Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-28
THE GREATEST MINING CAMP.
The Butte-Anaconda Camp Eciips-
ing all Past Records.
Frol. he Gio5e- Dem oo,nt

Fro1. the GLOBE Democrat.
ANACONDA, III. T., Dec. 10.-With the
starting up of the great Anaconda smell
conda, Butte and vicinity. The Ana
conda works have now 221 men employed,
although at reduced wages, tor the laid
of employees who quit some time ago at
the suggestion of the Knights of LABOR at
last accepted the terms of the company
and resumed at reduction OF % per cent.
on former wages. Anaconda has a popu-
lauon of about 900, which shows re-
markable growth for a 3-year-oid
town. Half OF the population are young
able bodied men OF II years or under.
Taken in connection with Butte, of
which this district is but part and par
Gel, 1t is the greatest mining camp in
America, and, as matter of course. the
greatest in the world. The average wages
for miners are 81 80 a day, or rather were
before the late reduction took place. The
eighteen leading companies in the dis
trict, with their average monthly pay
rolls, are the Anaconda, loo, 900; Lexing-
ton, $50,000; Alice, $6o, 900; Colorado. $780,
600; Moulton, $4,000; Montana, 500, 700;
Parrott, $4,000; Bell and Dexter, $50, 900,
besides numerous others ranging all the
way from $50, 600 down.
Matters in and about this stupendous
copper camp OF Butte are In a most pros
porous and thriving condition. The
only drawback to Butte is the great
number Of gambling and drinking saloons
and the unfortunate habit OF
the mine and mill employees in wasting
their earnings on cards and drinks. The
swarm of idle bartenders, distillers,
brewers and gamblers which these hon.
est men support Is something appalling.
The number Of beer and whisky shops
could be cut down at least 100 per cent.
and still Butte and Anaconda would
have far above their proportion Of these
evils. To stand on any OF the peaks and
eminences around Butte and take in the
surrounding country at glance would
convince the most skeptical that here are
gathered more mills, shelters, shaft
houses, and more producing mines to the
acre than upon any other portion of the
known inhabited globe. The amount of
prospecting now being pushed eciipses
anything that Virginia City and the
other great Nevada camps could boast of
in their palmiest days.
This rushing town supports four daily
newspapers, five brass and string hands,
three variety theatres, one opera house,
any number OF gambling and drinking es-
adjustments, has population of $4,000
or better, is out OF debt, and has $4,000
In the Treasury. The mines in the dis
trlct for the year 1886 will produce close
on $24,000,000. While the discovery OF
most of the great mines hereabouts was
the result Of hard, systematic labor, yet
around some of them fingers much of the
romantic In the manner they were
stumbled upon when least expected. Two
prospectors, while sinking a shaft some
years ago, fell into subterFanean
chamber. in which were the bodies OF six
petrifed Indians, sitting bolt upright, and
covered with ornaments of hammered
gold and silver. Soon afterward. by
washing in the guloh close by. placer gold
was discovered, from whence it is fair to
presume the ornaments on the mummies
were obtained.