The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-14
MONTANA PLACER MINES.
Result of an Investigation BY a New
York Paper as to This Years
Output.
Acres Of Placers Which Compare
Favorably With Those of
California.
How the Anaconda Copper Mine Has In
creased Baltimore's Trade-Minesi In
the Butte District.

The Engineering and Mining Journal of
New York has been making careful inquiry
into the placer mining industry in Mon
tana. and az a result in the last issue of
that journal the leading article is devoted
to the subject. 1t bears out h the 1NDE-
PENDENT has reiterated a number of times
lately, and is as follows:
'sFrom nearly every part of the state
of Montana is received new of renewed &C.
tivity in placer mining. For the past two
or three years the rainfall in this region has
not been over-large, and the heavy SHOWS of
the last winter will prove a regular godsend
to all Interested in this branch of mining,
which, SO far. with few exceptions, has
been prosecuted in this state in rather q
primitive manne few efforts having been
made either to store water or to work many
Of the extensive gravel deposits which ex-
list, by some of the improved methods prac-
tised in California.
sWe have no definite statistics of the pro-
duction of placer gold in Montana, but
there is no doubt whatever that it has been
steadily decreasing during the past three
wears, the receipts reported at the various
branches of the mint lave been notably
less in 1890 than IN 1889, and considerably
smaller in the latter year than in the pre-
ceding.
"The reason for the falling off is partly
explained by the fact that the yield of gold
from the auriferous gravel is steadily dim
ishing, as is to be exected. Still, there is
not yet any lack of good placer ground in
Montana, and the principal reason for the
decline of the industry since 1887 has been
the insuficiency of water supply.
1.-THE mining industry Of Montana, like
that OF California and Colorado, received
its impetus from placer mining, and much
of the rapid growth of the state is due to
the richness of the placers first worked in
the vicinity of Bannack and Helena in 1863.
The state has proved so rich in other min
erals, however. that attention was diverted
from the placer diggings, and these were
never worked on the same extensive scale
rs those Of California.
There ia quite a tendency noticeable at
the present time, however, to develop these
properties more extensively and on a more
systematic scale, a comparatively largo
for work during the coming summer
Results equal to those obtained in
the past from the famous diggings in
Prickly Pear and Last Chance gulches,
in Lewis and Clarke county, or Alder Gulch,
in Madison. county, cannot, of course, be
OAPCSOON GU thS RASSSAs sAAASs "a VASAo Nv
thousands of acres of unworked placer
areas in the state which in point of richness
compare favorably with those of California
in former days, and which are we'll situated
with reference to water supply and Dump
ing ground for ~tailings. There is no doubt
that many of these enterprises will obtain
substantial yields. A point of great i'm
p~ortance in connection with placer mining
in Montana is the fact that there is little
danger to be apprehended from iIterfer-
ence with agricultural interests.
How the Anaconda Helps Baltimore.
With reference to the manner in which
the shipping ore and matte of the Anacon-
da company is handled. the Baltimore Sun
of a recent date says: The following data
will show the commercial Importance of
the mine to Baltimore. The Baltimore
Copper Smelling and Rolling company en-
ployed last year 472 men. paid for fuel
$1O2. DOL, Al, and for labor 1927 1892, a total
of $3.50, S59.6s, or over ST, 600 for each work
ing day in the year, This year the expen-
ditures will be largely increased, owing to
the establishment of an additional plant.
In addition to the large business at the
works, the company are export agents of
the entire product of the Anaconda mine,
the largest copper mine in the world. Last
year they shipped to Liverpool from Locust
Point 81 600 tons of copper matte, valued at
Sc, 0 .O00. This export business has grown
continuously during the past three years,
and it will continue to grow in the future,
1t was diverted from New York by this
company. Every pound of this freight
prior to 1888 vent to Europe out of New
York. This business more than anything
else has enabled a steamship line to bring
to the port of Baltimore a weekly line Of
steamers with as large a freight carrying
capacity as any ahoat. The entire product
of the Anaconda mines goes through the
company's hands. They use here all tina
is possible and export the remainder. The
business is only limited by facilities fol
handling this stuff, as they could have thu
entire product of the min to be worked
and sold in this country with proper facili-
ties. They are now receiving from TIT
Anaconda mine 5000 tons of copper ma
terial yearly. The New York and Phila
delphia boats are at the wharf almost daily
the Baltimore and Ohio barges as we'll Al
lighters in delivering coal and receiving
copper for shipment to Boston and othe
points. The copper is distributed in every
section of the country. Agents are at worl
from Montana to San Francisco, and tn
copper is known the country over as th
"Baltimore'' brand, and is recognized al
the standard brand of casting copper in tn
market.