The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-01
Tho Belt Mountain Branch to DO Com.
pleted--soms Great Mining Conn
panies--General NotoA


tain branch, which now has its terminus at
Monarch. When work on this road was
stopped at that point the miners, of course,
wondered at such a move, but they wore
told, through letter bearing tho signature
of President Hill, that the reason for the
stoppage of work was that the railroad
company wanted to see more development
in the camp. Also that since the railroad had
expressed its intention of building to the
mines the miners were asking fabulous pri-
ces for mere prospects. On the
other hand, however, the understanding
gained ground that the railroad
magnate was anxious to give his friends an
opportunity to buy up some of the proper
ties cheaply, which they might more easily
do than after the railroad was in the camps.
Whether this has been done or not, cuts
very small figure, and if they have done so,
they will no doubt infuse new life into the
district. The assurance given that the
branch will be completed this summer must
be very gratifying to the hundreds of pros
pecters. who have been waiting for the
glad time when they can realize from their
The railroad to the Castle district is evil
IDENTITY in ''statu quo" but the outlook for
its construction at an early date. and that,
via Livingston is as bright as ever, though
the advocates of the Helena-Townsend
route are not idle. Surveyors are still in
the field locating line through the Shields
river valley. Il is not at all improbable
that the Great Northern and Montana Cen
trail companies will jump in and extend the
Belt Mountain branch to the great silver
lead camp. In fact such q report is in cir
culation. A meeting Of Montana Central
directors was held in this city few days
ago, but as there was no quorum
present no business was transacted
and the meeting, was postponed for
one month. But it is understood
that % the project Of ext extending the Belt Belt
was discussed lin an informal way. The
fact that the Bolt Mountain branch will be
extended at once is believed by close OBJ
servers to be only starter for the move
ment to continue on to Castle. The road
obstacles by continuing along the western
base of the Little Belt range and this route
is entirely feasible. It would not at all be
surprising to hear almost any day of sur
veyors being ordered out to locate a line.
A road to Castle is destined to come and be-
fore very long, and the business that would
follows we'll worth striving for, by any
railroad company that is looking after
feeders. Nobody cares particularly just
which company builds this line. 1t will be
big thing for either Helena, Livingston or
Great Falls, and if the Great. Northern
builds, of course the Great Falls smelter
will purchase and reduce the ores of the
carbonate camp. Should this project be
put into effect there will undoubtedly be q
race to the finish between the Northern Pa
cific and the Great Northern. As it stands
the former has the start, but no particular
advantage.
But little is heard nowadays of Cooke
City. This is plain. Nothing can be heard
from there until the big camp has railroad
facilities. It is too far away from the mar
kets and smelters, and until cheap trans
portation facilities are afforded Cooke City
and it's marvellous mineral wealth will not
exhibit any great activity.
Among the great mining companies of
Montana none are more prominently be-
fore the country now than the Boston &
Montana and Butte d Boston. The latter
is rapidly coming to the front and getting
into shape for reducing its ores. It has
now smelter of limited capacity, and a
N-stamp quartz mill in operation. A ECO
ton concentration is being built as fast as
men and money can do It. Superintendent
Palmer expects to sec the stock worth $40
per share before Christmas. It has been
the most active and remarkable stock on
the Boston market within the past few
months, jumping from $12 and $13 to it's
present price of $28 per share. The Butte
d Boston company has properties fully as
rich and extensive as those Of the Boston &
Montana and Anaconda companies.
The Boston d Montana is probably the
most prosperous mining company in the
United States. It opens the new year with
an increased dividend rate, and it is getting
more for its product than any other COM
pany, under contract with the tBarings, its
ability to maintain these dividends is APP
parent. In round numbers. the company
is making profit of S1OO, 900 a month. The
dividends are now $1.5O per share. Anent
this the Boston Transcript says: Calling
current production Of Boston q Montana
as in fiscal year ended june 30, 1880, it will
be seen that each advance of per cent.
per pound in price of casting brands of cop
per, ngures an apparent increase of profit
Of $13O,OOO, and 81 per share on Boston &
Montana stock calls for Sl25. 200. That is,
higher than that now ruling, prevailing for
year, would mean s. per share per annum
ON the stock. Each halt cent advance fir-
ures 81 per share more per annum on the
basis of present production, provided said
advance holds for an even year.
w. A. Logue came in from Blackfoot yes
/ terday to complete arrangements for the
construction of a twenty-five mile ditch
I from the Big Blackfoot river to Elk creek.
Deer Lodge county. He advertises for four
men as foremen for pillow and scraper work.
Mr.. Logue reports that water is very low
and even scarcer than last year.
The Champion company is considering
the advisabiiity of making its stock assess.
able. A note of 5000 on the mill is be-
coming due and it is necessary to devise
ways and means to raise this amount. This
matter was discussed at an informal meet
ing last Saturday, but nothing was done.
It was decided, however, to have the mine
examined by an expert for the beneft of
the stockholders.
Three men are at work in the Rose mine,
on Cataract creek, and are getting out con-
siderable ore averaging $40 in gold to the
ton. A 200-foot tunnel has been run in to
the vein, meeting the shaft at q depth of
26O feet. A cave at the bottom of the shaft
10 being cleaned out. after which the de-
velopmsnt work will be prosecuted with adj
ditional energy. Il. j. Shlgley is the fore
man in charge of the work.
A rich strike was made in the Yankee
Doodle, an extension of the Hiawatha, last
Thursday, at the depth of ak feet from the
surface. The ore 10 RS fine a. anv which has
come out of the Hiawaiha, and what fur
thsr development will bring can hardly be
anticipated.
The tunnel on the Obelisk il in 4 hundred
fest and has not yet gotten through the
sand which formed tbs old river bed in
times long ago. Some promising or. how
ever. y found even in this iofmstipa.
Rsports are very favorable Of T. psos-