The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-24

Philipsbure IL the center Of one Of tho
greatest silver producing districts In Mon
tans or Of the entire codntry for that mat
ter. II already has the greatest silver mine
In the world, and the greatest number Of
quaYtz-mill stamps in operation Of any
camp in the state. The Granite Mountain
mine has added $10,000.OO0 in dividends TO
the Golfers Of it, fortunate owners and the
extent Of its ore reserves seems to DO I'M
limited. The Bi-Metallio In crowding the
Granite for honors, and the Elizabeth gives
promise OF q great future. .Notwithstand-
ing the great pr0ductiveness Of this Philips
burg mines, but little has been heard in the
past Of their operations. During the pres
ent season, however, the people OF the
thrifty burg seem to have awakened to the
importance Of their great and
have already eyinced . spirit o. enterprise
'perity OF the heretofore quiet, matter-of-
fact town. Two nov companies were re-
Gently formed for the development Of some
new properties and no effort was made to
induce outside capital to 20 into the enter
prise. That the people OF Philipsburg n
Granite have 10 eagerly subscribed to the
fund necessary to carry on no important
and expensive undertakings speak we'll for
the confidence placed by them in the merit
Of the work under way. Particular refer
ence Ia now made to the Il i-Metallic Ex-
tension and East Granite companies. Both
have been in existence only q short time,
yet 80 generously have the management Of
both companies been assisted in their work
that the results have far exceeded expecta-
tions and q great deal of work has been &C
con,plished in 3 very short space OF time.
They are both legitimate enterprises and
are being legitimately carried on: Both
hn UA rtur rnr00r0nf0 and thu hauk
assurance OF this 10 that the people at home
do not hesitate Il risk their surplus CAPT.
tai in determining what they are to expect.
The Bi-Metallic Extension company o
have the machinery in perfect running Or
der, and sinking was resumed on Tuesday
last.
The latest reports from the East Granite
are that on Wednesday the new machinery
was started in motion in the presence of
about 300 people, and sinking. which was
delayed on account of q flood OF water, has
been resumed. The Philipsburg Mail re-
ports that in the east drift OF the seventy
foot crosscut a four-foot body of ore was
encountered that assays 100 ounces in silver.
Operations on the East Granite have not
been going on sixty days yet, and wagers
are being made at the mine that before
that time q car load of ore will be ready for
shipment. At $50 feet a crosscut will be
be made and the result will be anxiousIy
awaited by the stockholders.
Reports have been current during the
past week that the Bi-Metallic COMPANY
struck it rich in the Blaine shaft. II SO,
the Mail says. the fact is being kept secret.
The ore is said to have been found 800 feet
in the shart. This company is sinking
shafts on the Zeus and Fanny Parnell
lodes. The james g. Blaine is the main
working shaft. That being put down on the
Parnell is a three-campartment shaft
and is now being equipped with very heavy
machinery, hat would indicate the COM
pany proposes using it as another working
shaft. The Bi.Metallic is producing a great
deal Of silver bullion nowadays and with
the addition of the proposed fifty stamps,
the amount will OF course increase.
But little can be ascertained that is
authentic, about the Elizabeth. II is said
that the south vein of the Blaine lode passes
and that the Bi-Metallic company have
drifted to their end line running against
the Elizabeth, where they have very rich
ore.
All tho above properties. which are being
worked with commendable vigor, and all
having the brightest of prospects have
given Philisburg a new spirit OF enterprise.
They have given the business men and peo-
pie generally of that vicinity a more per.
manent feeling. The heretofore prevailing
idea that they are in a temporary mining
camp is fast fading away. One of the best
evidences OF thlg - a spirit OF ACTIVITY tnae
has shown itself in real estate oven
and public enterprises that are being
formed. Mr.. Ike N. Smith, of Philipsbure,
was in the city yesterday, preparatory to
starting enst OH a GRIP OF importance to
his town. He is promoting a move
ment for the construction of a cable railway
from P~hilipsburg to Granite. The practical
bility of such an undertaking was deter
mined by surveys long ago. Nestled in a
nook on top of Granite mountain 1900
people are trying to live, with scarcely room
to turn around. 1t is proposed to build
this road for the benefit of the many miners
that they MAJ live down at Philipsburg and
be cheaply transported to the mines. to be
returned in the evening to comfortable
homes down in P%hilipsburg, which has a
beautiful townsite. 1t il a great enterprise
and one wat would be of untold advantage
to the town Of Philjpsburg as we'll as rem
de-inp life more endurable to the many
miners and their families VINO are now hud-
Died Up i'll Granite-at times n pestiIential
hole, as the many deaths there q year ago
testify. 1t ia hoped that Mr.. Smith will be
successful in interesting eastern capital in
this undertaking.. which would be a money
making enterprise, fully Re profitable MS
the cable railway now plying between Butte
City and Walkerviile. Phiiipsburg has a
very bright future and the coming year
ought to witness at least 10 per cent. increase
in population. II is one of the best feeders
to the Northern Pacific main line.