, 1889-10-24
NEWS OF THE MINES.
Shut Down of the San Francisco
Property at Phillipsburg,
Montana.
Consolidation of Two Big Proper
ties at Helena--Mining
Notes. Etc.

Tho ong-lookod-for shutdown of the
San Francisco mine, says the Phillips
burg, Mont, Mail, took place last week,
and for the first time in several years all
is silent as death at the works, fact
which has caused shadow of gloom to
creep over everyone concerned in its
prosperity, which includes every resi-
dent in this district whether q stock
holder or not. When the San Francisco
will again resume operations or whether
1t ever will, is not known. Tho pumps
have not been drawn, however, and
nothing has. yet transplrcd to justify us
in saying that 1t will not start again,
aud judging from all hearsay we are in
clined to think that the mine will yet
come to the front. II is said that the
best showing the San Francisco has
made in many months was visible when
she closed down, and it is not thought
that work was discontinued from any ILL
ialtll ON the part of the management,
but in all likelihood on account of lack
OF funds to prosecute further develop
ment and exploration,
Tho development at the Marony tun
mel continues in the same favorable
manner as reported two weeks ago in
the Mail, The rich vein has been run in
upon about forty feet since that time,
and although 1t Is as rich as ever, it
shows signs of weakening, from the fact
that several strata have shot oil from
1t, and all seem to take Il downward
course toward the footwall, which will
soon necessitate cross-cutting and most
likely sinking upon before the substan-
tial body is reached. Some of the ore
thus far taken out is covered with wire
and native silver, and more is giving
strong indications of ruby.
The Empire Mining Company, which
is composed of English people, and the
same company which makes up the
personnel of the Carlisle Cod Mining
Company, owners and operators of the
Carlisle mine of New Mexico, and the
purchasers of the Phil Shenon group of
mines in Beaverhead county, have con-
solidated.
This London syndicate, says the Hell
ena Independent, has not been so for
tunate with its American mining invest
ments as might have been epected. 1t
is not known whether poor management
or poor properties have been the cause.
While the results in this country have
not iully come up to the expectations of
the gentlemen interested, it is said they
have more than made up for their Amer
lean losses by the richness of their South
African mines in the Transvaal
region. The Empire mine,
which is located near Helena, has
been closed down for several months.
Ii has been in operation number of
years and has paid s70,5OO dividends,
the date of the last dividend being in
1887. Since that time and up to last
February or March the property had
81 haralN,
.penses. The cause was low grade ore.
X. b. Wallace was placed in charge, but
he insisted on developing the lead moro
thoroughly. He continued this, but tho
operation did not pay the company and
an indefinite shutdown was ordered.
When Mr.. Wallace retired he expressed
the belief that the Empire contained ore
in paying quantities, but it would re-
quire considerable expenditure to ex-
tract it, the pumping expense being
heavy. There are thousands of tons of
low grade ore in tho mine, but the pres
ent reduction facilities are not capable of
handling II to advantage.
The Carlisle Us well rs the Empire Is
good property, but the English people
have been more fortunate with 1t than
the Empire. Up to 1888 the Carlisle
paid $4,000 in dividends, but it has
within the last year degencrated into q
property which hardly pays for itself.
Prot Clayton reported on this property
short time before he died, and his re-
| port was not q favorable one for the
| stockholders.
The English syndicate is composed of
| enterprising men who will not hesitate
| to purchase n mining property with
which they can make money. Through
j. Stuart Wallace the company recently
| bought the Phil Shenon mines in
| Beayerhead county, and it now tran
spires that the consolidation of the En-
| pire and Carlisle companies is to be
made. For this purpose Mr.. Wallace
| went TO London and the consolidation
has been effected. The result is that
active work will be prosecuted all along
the line. AT Empire there are two
quartz mills, one Of forty and the other
of twenty stamps. The twenty-stamp
mill is to be started up at Empire
and the forty-stamp mill is to be
removed to Beaverhead county,
where it will be erected for the treat
ment of the rich ores of the Phil Shenon
gold mine.
Messrs Noble and Mitchill, says the
Almira Journal, who have the contract
for delivering the hundreds of thousands
of tons of freight of the ore reducing ma
chinery, being put in at the Salmon
River mines from the railroad, have ex.
pressed their intention to haul from here
as soon as the track is laid to this point.
| Though they have u large number oI
teams now on it will be n long time be-
fore the contract is finished. They were
required to give $40 600 bonds for the full
tillment of the agreement. We are III
formed that the gentlemen have haC
their time extended as it was found too
short.
Two loads of gold ore from the Fourth
of July mine in the Ruby district passec
through Almira on Monday, one four
horse load, the other drawn by six. |
is the first ore freighted out from tn,
Salmon river country and it marks tn,
beginning of II new era up there. Thes,
loads came over the new Almira anc
Central Ferry route and the drivers ex-
press entire satisfaction at the road
They say the route is all that is claimed
for 1t and they intend to travel IL righ
along, Considerable of the Watcrvill,
traffic is now passing over Central Ferry
The Arlington company, in th
Salmon river mining district, are push
ing their work right ahead. The con
tractor, Mr.. Mckenzie of San Francisco
says he will have the mill up in sixt,
days, providing material can be fur
nished fast enough. Mr.. Carpenter, tn
, lumber contractor. is filling orders a
fast as possible while at the brick var,
kiln Of 100000 will be ready TO burr
the last of the week. The other 300, 90
will be made as soon as possible
bur Register.