The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-11-29
Vast Deposits of Iron Ore Of the Fin
est Quality.
WHERE THE MINES ARE TO Be FOUND.
The Belt Mountain Range and Foot
Hills Show Many Iron
Mines.
CAPITAL Needed for the Development
of the Mines and Advancement
of the Iron Industry.

Iron is King. 1t is so recognized the
world over. In its various forms it en-
tiers more and more into the uses OF
every day life. Gold and silver are used
IN a few mechanical processes, for jewel
ry and fancy articles and as a medium of
exchange; iron is used in all mechanical
processes and is of far greater value than
either. Iron and its manufacture has
made Pennsylvania one of the greatest
states in the union. Iron mining has
placed Michigan's name prominently be-
fore the world.
Montana has within her borders large
deposits of iron ore which is equal to the
best yet found in Michigan and superior
to any yet found in the southern states.
The one thing needful here is capital to
develop the mines and erect iron mills.
The outlay to develop this resource will
be large but the profit will be proper
tionately great. Power and fuel are both
at Great Falls and the ore is conveniently
near With the advent of capital, iron
works, second to none IN the world, could
be erected here and conducted with
profit. The purpose of this article is to
give a brief resume of the iron deposits
known to exist in the Belt mountains
with the hope that capitalists may learn
what an excellent opportunity here awaits
them for investment.
THE BELT CREEK DEPOSITS.
On various tributaries of Belt creek
coming in from the west, between Mel
hart and Riceville, valuable deposits of
iron ore have been discovered. Logging
creek is the first important tributary above
Riceville. On this and its tributaries
seven claims nave been located and ore
taken out which assays we'll, but no de-
velopment has been DONE. The leads are
wide and the ore is in good position for
easy mining.
Surprise creek and Tillinghast creek
are the next tributaries above Logging
creek. Between these two streams a well
defined lead has been traced for several
miles and a large number of locations
made. Some of these locations were
made five years ago and the necessary
representation work has proved that the
vein is large and we'll defined. A num-
Der of assays have been made of this ore
and it has been found excellent for the
manufacture of Bessemer steel.
Indications are found at various places
on up through Tillinghast park and the
lead probably extends through the park
to Carpenter creek a distance OF about
twelve miles.
The latest discovery of Importance was
made by John Watson of Minneapolis.
While out hunting about seven miles
above the present town of Monarch he
accidentally discovery boulders of iron
ore. Being interested in iron lands in
Wisconsin he at once recognized the
value of the find and proceeded to locate
and develope the claims, three in number,
to see if they were valuable. He kept
men at work quietly all summer and finds
that the lead is about 80 feet wide, two
thirds of it is almost solid hematite iron
ore of high grade and the remainder is a
fair quality of ore. Several assays have
given from 81 to SO per cent iron with
from 3 to 5 per cent silica and 10
sulphur. He developed the fact that the
lead Is we'll defined and continuous and
easy to operate. Being located in The
east side of the of the Park within less
than a mile of the railroad it can be
worked at a profit as the shelters here
will give IS per ton for the ore on track
at the mine. Mr.. Watson is now on his
way to Minneapolis where he hopes to
enlist capital to assist IN developing the
property.
Extending southwark u few miles the
vein reaches and crosses Carpenter creek.
On this creek claims were located in
1883. The ore is of the same general
quality as that found by Mr.. Watson.
While the Hudson Mining %company's
smelter was running at Neihart 800 tons
of the ore were used as a flux and pro-
nounced superior for that purpose by the
superintendent. The above mentioned
deposits are of vast extent and the will be
easily worked. They are from one-half
mile to within eight miles of the rail
road. There is no plausible reason why
the right men could not take hold of
some of these claims and build upa large
iron industry at Great Falls.
OTHER DIsTR lots.
The second district where iron is
known to exist is about three miles west
of Barker and extends southerly through
the mountains toward Neihart.
Wolf creek and Yogo drain another
large country in which are found several
large veins of iron ore. These lie east
and south east of Barker about 10 to Is
miles away. The ores of this region
have been analysed and found to contain
all the elements in proper proportions
necessary for the manufacture of Besse-
mer steel. Capital only is needed to de-
velop this rich region. 1t is further be-
lieved that a ready market would be
found in the northwest for all the prod
ucts which large mills would turn out.
Cost of Coal.
One day last week Messrs. Strong and