The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-13
paid this year are as follows:
TRANsyAAL GOLD FIELDS.
A Prominent Mining Man From Sont
Africa Interviewed.

Prominent Mining Man From South
Africa Interviewed.
Among the interesting arrivals at The He!.
cna is Mr. H. l.. Webster, general manager
of the Langlaagte Estate and Gold Mining
company, of Johannesburg, Transvaal,
South Africa. MIR. Webster was approached
by an INDEPENDENT representative at The
Helena last evening and yielded to re-
quest for some information OF that distant
mining region which has been heralded to
the world as fabulously rich gold country.
just like all new mining regions the Trans
vaal has been subjected to illegitimate
booming and wild cat schemes but now a
different state IF affairs exist. The bust
ness of mining is now conducted on a le-
ultimate basis, and only companies of rec
ognized merit are operating.
MAY l ask the object of your visit to
Montana?" queried the reporter.
II am here to investigate some of the
modern milling and concentrating pro-
cesses. While in Chicago 1 left an order
for a12O-stamp mill with Fraser d Chalmers.
We are now using GO-stamp mill of their
manufacture, but are DESTROYS of increasing
the yield of the mines, which contain more
ore than can be treated in this generation.
have never been in this county before and
as yet have not seen any of your mines, but
shall endeavor to visit the more important
ones while l am here"
"What is the extent, development and
output of your mines?"
"Our claim is 1000 feet long. The gen.
eral formation is sandstone with occasional
groupings of reefs. These are what, be-
lieve. you term in this country lodges. The
composition of these reefs is a 'conglom-
erate,' mixture of pebblestone, :auartz
nod Of
ing the property with three hoists
and the greatest depth attained is
25O feet. Our present capacity for treating
ore is between +, 900 and 5000 tons per month
and the ore averages not to exceed one
ounce per ton leaving our yield, therefore,
5,OO ounces monthly. You see, while the ore
is not so very rich, the quantity of it makes
it pay. Prospecting with diamond drills at
point which would tap tho vein l, 100 feet
has demonstrated that the ore is more valu-
able at that depth, but it will be many
years yet before we will sink that deep. The
company is capitalized at t45O.OO0, and last
year was able to pay dividends aggregating
% per cent of the capital stock.
1--WE employ about l2O white men and GOO
natives. The former receive about $40 per
week and the latter between SIS and sc per
week. In both cases we furnish lodging
quarters and provisions to the natives.'
''Have you any miners unions in the
mo. sir; we would not permit them. And
there have not been any efforts to establish
them. Experience has demonstrated that
the best way to avoid dissenslons with min
erH, or any class of men for that matter, is
to be careful that too many of the same
nationality are not in your employ. This
even applies to the natives and | should
judge that of the 600 natives employed by
US they are 80 divided III different races that
you could not muster up 100 of them that
are of the same clan. And it the white men
employed by us about every nationality is
represented. ] understand that some of the
companies in Montana are mixing up their
miners in this way.
"There are $50 registered mining COM
panies in the Transvaal and each of these
has some kind of reduction plant. The
American manufacture of machinery for
mills and hoists and concentrators super
cedes the English and other makes. It is
far superior and has many more useful APP
pliances for saving gold. All the ore is free
milling. Yes, We have lenty of water and
Cornish pumps are mostly used.'
Mr.. Webster said there is not a railroad
within 300 miles of Johannesburg, and he
calculates that the machinery he has or
dered will require four months in it's trans
portation to the mines. 1t will be hauled
by bull teams 800 miles and will cost laid
down, about $4,000.
Mr.. Webster contemplates a trip to the
Black Hills across country from Miles City,
If he can be assured that the Indians will
not steal his scalp.