The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1889-05-02
AMONG THE LEDGES.

A HISTORY OF THE HOPE MIN
ING COMPANY.
The Granite Mountain Output-Bi.
Metallic-The e''Nystery''-The San
Francisco Nonpareil-Hatta- The
Orc FinO DIstrict-Etc.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
Occupying the dual position oi
manager Of both companies, the Hope
and Granite, his struggles in the varied
interests under his charge finally cul.
minated in the appointment of success
sor to the management of the Hope
plant and in 1881, Frank L.. Perkins, "a
California gold miner) quietly .ousted
the gentleman and assumed charge
of mine and mill. Mr.. Perkins was one
of those amiable gentlemen who com
bine great retieence with greater pa
tience. His forte was to find out every
thing you knew, act upon it, and if sue
cessful take all the credit to himself.
Ballard was still foreman of the mine
and Perkins, like those who came before
him, wisely refrained from interfering
with affairs on the hill. This order of
affairs permitted Mr.. Ballard (the best
mine foreman the hill ever knew to
develop and explore the property &C
cording to his own ideas. As a result of
his intelligent handling, the mill was
kept in ore, the mine was kept producing
and his numerous superiors kept in
office until they were fired for incompe-
tency, or failure to make bowling
success of a business that few of them
knew more about than compiled in the
ordinary routine of getting down on a
check with signature that but few
could read or dare to initiate.
It may be accepted as a fact, suffi-
GENTLY we'll established to defy contra
diction, that Mr.. Perkins, during his en-
tire term of Office, performed no official
act of such meritorlous moment as to in
vite from his superiors the briefest re-
cognition. He simply stayed here. per-
forming, while doing SO, his duties quiet
ly and unob.rusively. Naturally
uncommunicative, he combined with
reticence the most dignifed personality,
and at all times, commanded the respect
and confidence Of those with whom he
came in business Or social contact.
In 1884 accepting the position Of
general manager of the Granite mine
(which for some time he had had super
vision of Mr.. Perkins surrendered to his
assistant, George HI. Babcock, ESD, the
Of the Hope company's
affairs, and departed from Philipsburg
with the best wishes of it's people for his
future success. Under the administra-
ton of Babcock Covering a period Of
two years and half the mill ran steadi-
y and the mine produced largely. The
general grade of ores worked was not so
as to permit Of dividend
payment, the product of mining and
milling barely paying running expenses,
but even with this result the administra-
ton of this officer was SO far more
;reditable to the company than that Of
many Of the gentlemen who had preceded
him. If he made no money he at least
created no Indebtedness. While neither
4 sklllful miner or mill man (i1 the ex-
ploitation or treatment of silver ores(
nevertheless Mr.. Babcock possessed ex-
cellent judgement of what was required
10 assist him in successfully conducting
The affairs of important charge, and his
selection of assistants brought into his
staff some of the best men that ever came
INTO this district.
But if Mr.. Babcock, in his admins
;rative capacity, was a gratifying i'm
orovement upon the long list of those
Who had preceded him here, in the Of
icial m engagement of the Hope company,
lfter events proved that even he was not
lp to the standard of usefulness required
~ the application of modern ideas to
he old formula of mining, such, as in
he old time days of Philipsburg, had
'ounded the death knell of more than
me of the many corporations that have
ived and died here, He had to go; which
10 did, and his departure was signalized
" the entry of the last, and present
'fficer, w. w. Adams, who in 1887 went
nto possession of the Montana manage
nent, and from that day to this the COM
any has enjoyed an uninterrupted season
+ prosperity.
The present incumbent enjoys the
nvious distinction of being the best
esident officer this company has ever
ad in this district. It is conceded that
3 is the superior of any of his predeces-
ors in mine and mill management. In
be discharge of his multifarious duties
Q has made no mistakes, while his labors
ave been prosecuted with concientious
egard for the interest and of his cor
oration foreign to the views OF those
no, in the years agone, believed that
1eir own material prosperity demanded
in advance of the claims of