The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-15
news FROM THE MINES,
Activity in Developing the Proper
ties in the Neighborhood
Of Butte.
New Plants Going In on All Sides
and Old Ones Enlarg-
ing.
The Indian Creek District Pushing Ahead
and Champion Holding Its Own
From Other Places

from Otnef races.
BUTTE, Sept. 4.-lSpecial. Another
week of unbroken prosperity has been
added to the history Of this camp. Another
week of growth has passed. the true mean
ing of which will not be known until the
results of the years work are published
Not only has the average output of the dis
trict been maintained but in most of the
large properties improvements have been
pushed toward completion that are destined
to double and even treble their producing
power. Especially is this true of the cop
per properties, whose owners are encour-
aged to vast expenditures by the firm stand
of that metal near the top of the market
With copper at II cents there is no limit on
the wealth of the mine owners of this camp,
many of whom accumulated millions with
the price varying from to IL cents per
pound. The most conservative producers
and brokers in the country are confident
that the present price is stable
and that if any change comes it m ust be an
advance. They base this upon the TACT
that greatly as the output of this metal has
been increased it has not kept pace with
the demand, the deficiency being now fixed
away with the surplus and then they figure
that the price must rise unless some new
source OF supply can be found. It is this
line of reasoning that has induced the Ana
conda company to increase its smelter
plant until by the close of the year it will
be treating 5000 tons of ore daily. It gave
the Butte and Boston people courage to
erect the new DO-ton concentrator now
nearly finished, and to add to the capacity
of their smelter by 200 per cent 1t was the
motive power behind the Parrot improve
ments, both in mine and smelter; in short,
it accounts for nearly all the great i'm
provements that are being made in the
copper district.
The rise in silver is also responsible for
the recent growth. Had it not been for the
white metal advance the great Blue Bird
property would be idle to-day instead of
rapidly preparing for active production.
This great mine and the mill were shut
down some time since by an injunction, j.
A. Murray, the owner of an adjoining
claim asserting that his ground had been
infringed upon. At least 500 men were en-
ployed by this company in varions capaci-
ties and the shutdown threw them all out
of work. 1t was a decided blow to the
towns of Burlington and Rocker. their in
habitants being almost exclusively en-
ployed by this company. The injunction,
however. did not apply to the ground above
the 3OO-foot level, as that was known to be
worked within the side lines, and since sill
yer took rise in the world the company
decided to commence working out this
ground. Consequently they now have forty
men working to put both mine and mill in
condition once more and in few days
more both will be running at their full ca
pacity. This means great deal to the
camp and the news was received with gen.
eral rejoicing. Silver is also responsible
for the extensive improvements now
being made in the Gagnon, where
expended simply to increase the output of a
mine that has always been a dividend
payer. II was the inspiration of the men
who spent thousands of dollars in pumping
out the old Vulcan but are now coming
their thousands every month as the fruits
of their enterprise. The same may be said
of an hundred properties that are produc-
ing to-day, and would have been rustlng
had it not been for the life giving rise in
the white metal.
The prosperity which has come to Butte
and vicinity has been by no means confined
to this district. The same good word
comes from all the neighboring camps a
better market having given all of them new
vigor and enterprise. One of the large
owners in the Camp Greek district was in
the city yesterday and stated that new life
had been infused in to the mines of that
region and development was now the order
or the day.. Among the most tlourishing
properties in the district he mentioned that
owned by the Camp Greek Mining and Re-
duction company. This company was or
ganized not long since by j. II. Toole, Wal
ter Mckay, G. P. brennan, and others as
i inc The capital stock is s2,5 $780,
coo and the mines owned comprise
both the Banner and Clipper Groups
These mines are situated about twelve miles
from Melrose and had been somewhat de-
veloped before being taken in hand by this
company. A large two story office and a
ls<>1~, h~naI
erected and the other preparations neces-
sary for the sinking to the 900 foot level are
being made. When this point is reached
men will be put at work getting out the ore
which is known to exist there in large
bodies and that of high grade. One Of
trict Is the Emma Nevada. which was in
corporated some five months since by p. j.
Brophy, Dan Tewey and others of this city.
They set apart 100000 shares of the first
issue as treasury stock but very little of it
has been sold as the mine has been develop
ing itself. One car load of the ore taken
out Melted 5000 and there are 100 tons of
it now on the dump. Probably the best
known mines in this district are the Horn
Silver and Louella, which are now being
worked under bond and lease. these
mines have produced nearly 100000 during
the past eight years and are still turning
out rock which appears to grow better as
they are more developed. Another we'll
known mine in this district
is the Peabody, which is
situated i'll Soap gulch and is owned by the
Dickey Brothers. This is one of the Oldest
mines in the country, having been located
under the 100 foot law. Over 1000 tons of
ore has been shipped from this mine, most
of it going to Argenta BY bull team, in an
early day. At present it is shut down but
work will be recommended in the very near
future.
One of the new ventures in this region is
that of h. w. Morgan and Oscar Wells. of
Melrose, who have opened reef of roofing
slate about five miles from that city. The
slate is found in unlimited quantities and
Is said to be of excellent quality, better in
deed than that obtained from the east
These gentlemen expect to revolutionize
the roofing business i'll Montana and there
seems to pe no reason why they should not
IT their slate proves as good as they expect.
CHAMPION AND INDIAN CREEK.
Development Going On Steadily In the
Two Localities.