The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-04
Bonded sale of the "Big Blue" Mine.

Cooke City, Mont, July 18th, 1885,
Some ten years ago mineral was dis
covered on the southwesterly slope of
Miller mountain. A location was made
and given the name of Peacock"
assessment work being done from year
to year, showed up the property to be
quite valuable Negotiations for the
sale of the properly were begun and
parties from Mandan, Dakota, bonded
the property, but they not fulfilling their
agreement, the property, after a short
time, became jumpable, and was then
relocated and called the big Blue"
The parties who re located it, We're I'M
able or failed to develop 1t, consequently
the mine remained in dormant state
for several years Last winter, Mr..
Frank Esler, having his adjoining claim,
(the Street miDe) worked, proved con
clusively by the ore vein that he was
tunneling. into the Big Blue ground.
Being the only one in possession of these
facts, and not letting his ideas be known,
he commenced at once to purchase inter.
ests from the different owners of the
Big Blue, for a nominal sum. When
Mr. Esler was working upon the Street
mine, it was supposed by the owners of
the Big Blue that Frank Esler was work.
ing upon their property, and the result
was that high prices were asked for the
remaining interests, but at last negotia-
tions were made so as to give Mr. Esler
controlling interest in the mine. At the
time these changes were being made,
Mr.. Esler was called away on matter of
business, and though he had remained,
nothing could have been done on &C.
count of the deep snow. On Mr.. Esler's
arrival this spring, force of men was
put to work and showed up the property
to higher valuation than ever estimat-
ed upon before. On the arrival of Mr..
Rickard, of the Republic Mining Co.,
some ten days since, and after his visit
ing and examining the property thor.
oughly, Mr. Esler was called upon and a
a proposition was offered him to lease
and bond the property, which was salts
factory to him and his partner, Judge
H. B. Potter. | am not aware for what
price the mine was bonded, as Esler and
Richard are very reticent in their affairs
to others. Rumor has it that it goes
way up in the thousands. After the
negotiations were completed, the Repub-
lie Mining Co. secured the services OF
Mr.. Esler and large force of men were
put to work under his supenntendency,
to look closely after the interests of the
company, in the development of the Big
Blue. Several openings on the mine
show up immense bodies of carbonates
and galena ore. There have been sever
al thousand dollars expended on the
mine in labor for Its development, and
in order to find the main lead, and by
the present of those who have visited
the mine lately, it is predicted that it
will surpass the carbonate beds of Lead
vile.
The Big Blue lies southwest of the
Shoe Fly, which has been developed
into bonanza by the present owners
Gassert. Black & Co., in the last ninety
days. The Ash Lode, leased and worked
by Chas. Easton, lies between the Big
Blue and the Shoe Fly, and is showing
up well. Che development Of this prop
erty is looked forward to with great anx.
iety. The Republic smelter has been
running with great success for the last
three weeks. It keeps constantly on the
road six eight-mule teams and four eight.
yoke bull teams, hauling in their coke
and other supplies, and re-loading back
with bullion. Gassert, Black & Co. are
fixing up the old smelter and refining
it with friedrich, this being the first
time friedrich was ever used in that
! smelter. $**