The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-16
GREATEST CAMP ON EARTH
English Capitalists After the Great
Anaconda Mines and Smelling
Plant.
sixty Million Dollars a Reason
able Estimate of the Value of
the Property.
rmrrovenents on the Bruckner Furnace
An Invention that VIII DO Worth
Much to Montana.

BurrE. June 15-[Special. 1.-The i'm
proved condition of productive industries
during the past week has been felt IN Butte
as we'll as the rest of the nation, ana the
Improvement has been made apparent IN
MANY ways. One of these upon which little
has been said and of which little is known
by the outside world, is the increased de-
mand for mining property and especially
where copper or silver is the product.
Hardly day passes without some capitalist
representing himself or syndicate appear
ing and putting in a bid for some one OF
the valuable properties about this city. Inc
same report comes from the smaller camps
in this portion of the state, all OF them
having their delegations of would-be buy
ers. No better indication could be given
of the prosperous condition of the camps in
nuestion than the slowness with which such
offers are accepted. The owners realize
that they have good thing and they don't
propose giving away what their enter
The most important deal of this descrip
tion now on hand is that OF the Anaconda
rronn. For some time company of Eng
iiah capitalists have been casting longing
ewes upon this immense property, ana re-
ported overtures for its purchase have been
made. Others have coveted Inc same
GROUP. and to-day no less than three noted
experts are upon the ground making q
thorough examination of mines and smelt-
ers. During the early portion of tho week
these gentlemen were down at Anaconda 60
ing through the great smelters ana nov now
They appear to be moro than pleased With
what they have seen, and if their talk can
be taken as a criterion all will make favor
able reports. It is understood that the
company will sell if the price is sufficient,
but there is evidently no anxiety on that
side for q transfer. just what price is
asked is not known outside of the con-
tracing parties. but those who are near
to inside f t. ane Would nanae ss tire
group containing the Anaconda and
Of others han'sN'1 almost equally valu-
able, and the immense smeters at Ana
oonda. For these the the pr,Se s N Named meps
than would be reasonable. 10 show how
little the Anaconda company cares about
this sale it is only necessary to state that
the immense improvements recently pro
Completion as though no transfer were
probable. Chief among these improve
ments is the building of an immense addl-
ton to the Carroll smelter, which will in
crease its producing capacity by fully one
Jus
joining the new iron structure put up last
wear, The present capacity of these works
is about 1900 tons daily. A number Of new
Bruckner furnaces are alsobeing added tc
the upper works. and it is expected thai
when all has been completed. which vii
probably be within the next six months
the capacity of both will be 5000 tom
daily, instead of from $500 to 1000. thu
present limit When this an has been &C. d daw
rama YninaS have been pumped
out and rehtted, all will be run
at their full capacity, and a material
change for the better will be made IN the
output of the camp
St. Lawrence has been progressing rapidly
during the past week. the water having
been brought to the sC0-foot level by the
tanks. This uncovered the bodies of three
of the men who persisted in the fire OF No
yember 90 last, as has been stated by Tn
INDEPENDENT. The tanks are found to be
doing their work nicely and some are OF
the opinion that the water is being brought
to the surface more rapidly by them thar
it could be by the pumps that were de-
stroyed by the copper water. 1t is nov
thought the water will all be out within the
next two weeks and that the remaining
bodies will then be found.
In connection with these mines 1T Is cur
rent rumor that Marcus DAILY WILL retire
from their active management during ths
next twelve months, whether the present
deal goes through or not. Nothing definltt
is known as to Mr.. Days purpose IN max
ing this move but it is surmised that NJ
wishes to be able to give more of his atten
ton to the development of son.e vaiuaol'
properties that belong to him personally.
One of the things that has been attract
ing great deal Of attention among prac
tical miners during the past week is an I'M
provement on the Bruckner furnace, whiol
has recently been patented by two Butt
men. These furnaces have long been ad
mitted to be the best for treating such or
as is produced by most of the great reoper
ties here and has been III very general use
This new improvement, however, promise
to add to its producing power by fully 5
per cent. It is exceedingly simple, consist
ing only of the introduction of an air bias
charm, A practical test was mad
in one of the large shelters Q
this city last month with mos
satisfactory results. Two furnaces of tn
same capacity were used. the one as ser
out by the company and the other with til
addition of the blast. From the Bruckne
proper thirty charges were obtained, Will
from the other the output was forty-tiv
charges and each charge was fully 35 pr
cent better in treatment. The importanc
of this invention in such camp as this ca
hardly be estimated. Take for instanC
such a camp as the Anaconda, turning OF
5000 tons daily. By the addition of th
simple blast the output is increased to &c
value of each charge. This would mean a
increase of So, 500 tons iii the output fe
one year, and that at cost that would h
purely nominal. When this same ratio
increase comes to be applied to all tt
smelters in this camp some idea of the valr
of the improvement will be gained. Shoul
it prove to be all that is claimed for
these ingenious mechanics have happene
upon an invention that will be worth mo-
than the best gold miEe in the country III
which will be of great advantage to eve
copper mine and miner in Butte.
Among the many mines in this camp tn
have recently been given especial develo
ment is the Belle of Butte. 1t is on I
great Alice lead near this city and is t
property of the Butte d Boston compan
new and very complete hoist has be
erected and the shaft sunk to the 400. 1t
the present purpose of the owners to &C
tinue sinking to the 900 and large force
men are constantly employed upon u
portion of the work. So far as the dri
have progressed a splendid quality of 70
has been uncovered much of it being lit
ally covered with the white metal. But
tie sorting 4 this rock is required below
being hauled to the mill as fast az it con
TO the surface. Most of the ore treated
the Silver Bow mill comes from this pr
erty. Every improvement made has b.
with view to work for all the time aud
Lot