The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-27
RICH IN THE MINERALS,
Jeifsrson's High Position Among
the Mining Counties Of tho
State.
How tho East Burnley Ia Proving
to It's Owners 1t Is a Great
Mine. NJ
Reported Tind OF Rock Salt A Find In
the Manafiela-In the Divide Crock
Country.

No county in Montana is to-day making
a better showing, or has a brighter outlook
In tho matter al becoming a phenomenal
mineral producing section than Jefferson.
II a record could be obtained Of the ore
produced by Jefferson county mines this
season, if it did not equal, il would not be
far behind that of Silver Bow. The rail-
roads in the last few years havar realized the
wealth of tho county, havo built a number
Of branches and spurs to facilitate handling
ore, and the result has been to stimulate
the mina owners and prosrsctors and at the
same time furnish the railroads q rich traf-
fo. There 10 scarcely a district in tho
county ba. has one big property, and in
Some of the districts every property which
has been developed has proved a paying
proposition. Take 1t all around, consider
the amount Of ground covered and the out
put and the comparatively small amount of
capital that has been invested and Jefferson
really is at the head Of tho mining counties
Of Montana.
Among the properties just ncw attracting
considerable attention is the East Rumley,
owned by Hotter Bros. 1t has been in their
possession about eighteen years, but owing
to tho adverse reports of experts not much
development Was done upon it. 1t has been
Leased several times, and the lessees have
money out of il, butssnevertheless the
owners did not realize its true worth. Some
time ago A. p. Loberg undertook to de-
vslop the property for the owners, and he
not been at work very long long
before when he discovered al immense
body of ore. The shaft is now down 200
feet and it will be continued another hun
feet. Forty-tive men are employed
and regular shipment of ore made to the
East Helena smeltor. 1t was thought that
his =nonth thirty-six cars would be shipped,
but work was retarded a little by a slight
save, Nevertheless it will average a car q
day. Only the best ore is sent and there
are now at least $500 tons of concentrating
ore ON the dump. The best of it is that
there il lots of ore in sight.
Among the recent finds in Jefferson is a
salt mine. When Secretary Preuitt, of the
of stock commissioners, was in
the other day, he met Ed. Ryan, an
old timer, who was IL town for the purpose
salt claim. Mr.. Ryan told Mr.. Preuitt
there was an immense body of the stuff and
gave him a specimen which the latter
brought to Helena with him. If the find
prove to be all Mr.. Ryan predicts, it
will not only be of incalculable benefit to
but to the state as we'll. Thous-
of dollars are sent out of Montana
every year for rock salt and other thous-
ands 60 to the railroads for bringing it in.
From the Boulder Age the following
about some Jefferson county mines
are taken: A. P. Smith has taken a lease
and bond IN tho Wilbur mine, Amazon dis
triet. owned BY Mr.. George Spencer, the
bond being for 100000. A week OF two has
been devoted to putting the property in
good working shape, and drifting is now
on and ore is being taken out. There
iss = fine showing in the property. and some
very fine ere has already been taken out of
The mine. ~.
A contract has been given to Messrs.
Egan and Sanders to sink the shaft of
ths Hiawatha mine. Basin district, 200 feet,
it down to the 500-foot level. Work
mas already begun on the contract, and the
stookholdsrs and managers of the company
are anticipating rich developments as
depth il reached.
Charles Smith has two men at work on
tho Sitting Bull lode, about one mile east
If Basin. A tunnel is being run into the
enA and lead. The lode is situated in ono
# the most picturesque eullies leading to
he Boulder river.
Prospects in tho Ida mine, Willow
district, are constantly improving,
md the work of development is steadily
pushed forward to show the possibilities of
he property.
TIL Stella mine, Amazon district, is ship
ling two carloads Of ore q day to the East
Helena smelter.