The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1889-08-29
BEARTOWN DISTRICT.

BEARTOWN DISTRICT.
That once famous placer mining camp
known as Beartown is now almost in
ruins, and where fifteen years ago there
was population of over three thousand
people, we now find only about thirty
inhabitants, and these are mostly old
timers who remain and hold on with the
anticipation that some time they will be
able to dispose of their properties.
Beartown. although almost deserted
now, is looked back to by many an old
timer, who regrets It's downfall, for there
is where number Of Montana's wealthy
men made their starting, and few be-
came immensely wealthy. The vast
amount of work done in this camp from
it's discovery in 1866 up to the time of it's
downfall in 1874 Is something wonderful:
For distance of over sixteen miles from
the mouth OF Bear gulch to the head of
First Chance gulch there is solid bed
of tai]ingS and in most places they are
fifteen to twenty feet deep,-and several
miners cabins have been completely
covered up with the debris; more are
rolled down and others are hidden from
view by weeds and brush.
Among the old settlers who still reside
in the camp are Roger O'Hara, Michael
Kelley, John Lehsau. Chris. Gowdy,
Walter Dumphey, Patrick Woodlock
and number Of others.
Mr.. Lebsau IS brother-in-law to Chas.
Kroger, Of Philipsburg. He is post
master. and occupies the room formerly
owned by Mr. Kroger, and where that
gentleman first settled in Montana and
established his reputation as brewer
e are told that Mr.. Kelley was at
one time millionaire, but Is now with
out money and lives like hermit in a
cabin about two miles below the town.
Roger OHara was likewise at one time
among the wealth;est men in camp. but
the sharks got the best of him also.
However, he still possesses placer
claim close to town. in Deep gulch, that
is quite rich. but cannot be worked this
season on account Of the scarcity of
water. us is the case with all who hold
claims in that vicinity.
Since the placer diygings have about
played out in the First Chance district,
the miners have naturally turned their
attention to quartz claims. and usually
it is true that where there is or has been
rich placers there is most likely some
ga1ihs are" bethg' opened up ana some are
looking most encouragingly:
NoRT1IWEST-'Hh Northwest affords
by far the best outlook for a rich mine
Of any in the district It is located at
the head of First hance gulch. and a
vast amount Of Development work has
been done by Mr.. McDermott, the
owner. This property has recently been
stocked for 52t),UO), and is now known
as the McDermott mining company.
Seven shafts, averaging from rs to 80
feet. have been sunk, all of whlch-wlth
the exception of tvo-showing quartz.
In one of the shafts they sunk through
solid quartz a distance Of ten feet.
The average value is S15 in gold, with
small amount Of silver. The company
are now negotiating the purchase OF the
machinery of the old Hesperanda mill,
situated at the head of Elk creek, and if
they do not make this deal they will
most likely buy new machinery and COM
mence work as soon as possible. Last
Sunday, party Of Deer Lodge gentle
men, consisting of Messrs. Facer, Sho-
bert, Hoyer and Stanley, visited the
property, and they pronounce it to be
the most favorable in appearance of any
prospect they have seen in long time.
HOMEsTAKE-Thisw was the first quartz
claim opened up and made pay in the
district. Harry Grant, the owner. is
now in California, looking after mining
interests there, and no work will be done
on the property until his return. MIR.
Grant has taken quantities of money out
of this mine, and recently refused an
offer of 100000 for it. He built mill
on the ground few years ago for treat
ing this ore and others in the camp. It
is conceded that most all the other
claims IN the district are extensions of
the Homestake.
TUsMAN-The Tusnan is another
promising property, owned by Fred
Epgers. It adjoins the Minnie Palmer
on the west. A shaft has been sunk 70
feet, showing an ore body of 81 feet
that averages 51S in gold and two ounces
of silver; but as they 90 down on the
lead it seems to contain less gold and
more silver. This has also been the case
with other properties. Mr.. Eggers is
now making a wagon road from his mine
to connect with the Drummond road.
He has fifty tons of ore on the dump
ready for shipment as soon as the road
is completed.
ANDERSON -Magone & Anderson, the
OWnoTS OIL tHlS pIOptIty, utLNo oNSiy NOA-
fidence that they have fortune In sight.
They have run tw0 tunnels-one 200 feet
and another 60 feet. and continue run
ming in on the latter, where they have
three to four feet of ore in sight. They
recently made a shipment, which yielded
them $3.50 in gold to the ton.
New MINNIE PALMER-Up to the LIST
Of July work was vigorously prosecuted
at this mine, when it became necessary
to abandon operations IN the shaft on
account of the excess of water, which
could not he disposed of with their pres
ent facilities. The perpendicular shaft
is down 80 feet, where 2112 feet of good
looking quartz is in sight, with prospects
of it increasing. Recently they have
struck body of ore four or five feet IN
width. branching from the tunnel, and
the only apparent necessity now before
developing a rich mine in the Minnie
Palmer is to raise funds for purchasing
The machinery to dispose of the water:
Mr.. Ritchic. the superintendent, and all
he men who have worked in the mine,
are confident that the property will
eventually develop into great richness.
The company known as the New Minnie
Palmer has disbanded. and steps are
now being taken to organize anew, when
DEVELOPMENT work will proceed.
Parties would do we'll to reserve their
orders for fruits and vegetables for Al:
Jrossman. OF Dolan j rCssman. Will
lsit Granite on Wednesday aud Satur-
lay, with full line of the above goods.