The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-12
THE MINES OF MONTANA.
Big Strike in the Legal Tender in
the Argenta District, Beaver
head County.
A Group Of Mines on the Little
Blackfoot Sold for a Large
Sum.
The Badger and Other Rich Mines-Gold
Ore From Ophir-Tho Ben Kim
ber-Mining Notes.

| DILLON, June 11.-lSpecial. IA rich body
Of ore was struck in the Legal Tender mine
at Argenta few days ago, the ore going
423 ounces of silver to the ton, II per cent.
lead. The find has created considerable ex-
| citement in this locality. The Legal Ten
| der had not been worked for some time,
until the present company took hold of it
| about two months ago. The strike was
| made in a cross cut and the body is said to
he large.
The Legal Tender is ono of the oldest
producers in the state, and away back in the
sixties high grade ore from it was freighted
to California and then shipped round the
Horn to England for treatment. The ore
then averaged nearly &4O0 to the ton. In
the early days New York stock company
purchased it, and built smclter at Argenta,
but finally got into litigation. Later ON les
sees worked the mine until it was thought
the ore had all been worked out. The pres
ont owners purchased the property short
time ago, put a force of men to work, with
the above stated result Tho strike means
great deal for this part of Montana. Ar
genta, ere snow flies, is liable to be one of
the best small mining camps in Montana.
Other properties are shipping ore, but the
new strike throws everything previously
made in the shade.
The Lilly, Black Pine, Black Cloud and
Orphan Boy. together with tho mill sites,
water right and improvements belonging to
the above properties have been sold to tn g
Grand Republic Mining company, of Hell
a
June II with Mr.. j. G. Hallum, of Fort
Abercrombie, N. D., as president; Jas. w.
Carpenter, of Helena, vice-president; q.
Newton Cook, of Elmira. N. Y, secretary;
A. p. Dodge, of A. p. Dodge d Co., treas
eral manager. The balance of the company
are John McPhee. Miles Cavanagh and Jay
Comstock, all of Helena. The capital
stock Of this company is 81, 600 600, divided
into 500 600 shares of $40 each.
The sale was made by Dan Simpson, who
is secretary and manager of the Big Or
Mining company. Mr.. Simpson says he has
contract in his Office for 10000 shares sold
at $1OO as soon as the certificates are litho-
graphed so the stock can be issued. @f
These mines are located west of the Mui-
Ian tunnel twelve miles from Elliston, Mon
tana, in Deer Lodge county.
| Work will be commenced about Aug. l, OF
probably sooner.
Mr.. A. M. Esler, the we'll known mining
man, was in the city yesterday. He expects
to return to the Occur d'Alenes to-day with
his family, and remain there during the
summer. Among the numerous important
mining properties which he now has on
hand is the Badger, situated in the Coeul
d'Alenes. The mine is developed to depth
lie &c. So sAc
$4,000 per month. Work was begun on the
Badger by the Helena and San Francisco
Mining company last July, and by the first
Of next July will have Melted its owners
800, 600 in cash. Mr.. Esler has lately SO.
cured control of the Curlew mine. in the
large concentration which will soon be in
operation. Assorted ores shipped from the
/ Curlew during the past few months gave re-
turns of from $4,000 to 5000 to the ca,
load. The output of the mine will BE-
largely increased by the addition of a con.
rying an abundance OF ore. The Blue Bird
and Penn Yam, near Wickes, are under bond
to Mr.. Esler. and the main shaft is now
down about 300 feet. Seventeen men are
employed at the mines. Both properties
have produced good ore. the Penn Yam net
ting its owners $4,000 from ore taken out a,
4 depth of less than 100 feet. *1'-
Very rich specimens of gold ore we're ex.
hibited by Judge Lathrop yesterday. They
we're taken from the Ophir mine neal
Blackfoot City. which has been incorporated
and money secured for its development
The work of sinking shaft is to be COM
menced ut once.
The Ben kimber mine, in the Hazletor
district, is showing up better as develop
ment progresses. The tunnel is now sixty
odd feet under ground, with vein of ORE
from two and a half to three feet. Assays
from the mine made yesterday gave returns
of $7O.65 i'll gold and silver and 10 per cent
lead.
Mining Notes.
Three car loads of Iron Mountain ore are
now being sampled at the United States
Sampling works in this city.
The Sally Belle mine is producing an ex.
cellent quality of ore: One car load was
shipped to Omaha this week. Two NOR
! are ready to be shipped to Great Falls.
Interest in mining is on the Increase il