The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-09-27
special Correspondence of the Mvsru

Ane progress of no mining entor
prise In Montana has been watcher
with a keener interest or more hone
u anticipations than that of tn.
Drum Lummon. Both at home and
ABROAD II has ever been regarded as 8
phenomenal property, and now that
It's development has reached a point
where tangible results are about to he
achieved the renewed attention OF
the mining world is fixed on the
property to note the results of its
operations. That these results shall
oe or a nature satisfactory to the
stockholders now seems 10 be the set
determination of the management.
The plant is now complete and the
mine is in fine shape to insure a
heavy and continuous production of
good ore. At the point where the
ledge was intersected by the Cruise
tunnel, 147 feet from its mouth, the
actual width of the ore body was SO
feet, every pound of it being available
for profitable reduction. From the
face Of the tunnel east and west
drifts were extended in ore, which
was everywhere abundant and of
uniform richness. At a point 100 feet
west, or westerly, a Wine was start
ed for the double purpose of
exploring the ledge and of
supplying air to the future
workings at a greater depth.
In April of last year, what is called
the Maskelyne tunnel, was started,
which tapped the ledge at q depth of
500 feet and at a distance from its
mouth of about 1900 feet. A level
was started westerly and at a point
100 feet from the tunnel an upraise
was started which connected with
the winze sunk from the Cruise tun-
mel level. Further explorations were
also actively prosecuted which served
to demonstrate that the ledge at
400 feet was in the character and
richness of the ore, the width of the
vein, assay value and productive ca
pacity far more encouraging than in
the upper workings. The walls
were found we'll defined and more
regular than in the level above and
the indications of permanence more
pronounced. From the time the
ledge was cross-cut" active explora-
lions have progressed and sufficient
ground was opened to give an intelli-
gent idea of the immense productive
capacity of the property. So much
beyond expecta tions was the SUI
ore body in richness and extent that
it was decided forthwith to begin
mill building.
The old Cruise mill Of historic
memory was first started up for ex-
perimental purposes aud its capacity
afterwards doubled. Its operation
was 80 profitable that the e
ton of a fifty stamp mill was
decided upon. The work was begun
in June, and with the enterprise
characteristic of the company, the
first twenty stamps were dropped on
ore within three months from the
time the excavation was completed.
Within the past thirty days thirty
more stamps were added which with
the ten in the old mill make a total
of sixty stamps (wet) which perhaps
crush more ore than any other sixty
stamps in the northwest. The new
mill is a peerless structure, well
equipped and perfect in every detail.
Its dimensions are 224x1l9. 1t is SO
arranged that roasters can be put IN
should the ore become too base free
milling and all modern appliances 10
prevent loss, insure economy of oper-
alton and work the ore to a hlgh per-
centaee of it's value have been Sc
cured.
The machinery is of San Francisco
r. a%nufacture. The engine is a mag
nificent piece of mechanism capaole
of running sixty stamps. Luis set Oh
a solid and expensive foundation, is
simple of construction, noiseless and
easy of operation and OF grea.
strength and durability. In point OF
solidity, compactness and capa-
h;,;tv for thorough mill
work the Drum Lummon mill
has no superior in Montana ana
favorably with such mills
"a the Lexington and Moultoh Oh
Rutte. The location OF the Drum
L,ummon mill could net be improved
mon, as it stands just below 'he
mouth of the main tunnel ana can
he supplied with ore at very shsn'
expense.
vour correspondent yesterday met
Mr.. N. Story Maskelyne, preslden. u
the company, who, with D OF Tue
directors, arrived last week from hon.
The distinguished gentlemen
has spent several days in becoming
aoouaiuted with every detail OF tne
management and has
f,m;,iarized himself with tne con.
,;nn Of the mine, the operation OF tne
mill and the state of the company n,k
s f,,s' Though inclined to look
mnon a newspaper reporter with sus,
picion, he was induced to ais" "n,;ed