O 600 discussed on pay roll
account by four leading companies during
Montana
Copper Moulton, and other companies will dis
burse larger amount during the coming week.
THE BULLION OUTPUT.
The consignments Of silver bars at the Office
of the Pacific Express company during the pas,
week show total shipment of o6 bars, valued
at5lO6 600 and credi ed:to the Silver Bow, Alice
Moulton and Dexter companies, as follows: