The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-08
MINERS UNION OF BUTTE.
Conservative Action Marks Their
Course in the Eight-Hour
Agitation.
Rich Rock Discovered in the Shon-
bar Which Had Been over
looked.
,+ Work on the Rich Castle
Properties Steadily Going on Win
Good Results.

Rrrrrr, Dec. The all absorbing topic
n MINING circles during the past week has
hoor tho reouest of the miners that here
.fter EIGHT hours constitute days work.
II waa generally know that the superinten-
dents felt they could not accede to the re-
onest and it was feared that the wilder
snirits among the men might lead to the
10. ~ .x+rame measures. It would be i'm
,,oss;b,a 70 measure the extent of the dam
900 that might be done the camp should
sncb counsel prevail and not few Of the
men most interested felt deeply concerned.
o.bors however. who had followed the
conrse If the union and knew the temper of
tbo ,,an who usually dominate its action,
never for an instant lost faltn IN them.
They knew that these men had as much
concern for the welfare OF the camp as any
others could have. and that they would not
+hrouch any inconsiderate action, preclpl-
toto disaster of any sort. This faith proved
IN he we'll founded as was shown by the &C
tion of the union at its meeting held last
NIGHT Here if developed that the letter
addressed to the superintendent tt had been
intended IA a request only and that no
tbonoht Of threat was intended. 1t was
the;r thoucht that an eight hour day would
truly result in benefit to both miners and
rhine owners. That the men would 90
more and better work in eight hours than
thew wonld in ten and do it with much less
wear ON themselves. They had also in
tended to continue the agitation only on
peaceful lines. and that the next move
legislature and secure, if possible, the pass
ACE of an eight hour law. This conserva-
tive action is but in keeping with the gen
eral character of the men who make up the
order and is no more than was expected of
them by those who knew them best.
The men WHO are always on the lookout
for disaster saw another dark cloud IN the
shutting down of the Cham bers oyndlcat!e
mines early in the week. They lmmedl-
ately foresaw the close of every mine in the
district and went about with their tale of
voc until they actually had some following.
Generally, however, it was known that the
shut down was caused by the strike of the
bricklayers upon the new works in Anacon-
da, and would depend upon the continue
ton of that trouble. Their scare, tne!e,
fore fell fat. and all the excitement died
away when it was announced that the
mines would resume next Monday or the
Monday following at furthest.
The annual meeting of the Colorado
Smelling 4 Mining company Was held in
this city during the past week and was at
tended by Hons. Walcott and Pierce, OF
Denver These gentlemen represented the
nom PRESIDENT stockholders and during their
stay they visited all the mines and works
Of the company. They expressed them
selves as being more than pleased with the
conduct of the company's affairs and as a
result the old body of officers and directors
were re- elected unanimously. The improve
ments in progress by this company are
AL ! no, oJn, ~1,tN 1Dn 0v,n
of the finest in the northwest. Their new
hoist is all completed and ready for the new
engine which is now in the yards. New ore
bins with capacity for 100 tons arc rap
idly going up and will be ready for ore by
the tine the engine can commence hosting.
The change i'll the concenttatOr. raising ITS
capacity to 200 tons daily, will be completed
by the last of this present week and the en-
tire plant will be in readiness for resumP-
ton by the first of the new year.
When B. s. Fine took up the Shonbar
property on Oct. last his friends predicted
that he would meet with nothing but disas-
ter. The mine at that time was full of
water, and. in addition, many of the best
mining experts i'll the camp claimed that it
had been worked out. Mr. Fine, however,
never lost faith, and weuU ahead with the
work before him without thought to the
cost. The first find made was on the 100
foot level, where he found q body of rich
rock that had been overlooked by the COM
pany working there before. From this
point down no drifts had been run toward
the west, and after the water had all been
taken out wor wask at once commenced.
Only week of drifting sufiiced to reveal
one of the finest veins of ore yet uncovered
in the district. Mr.. Fine is now reaping
the reward of his enterprise, and his many
friends are rejoicing in the good fortune
that has come to him.