The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-10
NEWS OF THE MINES.
What Is Being Done Over the Range
in the Way Of De-
velopment.
The Boston and Butte's New Con-
contractor Ready for Treat
ing Ores.
Work of Increasing tho Smelter Capacity
at the Gagnon to Begin on
Saturday Next

at the Gagnon to Begin on
Saturday Next.
BUTTE, Mont, Nov. Especial. The
all-exciting topic in this camp during the
past week has been politics. Nothing else
has been talked in the streets, and for
the time it looked as though the mines had
been forgotten. The returns for the week,
however, show that this conclusion was I'M
founded and that while the people were
busy electipg their candidates it was done
between shifts, and the real business of the
camp was not allowed to slack for a mo-
ment. Ever since work was suspended dur
ing the late summer by failure in the wa
ter supply the great properties have been on
the straight road to increased production.
Some Of them had seen the necessity before
for increased power and were already work
ing in that direction. Others commenced
at that time taking advantage Of the tenn
porary lull to put in the machinery neces-
sary. Most of them are now working I'M
der the improved conditions, and the total
of output has been increased thereby. 9th
ers are still in the midst of the change, an d
will shortly be making their proportionate
additions to the sum total of the camps
production, increasing it still further over
all previous years.
Among the properties that have respond
ed most literally to this demand for further
production may be found those of the Butte
and Boston. This company started the
ball by commencing the erection Of new
concentration that WAS to have daily ca
pacity of 400 tons. This is now almost
completed, SO nearly 30 that a trial was
given the machinery yesterday and another
to-day. Everything was found to be in
most excellent condition and the entire
plant will be ready to receive and treat ore
this coming week. In addition to this they
have largely increased the caracity Of their
smelter and will be ready to take care of
all the ore their great system of mines can
produce from this time on. Of the many
valuable mines owned by this company no
one il more promising at this present time
than the East Gray Rock. Since the shaft
on this mine reached the 700 drifting has
been carried on in the ore matter, and of
late some OF the finest ore ever seen in the
camp has been taken out. This last rich
exact value is not known as yet, but enough
is known regarding it to stamp the discov-
cry as one of the most valuable ever made
in the camp.
The Gagnon is another of the great
properties that has responded most readily
completed the improvements planned. The
new hoist, destined to be one of the finest
in the state is now nearly completed and
will be fully ready by the time the new
machinery can arrive. The new engine was
to have been shipped last week. but 80 far
no word of its shipment has been received
The indications now are, however, that the
plant will be completed and ready for the
resumption of work on the old basis by the
first of the new year. The company own
ing this property is BY no means satisfied
with this Improvement and proposes to do
shut down about next Saturday and the
work of increasing its capacity to 200 tons
daily will be begun at once. This will
make not only an addition in power of the
first value to the company but it will also
be an important increase in the production
working upon the Star West and will soon
have it one of the most valued of their
group. The work that is being done now
upon this property is solely in the way of
development, every energy being expended
upon sinking the shaft. The rock encoun-
only about ten feet per week can be made
by the men in the shaft. The rock taken out
of the upper levels of this mine was 80 ex-
cellent in quality that the owners feel
amply warranted in the additional outlay
now being made.
Helena people are largely interested. Some
time since the owners determined to buy
out the leasors who then had it in hand,
and to develop the mine as It's prospects
warranted. This was accordingly done,
a liberal price being paid for the unexpired
to cover the improvements needed. This
was met by the stockholders almost without
exception, and new plant throughout, cap
able of sinking the shaft from the l76 to
the ECO, was ordered. This plant is now ON
the ground, and will be ready to commence
active work within the coming week.
contract has been let for sinking the first
100 feet, and that work will be done as
quickly as the new machinery is in position.
The owners of this property feel greatly en-
couraRed by the showings it has made, and
propose to lose NO time in finding out ex-
Nothing but the best of word 10 heard
from the New Indian Greek district opened
up short time since near the Lowlands.
The district 10 unusually active jast now,
owing to especial preparations being made
for the coming winter. The Patsywatomie
is now working twenty men under the man
agement of j. E. Price. The Bushnell
Brothers, the heaviest holders in this prop
erty, are on the ground and are delighted
with the showing made to date. They are
accompanied by capitalists from chicago
and st. Paul who are looking the country
over with view to investing.
At the Mineral Hill mine in this district
the force is to be largely increased next
Monday, when sinking will be commenced
in earnest. large force Of men will be
kept at work upon the shaft until it has
reached the 400, when the vein will be ex-
ploted and the future of the camp pretty
definitely established. The new buildings
upon this and adjoining properties are be
ing pushed to completion with all possible
expedition in order to have them out of
the way before the winter becomes fixed,
and they are already giving the camp an
inhabited look. Everyone who has visited
this camp comes away delighted with it
and the value of the property is growing
every day. No one who has invested here
has had cause to regret it as yet, and the
number of investors promises to be much
greater before the spring opens.
Toys a1d holiday goods in large variety at The
Bee Hive.
Mess suits and overcolts for less than cost 1t
the l. \. l. Bazaar.
Full line of infants wear at The Bee Hive.
Snowhall and Twantv Ofhors