Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-06

LILO ut0I oOuECO VI tCEElUOEldi W0dlUu rs
mining. Montana has been a mining terri
tory since it's organization, and has pro-
duced upwards of 5000, OOO, 900 since it's
settlement a quarter OF a century ago. The
entire mountainous portion OF the terri.
tory, embracing one-third OF it surface, is
rich in minerals, and in no similar area
upon the lace OF the globe are so many
| mines in process of successful operation.
The declared dividends of the incorporated
mining companies for the current year.,
estimated pom the amount reported paid
for the first nine months, will aggregate
$4,000, 900, while the properties owned by
individuals and close corporations will
easily double the amount. The ores are
silver, lead, gold and copper. The princi-
pal mines 80 far developed are in the coun-
ties OF Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Lewis and
Clarke, Beaverhead and Madison, but in
all portions OF the territory, except the ex-
treme east. prospecting is actively pro-
pressing, and valuable discoveries are re-
ported almost daily. There are in opera
ton in the territory ten gold mills,
eighteen silver mills, seven lead smelters,
eight copper smelters n twenty-five
Concentrations, the combined capacity of
which is not less than 5000 tons per day.
When tho new Anaconda smelter shall be
completed, the total win be fully 1000
tons. In the extraction and reduction Of
this ore, it is c~onservatively estimated
t~hat1Q.O00 men are directly employed,
while fully $4,000 people are indirectly
supported by mining and it's cognate in
dustries, The principal mining city is
Butte, a ~well.conducted and exceedingly
prosperous place Of 10000 people,
mich is wholly dependent upon mining.
Here are located the great copper and sill
yer mires of Montana, whose productions
has increased from 81 200, 600 in 1880 to
$23, OO0, 900 in 1888. This year the out
put will be greater In weight, but it's value
will be less, ewing to the depreciation in
the price OF copper. The total copper pro-
duct OF the district for 1889, will reach
12O, 900, 900 pounds, worth at 10 cents
per pound $12, 0aQ, 900. The silver pro.
duct OF the camp, from the great quartz
The mines seem to be practically mex
haustible. The other great mining camps
OF the territory are Phillipsburg, where
the great Granite Mountain silver mine,
paying a monthly dividend Of 5000, 900 is
located; and MarysvilIe, where the Drum
Lummond, a gold mine, paying a quarterly
dividend of $1O0, 900 is located.
Many other great bonanzas, paying i'm
mense profits, and thousands OF smaller
properties in an active state OF development
In numerous mining districts, might be
enumerated; let it suffice, however, to say
that the achieved results OF mining in Mon
tana, are a source OF pride to all her peo-
pie, and that the. outlook is bright with
promise for long continued activity On a
grand scale.
A year ago Montana had outstripped all
her sisters in the race for precedence in the
value OF her base and precious metal out.
put.
To realize the full ~fruition OF her hopes
and to compensate justly the hardy pio-
neels who nave built up a magnificent COM
monwealth from the wilderness, but two
things are needed:
These are the free coinage of silver by the
government, thus enlarging the demand for
that metal and increasing its value, as well
as supplying a circulating medium, needed
| by the people of the country, and, second,
| the collection ofthefullduty on all lead ores
| imported from Mexico, whether in assocla-
| ton with silver or not. The lead producers
| OF Montana confidently rely upon this adj
| min stration and upon congress to AFFORD
the necessary relief in this matter, that an
imnortant American industry may be pro-
| tected and the wages of American miners
maintained. Montana produced H.
| 900 tons OF lead this year, but has
been able to do SO at a profit, only under
the stimulus OF the price consequent upon
the assurance OF a ruling OF the treasury
denartment, favorable to American pro-
ducers. With the existing disparity in the
price OF labor, Montana cannot compete
nth Mexico in the production of lead, and
we appeal to cong, ess for that protection
accorded to other branches OF American
industries. II granted, our lead production
| will continue to increase and become one
OF our prominent and leading Industries,
| otherwise our lead smelters must close n