The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-07-27
MINES AND MINING.
A Pew Facts About Montana's Great In
dustry.

Pew Facts About Montana's Great In
dustry.
At present there is nothing new in min
ing circles throughout Montana. The sea
son is fairly on with the exception Of the
placer interests which may properly be
said to be idle owing to the lack of water.
Quartz and coal mining are attracting a
good deal Of attention and both these in
terests are working in full blast. So far
this season none Of the mines have closed
down fOTtwant Of ore and the prospects
that show indications of bearing ore are
being vigorously worked. Particularly is
this true of the Barker district. A gentle
man from that section who arrived here
yesterday said the miners are feeling jubi-
liant and the number Of prospects under
development is greater than ever. The
promise of a railroad to that district has
added new life to the camp and as an az
surance that the iron horse will force his
nose into Barker in the near future a corps
Of locating engineers are now in the field.
The Iron Mountain mine ~ steadily pro-
ducing ore aud il il stated the property ex
ceeds the highest expectations of its
owners. The wagon road from the mine
70 the railroad viii soon be completed and
the iron mountain will soon be among
Montana's dividend payers.
The y. X & y. Company are taking out
some handsome specimen ore from their
property while the mine is growing more
valuable every day.
AT PhilipsbuTg the great Granite noun
tain mine IL regularly feeding the 20 stamps
of its two mills and the Bi-Metsllie mills are
also running to thttr full capacity. The
Silver Chest syndicate proposes to uncover
ia the near future, the richest ore deposit
yet found along Flint creek. The West
tOmb, the occasional appearance Of a
watchmen only disturbing the
usual s0lemnity Of the surround
ing atmCsp' ere Whatever these
properties may contain the gentlemen m
terested are satisfied Of one thing, and that
is the mines will bring s150000 any day.
Their value is established and it is presum-
ably certain that ore ST more than equiya-
lent value has been opened up.
Jehrrson county people are anxious 10
know Just now where the Boston * Mon
tana Company will erect its new smelfer
and since the Northern Pacihc's branch
line 90 Butte has been lost 70 Boulder, they
are seeking some other enterprise that will
make up for this loss. They would ike %
have this new smelter, although Great
Falls and the Big Hole valley have both
been mentioned as probable locations
Boulder might secure the prize IL il would
make an exhibit of its water EBd fuel faeil-
tiles, principally water, rs that Is
the main thing wanted. The Bos-
ton Montana company does
not care how much mineral the
bow valuable It's mines are. IL is not their
purpose in seeking smelter site 70 seek
ore also The Mountain View and West
COlusa and Clarkis COlnsa mines have
more ore than the Butte plant Is able TO
handle The ore viii be shipped 70 the
Bmeiter wherever il shall be located. and
the same space devoted 70 its water and
timber facilities as was recently devoted 70
BOuldeTs mining possibilities would do
more good In securing the prize for BOul-
Der, now coveted Dy Great Falls and the
Biz Hole valley.
Boulder Age: Mr.. N. NJ. Hotter, who
has been visiting the Hotter mine at ELK
bOrn- reports tnst property as looking bet
ter than Il ever did and that IL could NOT be
IN better bands than At present. At the
I5O-fOOt level the breast Of ore is from % 10
Il feet wide and good quality. Mr. Hotter
arranged for the building Of hume from
the lake two miles above 10 the mill. Mr.
Hotter says he has fifteen OF twenty men
AZ work 40 prospects in the Cataract dis
trict De Is satisfied that Jefferson county
has bright future before IL as q mineral
producing county.
10 McNally, W. G. Buskett and Theo-
dOre Eyl have bonded aud leased for one
year 70 o. Hight. J. W. Fairfield and G. w.
HOnaker the Obellsk lode, two miles below
Basin the bond being for $4,000.
Clayton K Riaie has bonded to j. w.
RUSSELL OF WickeS, for S25. 600, the Buck
eye lode, the bond 70 run TO May 1, 1890
The Buckeye is . patented lode near the
other claims recently bonded by Russell