The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-18
THE MINES OF MONTANA.
The Lexington People Find Rich
Bodies of Ore After Sue
cessful Experiment.
The Clear Grit Reopened and I'm
provements Commenced in
the Gagnon.
Gas Causes Considerable Trouble in the
Anaconda-A Rich Find in the
silver Crown.

Gas Causes Considerable Trouble in tho
Anaconda-A Rich Find in the
silver Crown.
BUTTE, Aug. 17.-[special.] The Le1ing-
ton mine has been the center of general in
terest in this camp during the past week
because of the importance of the discover
les made there. 1t has long been the theory
Of the best posted mining men in this camp
that the ore would grow better as greater
depth was attained and that the surface
workings were nothing more than an indi-
cation of the riches awaiting development
below. This theory was borne out in part
by the rock found on the lower leads of the
deeper mines, but none Of them had ever
gone deep enough to settle the matter salts
factorily. The Lexington people were the
first to take up this matter in business
way and they spent at least 500, in sink
ing to the ECO foot level. Here they ran
crosscut to the lead, and while every effort
has been made to keep the find secret.
it has at last been learned
that they found rock which assays
60 per cent copper and 400 ounces of silver
to the ton. This assay was made, of course,
from selected pieces, and does not accu-
xately indicate the value of the lead at that
point, but it 10 sufficient for triumphant
vindication of the faith which induced the
expenditure of 30 much money on mere
experiment. It settles the fact that below
the great mines that have made Butte mine
owners kings in the mining world, and
khar Univ uhich
the sun has ever shown. lie inexhaustible
bodies of ore far richer than any yet
brought to light. It shows to the croakers,
who have been predicting for this camp a
future like that of Virginia City, that the
the growth of the past is but a commence
ing when they are dead and gone. In short
the discovery means everything for Butte,
and is more important at the present time
than any find since the camp commenced
The Lexington people are SO we'll satisfied
with what they found at the 1850 that
sinking to the 1900 and perhaps even lower
being determined to know just what is be-
low them. The entire camp and the state
as we'll are indebted to them for the enter
prise which induced them to make such i'm
p0rtant discoveries.
Another indication of the revival of pros
perity in this camp brought about by the
advance in the price of silver and copper is
the reopening Of the Clear Grit. This val
liable property has long lain idle, but the
recent market changes have brought the
owner to realization of what he is losing
by such a course. As a result he Will COM
mence pumping water from the shaft next
Monday morning. As soon as the water is
out force of men will commence sinking
to the 500. and this will be followed by q
complete development of the mine. The
Clear Grit il situated upon the border land
between the copper and silver belts of this
camp, and is regarded by experts as
one of the most valuable prop
critics to be found in either. II
will soon be added to the long list of active
wealth producers now contributing to the
growth of Butte.
At last the long promised Improvements
on the Gacnon have been commenced in
this is one of the best equipped mines il
Montana. When first opened two com
partment shaft was sunk on this propert,
to the 600. The present owners then tool
it in charge and made the shaft from tina
point to the 1000 of three compartments
It is now proposed to put a large force o
men on every station, raising the thir'
compartment from the GOO to the surface
At the same time, in order to furnish bet
ter facilities for handling ore and for tn
dump. the collar of the shaft will be raise
twenty feet and the present shaft hous
new engine was ordered to-day, which is t
be one Of the best yet brought t
the camp. This engine will hav
hoistinQ power sufficient to sink the shat
to the 1000 or lower if required. and thf
improvement is among the possibilities fl
tact to deliver this engine early in Noven
Der, and it is the present expectation
have the mine ready to resume operation
by that time upon the increased scale. III
Gagnon has always been one OF the be
managed mines in this district, and i'll l
shown than by this added investmen
which will bring large returns in the way
The Star Of the West is another of ii
valuable properties that is being reclaimt
because of the rise in the white NETS
When work was first commenced the sha
was full Of water, but it is now below Il
100 and is sinking rapidly. Two new bo
ers arrived yesterday and will be placed
quickly as possible. The timbers +
the new shaft house are on t
ground and in a few days
will be ready to receive the machinery.
soon as the necessary steam power can
connection with the pump and then t
labor of clearing the mine of water will
Int A short one. A short wait only W
then be necessary until this mine may
numbered among the wealth. producers
the state.
Trouble again is being experienced in t
lower levels of the Anaconda. Gas is bel
constantly generated there by, some mea
and in spite CT the increased facilities f
ventilation it accumulates in such guam
ties as to occasionally force the men to t
surface. It is thought by some that t
FIRE is still smouldering in the veins, bel
kept alive by the sulphur and that soI
portions of the lower workings will have
be shut in to enable the working of t
rest.
The owners of the Silver Crown, in t
Champion district, are greatly elated ovel
find recently made in that mine. A tv
compartment shaft was sunk on that pre-
erty distance of ninety feet. At this poi
level was run to the lead a distance
twenty-eight feet. The lead was then Fl
lowed for twenty-five feet and crosse
started. At the last report the men h
penetrated the vein distance of eight fe
and were not through it. In that distan
they encountered all kinds of pay rock, a
that of the best quality, 80 far as could
determined from casual observation. L
find has SO encouraged the owners that til
have ordered a new hoist and will CO
mence at once to sink the shaft to the
Forbes & Davis Special.
3.0S3 Cumberland, one block, at s.. Go