The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1889-04-11

. ounces Per Ton. F1ndlng that tho mne
could not be worked to profit Caplice &
: Smith c'osed it down. and the Trout
rested quietly until the following year
when 1t was taken in charge by james
Patten, practical working miner. This
gentleman found the mine filed with
water to the 259-foot level and so con-
Quoted his operations entirely from that
depth to the surface. Thus the mine was
worked until year ago. How much ore
was exploited is unknown, nor can the
amount realized from the sale of such
that was shipped be even appropriated,
but it is safe to say that theschems aid,
otherwise, the lessee would not have been
able, or willing, to have continued work.
In 1884 the hosting works over the
Trout was consumed by fire, the shaft
timbers were burned down a few feet,
and since that day no improvement of
any kind has been made upon the mining
plant of the old Northwest company.
The mine is now worked Of it's most valu-
able ores from the 259-foot level to the
surface. From the floor of this level
down, distance of 300 feet, the ledge
has been cut by three levels, each in ore
that would pay largely at present cost of
reduction; in fact, years ago MIR. Patten
made urgent efforts to secure the right
to pump the mine out and work the
lower, untouched levels, but his advances
we're not acceptable to Caplice &; Smith,
who. acting in the interest of G. NJ.
Tower, New York capitalist holding a
heavy mortgage on the mine and mill,
felt that it would be wiser to await the
era OF cheaper transportation. The mine
remains now in practically the same con-
1t was at the time deep working was
| suspended in 1882. The orc reserves are
known to be large ana Of character to
pay handsomely at the present cost Of
| reduction. In tho opinion OF Mr.;
Caplice the day has come when the ores
OF the mine can be worked to profit
and, as he expressed himself to the
| writer, honest and correct management
will make it pay from the day The first
stamp drops.
1t is not within the limits o. this
article to give more than brief syno;ss:s
OF the past of this property; there may be
inaccuracies as to dates, nevertheless the !
foregoing may convey some idea of it's
past history and the difficulties it has
surmounted and succumded to. 1t may
be here stated that the North West Com
pany was erected during the life OF tire
5 stamp MILL with James X. Pardee, as
the manager; this gentleman was re-
lieved by Phil NJ. Saunders. After this
MIR. Pardee was placed in charge OF the
Trout mine, and furnished to the mill
the ores crushed during the sojourn of
Saunders. There was good deal OF
trouble and pickering between the two
factions in control of the North West
Company at this time. One was in pos
session OF the mill while the other had
the mine, as natural result neither
made any money and disaster followed
upon the heels of expectancy.
It is safe to estimate the ore produc-
ton OF the Trout at $4,000 tons, This
comprises tho amount exploited from
the mine since the date of it's discovery,
and includes rock of every grade. From
this large ore chute, from whence came the
richest ores, nearly million of dollars
in silver was extracted, and the estimate :
OF entire bullion production is quite con- ,
servatively approximated at $2,5OO,OO0. ;
This, OF course, includes the entire pro
dcot of mine treated in this territory
and elsewhere.
About two years ago Mr.. Tower fell in ,
to possession of the mining and milling l..
plant of the company (through the in 8
strumentality of the lien previously .
and secured patents upon =
al of the ground at present embraced :,
within the limits of the Trout, Pocahontas. :
Providenta and Kitty Glide lodes. In the -
transfer, Mr.. Caplice got an interest and is =
therefore, entirely conversant with the Z
possibilities attending their development g.
rom a financial standpoint. In the >,
vent that satisfactory arrangements can ~
'e made, in all probability, the % Per
jent" mine will constitute part OF the
7orking plant. In such case an ini-
aense amount Of medium and low grade le
re ca2 be made available for mixing q,
nth high grade ores of the Trout. r
AS Mr.. Caplice surely intends to i'm n,
lediately commence active operations at Il
ne Trout, it is to be hoped that the new a,
will be corporate one. and t.
nd largely of home construction. In m
lch event a large share of its treasury r.,
ock will be placed here where the mine "a
known, and its worth appreciated. oa
The people of Philipsburg can con- 70
ratulate themselves that tho affairs of to
le new concern will be in the hands Of ri,
en- who will combine the eminent an
lality of honesty with a practical de
of mill and mine management. o
he day of dishonest and inefficient mine ri,
orking is gone. Capitalists expect re- ot
Its, and the Trout will crafty this ex- ~
ctancy if intelligently handled. or