The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-29
FROM OVER THE RANGE.
The Resumption of Active Operations
on the Blue Bird
Mine.
Opinions Differ as to tho Merits
Of Air and Hand
Drilling.
A Fine Piece of Shaft Work Done on
the Gagnon in Quick
Time.

BUTTE, Sept. os.--tSpecial.l business in
mining circles during the week just passed
may be said to have been quiet. The nor
NAL condition has been maintained. and no
developments have occurred of any unusual
nature. Among recent events has been
the renewal of work on the great Parrot.
II has been established that the copper
properties of the Butte and Boston COM
pany are among the first The company
has in contemplation number of improve
ments among which is hosting engine,
to be used on the Gray Rocks, and which ia
far ahead of any class of machinery of its
kind now i'll use in the camp. The shaft OF
the east Gray Rock is down to the 700,
where station is being cut. Nothing but
development work will be done on this
property until the arrival of the pump.
whichis nearly completed. An excellent
showing is made in the underground work
ings of the Gray Rocks, the formation of
the lodges becoming more compact as the
sinking goes on. and the lodges themselves
showing regularity in size.
Tomorrow will witness another scene of
activity in the resumption of operations on
the Blue Bird. which has lain idle for some
time. A large force of miners are now TAX
ing out ore and the mill is about ready to
receive ore. Mr.. Kellar, the able superin-
tendent. is giving his personal attention to
the entire plant. There has been somo de-
teriorationa t the mill, caused by the spell
OF inactivity. which will soon be remedied,
and the largest stamp mill in the country
will again be pounding on the ore. This
means much for Burlington and Rocker.
Air drilling is to be substituted for hand
drilling with the Boston and Montana peo-
pie. The change, which will take place to-
morrow, brought forth varying expressions
of opinion as to the merits of the two
modes. Men with the experience of years
say that hand drilling is just as cheap as
the air drilling and occasions less damage
to timbers. On the other hand there are
others who maintain that air drilling is
cheaper and consequently lessons the num-
Der Of men in the drifts and crosscuts.
Several of the large mines here have adopt
ed the air drills and it is an open question
whether their use in tho Slopes is profta-
BILE.
The third compartment of the Gaenon
shaft has been raised. Six hundred feet of
shaft were raised by forty men in little
over twenty-six days. The excavation is
eight feet twelve inches by six feet four
inches by 600 feet, making total of about
1,15O cubic yards. The compartment is
four by seven feet in the clear, being tim
bered with twelve by twelve timbers and is
neat piece of work. The compartment
will be equipped at once with guides and
non a second hoisting compartment from
the 1000. The plans for the new engine
have been received and work will be CON-
menced on the foundations and building.
Eighty-fve carloads of ore day are
being taken out from the High Ore, Jim
md IA Mouv foJv
the Mountain Consolidated and the Syndi-
cate mines. The Union Consolidated, which
is one of the same company, is preparing to
start up again on small scale.
special in to-day's Miner says that the
articles of incorporation have been filed of
the metallic Extension company. The
properties Of the company are the follow
ing patented claims: Shoe Fly, Susie H,
and the Great Western lodes situated about
two miles southeast of Philipsburg. The
group adjoins the property of the Bi-
Metallic Mining company on the west, and
lies in direct line with that of the Granite
Mountain Mining companys property.
Mining men of this district have for a
long time been looking forward to an OPP
portunity of seeing this ground developed.
and their opinion is that the Granite BIZ
Metallic vein continues through this ground.
work of development, has been continually
latest work of any Importance being
the sinking of the Zeus shaft,
upon which work is being stead
lily pushed, which is very short
distance from the claims of the Bimetallic
Extension Mining company. This has all
been quietly worked up in the last few days
and all the people of this district who know
the properties are anxiously awaiting an
opportunity to secure what little treasury
stock can be obtained
A large sinking fund has been raised. ant
among the subscribers are many of the bus
mess men of Butte and Helena, as we'll al
Phillipsburg and Granite, by whom it is re.
garded as being very safe investment an.
chance to make money similar to tina
presented by the Bimetallic Mining com
pany at the time of its organization.
After the necessary details are arranged
such rs the election of officers and the ad
justment of other minor matters, the wor
of development will begin on the Shoe Fl
lode.
The outlook for another large mine on til
famous vein of this district, the Grant
Bimetallic. is very bright, and the ne,
company starts out with very tiatterin
prospects.