The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-20
SOME SPECIMEN REPLIES.
Curious Answers Made to the In
quiries Of Agents Of the
Census.
Work of the Depopulator's Men
Among the Mines Of the
Land.
Humorous Returns Made in Many In
stances, of Which Few are Here
in Reproduced.

pointed Dr. David T. Day, of the United
States geological survey, special agent for
the collection OF the general statistics of
mines and mining says the New York
Sun. DR.. Day has been long con-
nected With the geological survey, and
is familiar with the mineral resources of
this country: but the work given to him
was too much for one man to accomplish.
The different classes of mines were, there
fore, subdivided into groups. as gold and
silver. quicksilver, copper and lead, zinc,
iron, coal. and the less valuable metals.
Experts were placed in charge of each sub
division, and it has been planned that DR..
Day shall compile general report on the
mines and mining industry of the United
States from the various reports submitted
to him.
MI. Richard P Rothwell, editor of the
Engineering and Mining Journal, was
made special agent for the collection Of
the statistics of gold and silver mines and
reduction works. Mr.. Rothwen is known
throughout the country as an expert civil
and mining engineer. He was president of
the American Institute Of Mining Engi-
neers in 1882, and is an authority on all
matters st atistical. AS soon as he received
his appointment he engaged large clerical
70 rec and made his headquarters at q Park
place.
In the absence of recognized and tried
methods by whichto beguided in the collec-
ton Of the desired information new plans
had to be devised Mr.. Rothwell was han
dicapped from the start by the insuiiiclency
of the census appropriation. Under these
circumstances the work could not be
carried out in manner satisfactory
to an expert statistcan. Finally Mr.
RothWell decided to secure the returns by
correspondence, and in furtherance of this
object blank forms were mailed to all con-
cerned in gold and silver mining. The
blanks contained questions which called
for information regarding the total amount
and value of ore produced and treated In
1889 and the amount and value of the bull
lion produced from the ore; also the mum
Der of men and animals employed, wages
paid, total of expenditures, present cash
value of the mine and mining plant, the
value Of the mill, smelling or other reduc-
ton works, and other particulars.
The census authorities expected to find
but little trouble in securing satisfactory
reolies. but in this they were very much
mistaken. While some mine operators
willingly gave the desired information Il
few paid no heed whatever to the letters,
and great many answered in an unex
pected manner One man, to the question
of how many animals Ee employed, an
swered, Three nigesrs and Chinese
cook" and chillingly added, would you
also like to know the number of bedbugs
kill every night?"
Sometimes answers were delayed by Gu
pid's pranks. The secretary has gone to
the lake to see his best girl said one let
ter, land when he comes back he will give
Won nil the information Won ueGiraS
Numerous replies full of irrelevant de-
tails were received. One communication
contained temperance sermon. II have
been mining for the past twenty five years"
said the writer, during which time l had
partner who was one of the best of men up
to two years ago, when whisky overlook
him, and now he is bum, being a hard
working man."
Another told tale of misplaced conf
dence: in reference to mining. l met a
man who told me he was an expert. NY
self and partner thought we had the right
man in the right place. so We hired him,
We being only amateurs. Before We got
through with him he lnulcted us out of
500. We didn't get ten dollars worth Of
gold out of the NINE" The writer naively
concludes: II really think the same party
knew more about shoeing mules than he
did about MINING"
Failure to ''strike it rich'' was reflected in
many of the answers. The owner OF an
unproductive mine wrote: 'The name OF
my mine is the q. Il. Damned and all
can say to your questions as to its value Ii
to repeat the name. The only things have
sour temper, and 81 500 worth of debts. /
you know any misguided man who woule
like mine free of charge refer him to me
/ will give hin. one-h half of the u. b
Damned and for your trouble will make
you present Of the other half"
,tN<H ,,
the way, says he is Harvard graduate am
adds "B. A to his name-contributes tn
following: "In answer to your questions.
would say that. SO far as know, the MIN
of which have the honor to be sole owne
has never produced red cent, althoug
three former owners committed sulcld
after vain endeavors to make the d
thing pay. In order to avoid similar fat
have secured a hattering position as chic
bartender and concocter of liquid delight
in Billy Scott's popular Art Gallery an
Gambling Palace. II you ever come ot
this way hunt me up. IN give you til
An enterprising New Mexican. bent Q
finding precious metal somewhere. write
''Only the Almighty can get any silver o.
of my mine. It has all characteristics OF
silver bonanza-except the silver. HOY
ever, hope to strike the silver some da
and. in the meantime, may strike You II
the loan of five dollars?'
Quite the gem of the collection is a mi
spelled tale Of woe from Arizona. III
blank was returned blank. but containe
on the reverse touching commun
cation, apparently written by su
ferer of triple vision and st. Vitus' dane
1.-The superintendent is ded drunk.
nllays is. the secretary is in jale for asso
and bettery on the ondersined. am sit
i'll Bed frum the Efecks. and a 60 to h
feeling hangs aroun this shanty. GOO
buy"
It was early seen by those who we
awaiting the statistical returns on Il
blanks furnished that correspondence alol
could not be successful where ignoranc
fippancy and illiteracy had to be contend,
with. BY the advice of DIR. Day and NJ
Rothwell, enumerators We're appointe
but the limited amount of the c-nsus a
preparation precluded the employment
An adequate number of men.
In the selection of the mining enumcr
tors unavoidable mistakes were made,
the census authorities had no means of q
certaining the applicants aptness for
work. Some of the men appointed did n
even seem to realize what was expected
them, and others showed an unconyentio
atty that would make the bristles rise
some of the bureaucrats at Wash;ngtt
One fellow reported: ''Ihe owners of I
Red BIRD claim are two Cinnamon, who
unable to speak English or unwi ling
give any information. In answer to
questions they only shook their heads i,
told me that high lee toolah makah hi
low ! coaxed and threatened, but alwi
the same song about high lee and hi
log. with 'toolah makah' thrown in
tween. Nary another answer. trust y
ia ev,N o~ Ncp ,horc%