The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-02
ACTIVITY IN RED metal.
present Prices and Future Prospects
Favorable to Copper Mining
Industry.
rha Methods Employed in Clear
inn the Anaconda and st.
Lawrence.

ing the Anaconda and st.
Lawrence.
Park Canyon and Pleasant Valley Districts
interesting Information Concerning
Castle and Champion Properties.
BUTTE. May H.-[Special. IA new factor
has entered into the prosperity OF this
camp during the past two weeks and 1t mas
been copper. Whan silver went above the
100 mark and remained steadtast, 1t was
thought to be good enough, but 1t is now
reinforced by the red metal, and the COM
hination has proven irresistible. The adj
vance in copper has been gradual. but it has
haen none the less certain. The present
nrice is between Is and 16 for lake. and the
best Judges claim that it will not stop snort
Of II. This advance is based upon the most
stable foundation possible in such trans
actions, as demand for legitimate
consumption which is far in excess OF the
ennnlv- This has been brought about by
4he ranid increase of the uses to which this
metal NAV be put with better returns than
can come from the use of any other. In
addition to all the various uses recently
found Pennsylvania firm comes forward
with the claim that they have discovered
process of tempering which makes copper
much better for journals and bearings or
8 oil sorts than brass. To show their faith
IN their own discovery they offer to furnish
! haarinps for any railroad in the country,
and If at the end of three months the tenn
pered copper has not worn three elt mes; oeL7
Tar bearing surface they will take their ola
metal back in full payment OF the account.
5 In the face of SO encouraging SITUATION
A this there can be no wonder that the cop
her men of this camp are elated. Inc work
AZ developing the mines IS being pushed
with all possible speed ana al ,a hss;s 4h I
future are placed upon SO broad OASIS tnat
II il evident the present advance IS regarded
Among the most important of these pro-
,,nsed improvements is 4OO-ton concentra-
tor which has been ordered by the Butte d
Boston, and which they now propose to have
in full operation within the next three
months. The new plant is to be the best
that can be bought. 1t is generally agreed
that 17-cent copper means ALMOST unendlng
prosperity and growth for Butte. and every
one who holds an interest here IS hlghly
elated over the present outlook.
One of the plans for improvement which
IA calling forth great deal OF discussion
4 Just now is the building Of switch from
the Montana Central to the summit OF the
mountain just north OF this camp upon
which are most of the great properties. The
Montana Union has the hill pretty we'll COW
Il N erred now and as consequence virtually
holds monopoly of transportation by rail
from all the important mines. The new
road would probably not DO away with
tha frGm n he bnt It wond
prove q valuable improvement to great
many properties.
The work of clearing the Anaconda ane
st. Lawrence mines of water still continues
to be Of great interest here and the prog
Ell ress made continues to be followed a
closely as the policy of the mine owner
viii allow. Shortly after starting tn
pumps, it was found that the water ha'
taken up large quantity of the copper il
the ore, making solution which devoure
iron almost az rapidly as it was reached g
nuR abort time the pumps were PRACTICAL
sdET sonic other plan for getting RI
Ne food had to be devised. 1t was de
ID to use large steel tanks, three fee
rare and with q capacity of 72O gallons
ese tanks are lined with wood and GOV
I'd with q thick coat of tar, which pre-
ents the copper solution from reachin
be metal. They are being run on guides
Ne same as cages, and make thirty trip
per hour, lowering the water about ten fee
every twenty-four hours. This is really a
Improvement upon the pumps.
Some interesting calculations have bee
made as to the amount of copper that
being thrown away with this water, and
has been found to be enough to make tn
fortune of some of the smaller mines.
chemical test developed the fact that .O7 {
tank of water. The four tanks would a
cordingly take IA pounds of the red met
to the surface at every trip or 43O pount
per hour. This would mean 1O,OSO pound
or more than four tons, per "A hours, whlc
at 500 per ton, means $500 for each day,
$25, 600 for the month.
The hosting engine at the Mountain Co
solidated, which was known as the large
in the state, has become practically useles
and has been retired from active servie
When the engine was first put up .especi
4 pains were taken with the foundation b
\ cause of its great weight. It was thought
foundation had been made that would sta
any and all strains, but it could not sta
against the caving of the rock upon viii
it had been placed. Taking out the II
milling ore directly beneath this massi
foundation caused cave which settled Q
side of the engine fully six inches at
east and made it useless. A smaller engi
had been put in for just some such EN-
4 gency as this and it is now being used to
the work originally laid out for the big &C
AZ Germ.
81 The season is opening most favorably
~ the Park Canyon district and the men "
have invested there are feeling that it
N their turn TO rejoice. The Homestake
IA 0fObably the most promising OF CllS
q frict, the work of its development hav
= been continued throughout the wint
The pay streak was struck on the 2J0-f
u level and was of such an encouraging
III ture that it was at once determined to G
q tinue the development. full outfit of
Il most modern machinery has Just been
4 in and the shaft is now going down as I
Il idly as men and machinery can force
Il Other equally good reports are constar
n coming from this favored region ant
IL good many enterprising prospectors b
kE their faces turned this way.
81 The Pleasant Valley district is also
81 ING quiet little boom all by itself.
III Independence is receiving the most of
81 attention Just now, as the greatest de-
q Of euccess has attended its deveiopm
The drift from the 130-foot level has
tended sixty feet through lead ms
which 1t is claimed assays away up IN
hunda. The lead Is pretty badly br'
~. Int where the drift started the
matter was fifty feet in width.
Tho pumps have been taken out o
Wabeeh and it will be shut down until
finaI settlement of the A. j. Davis esta
CASTLE MINES.
Several New Companies With Exec
Prospects.
CAsr1x, June 1.-[Special. Work
selopment is going on all over the