The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-26
Jefferson and Beaverhead County Mines
The Weekly Report Of the Con-
dition of Copper.

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they would save $40 or $l3 ton.
They could make but little profit by
smelling over shipping. The ore cannot be
concentrated beyond three to one-that is,
three tons of ore will make one ton of lead
bullion. II will cost as much to haul a ton
of bullion as ton of ore, and the railroad
will charge more to carry the bullion.
There are no ores in the camp now that can
be benefited by smelling with the lead
ores, and the value of the ore as fux-at
least IS TOMS lost. When the expenses
Of smelling and loss of values are consid-
cred there is but little, if any, profit in
smelling the ore over shipping by teams.
So it will readily be seen that
our mines cannot pay dividends un-
til railroad reaches the camp.
The costof developing then, ines would be
greatly lessened if . railroad were at hand.
The cost of supplies will always be at least
one-half cent more pound than if brought
on a railroad. Timber for mines now costs
way beyond what it should, and the ex-
pense of bringing in machinery is simply
enormous.
The mines now have to be developed by
money obtained from the sale of stock or
advanced by the owners. II a railroad was
in operation, the ore taken out in develop
ment would pay nearly or quite all the ex-
penses. There would not be a constant eff
fort to sell stock or to raise money to keep
up. The cost of developing mine IN Cas-
tie to point to where ore can be reached,
is at least 5000 and when water interferes
the cost is about 5000 more.
The mine owners at Castle, it seems to
me, are not employing the most skilled
men in working them. In many of them
n novira that r,pnav ia hainO vyasfal
in their development. Neither do they
prove the value of their ore. Some of them
have been working for weeks without
single asssy, and on some of the dumps
good ore can be picked up and no one about
the mine knows where it came from. This is
railroad men ask the value of the ore, SO rs
to judge Of the amount which may BIO
shipped, but few of them can tell. Better
miners and better business methods must
be introduced in the camp before its I'M
mense capabilities can be shown to the best
advantage, and to the extent of it's surface
it is the richest camp in Montana.
At the 24O level of the Judge, in Smiths
camp, a drift Of thirty feet last week en-
couutered fine body of ore. the extent of
which IS not yet known. This mine has
paid for its development, and if a railroad
were here would continue to do go and pay
dividends also.
Mr.. w. II. Hackney visited the camp last
week, and after examining the Cunber-
land, Yellowstone, California and Jumbo,
was highly impressed with the value of the
camp, and If his recommendations have
any weight, railroad will reach the camp
by this time next year.
The affairs Of Bacon and Commander.
merchants here, who were recently closed
by attachment, are in fair way of being
adjusted so as to permit them to open
their doors and begin the sale of their goods
again.
The question of incorporation is before
the people of Castle. and in all probability
incorporation" will carry at the election
on the Goth OF January next.
The ball of the Miners Union was held
last Wednesday evening. It was largely at
tended by the people of the district. and an
elegant supper was served by the union at
the Castle hotel 1t was one of the pleas
ATTEST evenings ever enjoyed in the camp.
On the Graphic group one shaft is down
twenty-five and the other sixty-ive feet.
Sinking will proceed right along, and there
will be no prosecuting until such depth is
reached that it is certain they will strike
ore. Some Minnesota parties who are in
terested in the group are expected to visit
her next week.
The new shaft on the Triumvirate COM
pany's property is down fifteen feet, and
sinking on it will continue steadily during
the winter.
Work continues steadily on the Sherman,
but there is nothing new to chronicle con-
ceming it.
The machinery of the Cumberland was
started Monday. It has been worked to see
that everything is in order, and when the
are worn smooth, the machinists |
will aftix the wire ropes. and by the first of |
The year the company will be ready to sink
On their new shaft, using the new machin-
ery.
The Alice Mining company have pur-
chased machinery in Chicago for sinking
On the Bondholder, and it is now at Liv-
ngston ready to be freighted to the prop
srty. The capacity of the boilers is GO horse
power, and the pumps and machinery of
sufficient capacity for sinking 500 feet and
working the mines at that depth. The ma
chiuery will be put in place as soon as pcs
sible for it to be done. and the shaft of the
will be down at least 200 feet
by spring.
The shaft of the Iron Chief is down 100
feet, three shifts are at work and the ore il
looking better all the time. Friday bet
Ter grade of ore was struck and it looks as
i the miners had struck the top of a good
DE )dy. Mr.. Kertz assured us that the
X mp my would continue sinking until 200
'eet IN depth was reached before any cross
,utting or drifting was done. At that
lepth the Iron Chief should begin to show
THAT kind of mine it 10 going to be-
Castle Reporter.
Jefferson County.