The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-31
IN THE CASTLE DISTRICT.


Castle mountain ia to-day the most con-
spicuous place of interest in the mining
world. .A,5t.
Thia statement should not be misunder-
stood. Thu region has not the development
Of Butte or Leadville. for it is yet new. The
great Cumberland alone has the develop
o to place it on a scale with the famous
producers of the camps mentioned.
It has been demonstrated, however, be-
yond a line Of doubt that this region pos
sesses the greatest ore bodies both in depth
and extent ever known to exist. This much
has been satisfactorily shown. 1t now only
remains for capital to fully develop the re-
sources which are awaiting. Tho work
done thus far despite the serious embar-
raasment Of lack of railway facil-
tiles il remarkable. and yet the
camp has hardly reached the
stage of infancy. The most conservative
experts after most careful and thorough ex-
aminations. unite in saying that the Castle
country is the most remarkable ore region
yet discovered, that it ia certain to produce
more great mines than any territory of SIM
liar size in the country. Indeed. there is
no section of mining country of similar
extent. The ore belt 10 twelve miles long
end from five to ten miles in width. From
the camp of Castle which is at the south
east corner of the mountains, it runs over
hills and through valleys on to Robinsons
and Smiths. two promising camps and be-
yond these several miles. The prospects
uncovered in this region show the same re-
markable bodies of carbonate and which
increases in extent and richness az the
lower depths are reached. At this early day
the hills are we'll lined with shaft houses for
several miles. What the future will bring
forth is beyond estimate. The two great
necessities are capital and railroad facili-
ties and these are now assured. The rail-
road will be there before winter and outside
capital is already coming in. The work
thus far has been done by prospectors and
local capital which has come mostly from
White Sulphur Springs.
The ore in a general way is q soft carbon
ate with galena. It lies between walls of
porphory and almost pure limestone. The
veins run northeast and southwest and vary
in width from q few feet Just below the
grass roots in many places to the greatest
" VI bON0usy"eWo AVUO AVoOAOA In sA0
Cumberland. The ores will assay on the
average from twenty-fiv to fifty ounces in
in silver and from 40 to 65 per cent. in
lead. In some place the assays run much
higher. In tins lower levels of the
Cumberland recent developments have
shown walls lined with fakes of native
silver. The ores are of the best possible
character for smelling purposes. For flux-
ing alone with refractory ores they will
command seven or eight dollars a ton more
than n other ores produced. The lime is
particularly desirable and is of the finest
possible character for smelling purposes.
In a brief way this describes the general
character of the formation, though ii is
impossible to give an adequate idea of the
extent. Those who are most falnil lar with
the country find from day to day
that the underground wealth is
beyond even a general estimate. Develop
ment alone for which there is an apparently
unlimited field will alone tell the story of
tie future.
There is 4 romantic touch to the discov-
cry of this region. Previous to 1884 the
country was wholly unknown as a mining
region. The hardy prospsctor had not yet
struck the ground that was to yield its
riches. The father of the camp and the
man who first made known its hidden
wealth is +. L.. Hensley, who is one of tho
well known Hensley brothers. The first
location had been made before his arrival
by Mr.. H. H. Barnes, who had been over
the country q year or SO before. Mr.. Barnes
located the Blue Bell. near Robinson, and
the Princess. while George Robinson, in
1886, found the Eclipse. Mr.. F. L.. Hensley,
however, first brought to light the
existence of the great carbonate
bodies. It may be said that to his untiring
energy and indefatigable efforts in a large
measure is due the present prosperous con-
dition of the camp. Eight years ago MIR.
Hcnsley while or a bunting tou IN the
Musselshsll country found a piece of the
carbonate ore now tound in such quantities
in Castle mountain. The discovery of this
t%alismanic piece was purely accidental but
to NJ. Hensley it told the story of untold
With this as his guide he started out in
search for its original home. 1t had been
washed down the stream and must have
been dlslodged from some body of greater
extent. For two years he pros
CeAb W BIO river WltuOut T0WHrO uuCll
his search brought him to Castle
There \ few strokes of the pick
uncovered the first find of the great carbon
ate field and the return for his hard search
was in sight. He staked out the property
which has since developed into the great
Yellowstone mine. His brothers, j. A., I.
N. and j. L. Hensley, followed and nave
since lived together in the camp and ba-
come part of its history. All are interested
i'll many claims and are now on the high
way to fortune. When the news of the dis
became known, other prospectors
for this field. White Sulphur
capital became interested and pur-
chased the Cumberland property from the
Hensleys and the work of location and
en- went ahead. Besides the
Cumberland and Yellowstone. the leading
properties are the Jumbo, the Great
Eastern, The Hidden Treasure. The Iron
Chief, tho California. Farther away
Smiths camp are the Black Hawk,
Legal Tender, Alice, Judge, Felix Crescent.
all, though there are all Indications that
other properties viii prove rs valuable
fully developed. The Cumberland
originally staked out by the Hensley
brothers, but they afterwards sold it, and
the mine is now operated by a comusny.
The capital is mostly located in White
Sulphur Springs. The general manager in
Len Lewis, ono of the best known oiti-
gems Of the county and a thoroughly capable
man. The company owns the Cumberland,
Jackson, Lead Lode and Monu-
ment claims, all OF which adjoin. Th two
are located above the town and are
aeveral hundred feet apart. From the 800
foot level in the upper shaft \ tunnel has