The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27
MANY MILLIONS IN SIGHT
And Much Better Still, Hundreds of
Thousands Are Already in
Pocket.
The Occur d'Alene District Devel-
oped by Helena Capital and
Enterprise.
A Bonanza in the Badger Mines-Owners
Of the Property, Development
Work, Profits.

Of the Property, Development
Work, Profits.
Frisco, Canyon Creek, Idaho, July 3d.
Especial. IL have been making tour of
the famous Coeur d'Alene mining district,
noting the changes and improvements made
in this prolific section since my first arri-
val here four years ago. Four short years
ago and the Helena Concentrating COM
pany, under the management of Mr.. A. NJ.
Esler, were working the Bunker Hill-Sulli-
van mines at Wardner. This was the only
company at that time producing the lead
silver concentrates which have since made
the Cpur d'Alenes SO noted. Now ten sue
cessful concentrators are in operation in
the South Fork country, and before the
dawn of another year at least two more
will be added to the number, and the ca
pacity of several now erected will be in
creased. This wonderful district would
perchance still be comparatively unknown
penetrated these wilds and shown to the
world what the massive mountains con-
tanned, and how to extract the ore, manipu-
late it and market the valuable product.
Not only did the Helena men prove the
existence Of valuable mines, and cause this
section to become the producer of one
fourth of the lead mined in the United
States, but Helena gentleman, D. G. Cor
DIN, constructed the first railway in the
country and made it possible to get the
ores to market and supplies to the mines
from the outside world. Mr.. Corbin's road
has since become the property of the North
ern Pacific, and the Union Pacific with
their broad gauge tracks are paralleling the
narrow gauge in every valley and canyon,
lessening freight rates by competition.
Yesterday I stepped from car on the
Occur d'Alene railway on the platform of
Fthe station at this place, where l met Mr..
Esler, manager of the Helena d Frisco
Mining company, operating the Badger
mine and concentration. Mr.. Esler since
disposing of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
mines and concentrator at Wardner. to S:
G. Reed, of Portland, Oregon, developed
the Emma and Last Chance mines and
erected concentration at that place, which
he placed on paying basis, then directed
hiAenerRies toward developing the Badger
silver-lead mine located on the south side
of Canyon creak at this point.
ena people. The stockholders are: A. M.
Hotter, 8. 7. Hauser, John T. Murphy, A.
j. 6ehgman. Peter Larson, H. Barbour and
A. NJ. Esler. The roster of the company g
officers are: John T. Murphy, president;
A. n. Hotter. vice president; A. j. Selig-
man, secretary and treasurer, and A. M.
Esler, manager. In the operation Of the
aided by E. G. Ray, Superintendent, John
Howard, mine foreman. H. Wildman, mill
foreman, and G. B. Kirkland, assayer and
bOokkeeper.
The Badger mine is a full claim, 1,5Oo
feet in length by GOO feet in width. 1t
trends easterly and westerly and dips into
the mountain at an angle Of about five de:
lsfees from the vertical. The hanging wall
is quartzite and the foot wall slate. The
developments are az follows: Tunnel ant
level on the vein in the upper workings, {
total length of 958 feet including thu
middle tunnel and drift on the ledge, 81
feet. There is an average height o
the lower tunnel, which is now in fifty feet
will penetrate the lode at an average deptl
of 800 feet below the surface. Throughou
all the levels on the vein, and the winZe
connecting the upper with the middle tun
mel, the pay ore has an average width O
four feet. It was during the month of Feb
ruary, 1889, that Mr.. Esler began operation
ing the mine, and where theneat and vel
managed buildings of the company nov
stand in the gulch. The concentrator be
gan its career of usefulness on July Is o
that year. From that date until the 10Th 0
the present month grand total of 1858
tons of crude ore has been mined. Of thi
amount 1886 tons went through the con
centrator, and 1879 tons were shipped direct
From the sale of ore and concentrates il
the fiscal wear recently closed the compan
have received $199.270.53.
One item of shipment made during tn
current month is worth a note. A Fraction
less than 80 tons of carbonates assayins
rrSlx ND an,,% Loo
per ton, Melted at the mine the sum G
$l1,35O.75. Quite number of tons Of rio
cafbonates and quantity of first elias
galena- silver ore is on the dump and is bt
ing daily augmented by quantities coming
from the mine.
The concentrator at present has a ca
pacity Of % tons Of crude ore per day, bu
die double this amount and b
September Ii. everything will be i
readiness for 15O tons of ore each twenty
four hours to 60 through the process {
concentration. The enlarged works wi
contain twenty Hartz jigs. large Blak
double Evans slime tables, and in fact a
the modern improvements necessary in
concern of the kind. The cost of concer
trating ton of ore will not exceed "a cent
80 perfect are all the arrangements.
The power to propel the machinery is flu
nl6heu by Ieffol wheel operated by waite
from the fume, tho company having 81
miners inches of water from Canyon Creel
Where little more than year ago was
mass of underbrush, fallen timber and hole
of stagnant water on the creek bottom,
now the fine mill, boarding house, sleepin
house, warerooms and other buildings G
the company.
Occupying gradual slope on the mort
side of the eulch is the neat and tasty ret
idence of the manager, with the genera
Office, assay Office and officers quarters nea
by. All the buildings are painted either
carmine or cream color, making a most dc
lightful looking mining village.
For some time past the net profits of thi
company have been over $40 900 per month
1t is expected that the balance sheet fo
July will show a dividend of SIS, 900 or ovel
And after the enlarged mill is in operatio
it is believed that the profits will not ia
short of 81 600 per day. Every stroke c
the pick and every blast ia adding to til
immense reserves already in sight in tt
mine, insuring the fortunate stockholdel
handsome returns for many years to com
Black velvet ribbons, satin back. at Fowle
Cash store.
REYERSES THE RULE.