The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-08
Montana and Not Colorado Heads
the List Of Pecious Metal
Producers.
The Big Discovery on the Lava
Mountain Near Alder
Gulch.
The Northern Pacific and the Smelters-
Flattering Outlook for Our Great In
dustry-The Castle District

has favored this office with copy Of the
Deport Of the director of the mint. Last
week the dispatches gave synopsis of the
Seport, which placed Colorado first in the
Ut of precious metal producing states and
territories. The total product of the United
States for the fiscal year ending June, 1889,
was, gold $33, 175 900, silver $59. 1876, 900. and
the total coinage value being 90, $40. GOO,
while the commercial value Of the same ~as
SIG, $4,000. In the approximate distribu-
tion of this amount Colorado is credited
with total gold and silver production of
$22, 75S,OO0, and Montana $21 200, 900. or a
difference in favor of Colorado Of 81 ,558, 600.
But how much of Montana's product ia
Colorado claiming? Montana is ahead of
all in the production of gold and silver as
it is in the total output Of all it's metals, in
Guiding copper. 1t is not generally known,
perhaps, that q large percentage of Montana
ores are shipped to Colorado for reduction
in the great smelters and refneries of the
Centennial state. The Pueblo Sampling
works, of Butte, which is q purchasing
shipped ore enough last year to more than
balance the difference in favor of Colorado;
but more than this, the Colorado Smelling
and Mining company of Butte, whose daily
output of ore from the Gagnon and Origi-
nal Butte mines, the latter being worked
Anaconda, Boston and Montana and Parrot
companies, ship all their silver matte to
Colorado for refining, and this amounts to
more than 81 900, eco annually. This Butte
metal is all credited to the Colorado
1ot .,i besides many carloads that have
during the past year and from other Sec
tions of Deer Lodge, Silver
Bow and Beaverhead counties.
Then, too, Idaho can claim that fully 80
per cent of the wet ores of the CBur
d'Alenes are shipped to Colorado, which is q
alton has caused the closing down Of the
East Helena smelling works. It is there
fore plain to see that Montana, which does
not import but very little ore, can justly
claim the.proud position of being first in
the list of precious metal producing stairs
and territories, and that without any fear
of contradiction.
Hon. Fred Cope, of Virginia City, candi-
date on the democratic state ticket of last
October for clerk of the supreme court, is
in the city on some mining business. Mr..
Cope tells that the usually quiet village of
the classic town of flush former days is
worked up to high pitch of excitement
over the discovery of what is now believed
to be the great gold reservoir that filled
Alder guich with $50, 600, 600 of placer gold,
Montana under the leadership Of Bill Fair
weather. About twenty-five years ago a
man named Kenneth built quartz mill and
began to work claim about Ave miles
north of Virginia City. but everything was
80 expensive at that time that it did not
pay to operate the mine and it was aban-
doned.
About ten days ago man named Kellogg
while walking over the well-known lava
mountain about two miles north of Virginia
discovered at what was once the apex of the
mountain, small outcroppings Of granite,
and little usage of the pick developed the
existence there of a twelve-foot vein of
quartz with rich specimens covered with
leaf gold. He brought the news to town,
and at once party of men hurried to the
lava mountain with picks and shovels, and
when Mr.. Cope reached the scene great
line of men could be seen prospecting. The
result was that they have traced this gold
lead for five miles and extending down to
the old Kennel claim. A number of assays
have been made and the result has been q
showing of from 81 to $50 per ton. Mr..
Cope says the ore at first glance looks fabu-
lousy rich but it does not assay that way,
though with more Development they hope to
uncover great deposit of rich ore, and
since he has been in the city he has received
letter from home giving better assay re-
suits of the ore.