The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-19
The Eight-Hour Question in the
Smoky City Comes up
Ones More.
a New Interest Awakened In
silver Mining by Revival
OF Legislation.
Winter Development Work ON Properties
il the Maiden District-Tho Camous
Spotted Horse.

BUTTE, Jan. l7.-l6pecial. some
time past a number Of the prominent min
ers in the camp have been discussing thu
eiQht-hour question among themselves
But little publicity was given the matter
though some time since q feeler was sent
out in the way of q circular letter intended
to ascertain how the mine bosses would
stand upon such . proposition. They nat
urally opposed it, and D far az the public
knew the whole question was dropped. II
now appears that the leaders determined to
tYy q change Of base and will erdeavor to
secure the passage Of a bill by the present
Legislature that would give the entire state
the relief asked. For hat purpose President
Eddy. Of the Butte Minors union, and
President GilAllen, Of the Granite union,
have been in Helena during the past week
working up their cause in the democratic
house. The movement 10 more serious than
was anticipated and will doubtless ont more
Of 4 figure a. time passes. A by Lo meana
uncomfortable number Of the more con-
~servative miners oppose the movement
Is q whole. They claim that they have
enough on their hands In keeping up the
price Of labor to $3.50 per day. and that
any present agitation may result disas-
trously to the miners without giving them
any adequate return. The outcome will be
awaited with much interest in this camp.
A new interest has been awakened IN sill
yer mining by the recent revival OF silver
legislation. Almost without exception the
silver mines and mills Of this district are
running day and night in full force and
their output is already showing the results
of this change. Not only are the old stand
ard mines beating their records, but leasefs
2-L~-:-- -x-n-nI ntfxveA nn6 vvNfvNAu
that have long been idle even under the ia
vorable legislation Of last year are now be.
ing prepared for immediate production.
Among the more important OF the silver
properties the Blue Bird 10 attracting the
most attention because OF the suit regard
ing It soon TO come mp for settlement in the
federal court. The mine ID under injunc-
ton and until that is removed nothing can
be done below the 300. Az a result they
have been working out the upper levels and
are now engaged in working over their old
dumps. In spites Of these drawbacks the
COmpany has continued to turn out its reg
uIar shipment Of bullion and nearly as
Among the mines that are beginning to
show up with unexpected richness under
the new regime Is the Clear Grit. This val
liable property had been under bonds and
lease, and had been declared worthless.
Recently the owner, H. G. Kessler. has ia
ken it in hand, n has expended q good
round sum of money in clearing it OF water.
He then sunk the main shaft an additional
100 feet, and drifted both ways on the lead.
In both he has found large deposits Of fine
rock assayinR way above a paying margin.
He has never lost faith in his property, and
is now rejoicing in the fruits OF that faith.
The Horse Canyon country has been
making a good showing Of late, and new
finds are reported from there almost con-
stantly. Among the latest and best of
these is the Exemption, which was first
opened some three years eRo. At that time
a tunnel was run into the mountains 300
feet in a vain attempt to ind the lead, and
the project was given up. Recently some
Eutte capitalists have taken it up, and
their expert has discovered IS feet Of lead
matter only 1900 feet from the mouth of the
tunnel, evidently regarded ss worthless by
the original wner The pay rock is found
in stringers at present, but it is very rich,
and tho present owners expect to find a bo-
nanza when they reach water.