The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-23
THE MINES OF MONTANA.
A Mining District q Few Miles South
Of Helena that's Coming to
tho Front
Newsy Notes OF Operations
Around Rimini and Red
Mountain.
Reports from Other sections Of Jefferson
C~ounty-The Hoston u Montana
COmpany's Big Enterprise.

Compsny's Big Enterprise.
Old miners and prospectors often ask the
question, "Why is IL that Helena capitalists
prefer developing the resources OF other
sections, to the neglect Of those Mt home,
and which would greatly add to the pros
perity Of the town." This a hard question
to answer. and TO q large extent it presents
the exact situation. OF the many extensive
mining regions near this city none haye
brighter prospects than Rimini, about
eighteen miles from Helena. For years the
hardy %prospector han been toiiing away To
develop the extensive leads. 1t Is fully
demonstrating that Red mountain is going
to be . relible ore producer. No section
Of the country offers better Inducements to
capital for opening up the mines there.
Work is steadily going on though Mt a slow
pace, and each seasorl adds to the import
ance Of Kimini as a mining district. Tho
past season has Witnessed more activity
than ever before and since last
August tho weekly shipments OF
ore have averaged 800 tons.
The following interesting notes Of the
present operations and future outlook for
kimini and surrounding country are from
the Helena Mining review: .
The ore is generally high in sulphate OF
lead and iron, making 1T costly to reduce,
but at the same time the first class ore pays
well to ship. Ihare Is a large amount Of It
that will not pay to ship, but which will
pay we'll to concentrate, and several com
panies are making arranRementg to put in
Concentrations in the spring. There is q
small c~onccntrator just above Kim1nl, but
it never worked we'll, having been poorly
constructed. It WAS only worked on ore
from the Lee Mountain mine. but it showed
that with a good concentration the oretcould
be worked at q profit.
The Peerless Jennie ia regarded az the
first mine in the district. For some reason
ii has not been working for nearly two
years. Rumor has 1t that this mine will be
started again in the spring, greatly adding
to the output Of the district.
The Josephine ID also regarded as a good
mine. The ore is OF high grade, and there
is plenty Of it. Another shaft is being sunk
upon the property, on which q whim is now
being put up. There is q hoist on the pres
ent working shaft.
The Buckeye is a constant shipper. With
a small force OF men and a whim, the man
agement are delivering twelve tom of ore
daily to cars at Rimint, the firm OF Reed d
Aiken having the contract of hauling it at
$6 a ton. The Developments show that the
ore bodies in this mine are very large and q
hoist and concentrator will be put up mt
the mine as soon az they can be shipped in.
The property is under the management OF
Mr.. John w. Buskett.
The Lee Mountain mine, which is held by
the company owning the Toston shelter
under bond and lease, was unexpectedly
shut down last Friday for some reason not
DISCLOSED by the management. This is one
of the Oldest mines in the district and ID
developed by five tunnels, in all Of which
ore is found, worth all the way mp TO $40 n
ton. The average, however, will be about
$50 a ton. From the quantity of orc in
each level. and the ease with which it can
be taken out, this mine ought to be Il yalu-
able property. Below the water level it
promises to show up better. The lead is a
large one; the claim Ia over 1900 feet long,
and the ore stresks on both walls will aver
age about three feet in width. The longest
tunnel il in about 800 feet.
The Eureka, located pretty we'll up on
Red Mountain, LAS we found to our great
fatigue.) is a steady producer, about which
the superintendent and principal owner,
Mr.. Coyn, did not wish to talk. There Is a
shaft house as we'll as a good ore house on
the property. together with a blacksmith
shop, boarding house and Office, all in good
condition. Twenty-four men are employed
in the mine, and a team is constantly en-
gage. in hauling ore two miles to the rail-
road. Outsiders consider this one of the
coming mines of the district.
Col. G. A. Rroadwater. with other par
ties, own some forty or more claims on the
west side of Red mountain. Rumor mas it
that the colonel, b never does anything
by halves, will begin the construction of a
tunnel this spring large enough fo- railroad
purposes. to develop these claims. 1t is II
grand scheme and would no doubt pay large
dividends. for he has many valuable prop
critics among his claims.
M G-11sz I-1lx -,lsal. - 49,. 49,. a
Mr.. Marks, 10 shut down ON account of
water interfering with the work. There
was talk in the fall that this mine had been
sold and that tho ompany had also pur-
chased Mr.. Marks lease, but we could not
learn If this was true. One thing is Ger.
tain, the Sallie Belle will become a famous
producer some day.
The Crescent has been shipping ore and
is now employing eight or ten men in de-
velopment work. Those employed in it as-
sure us that 1t is giving every promise of
being a good producer.
The Queen City Mining company is work
ing three shifts IN the Grand Central tun-
mel, with which they expect to c~rosscut
some leads belonging to the company. The
tunnel is in some 800 feet, but will have to
be driven several hundred feet farther to
strike the first lead. From the surface in
dications, and the direction the tunnel is
running, it is sure to open up some yalua-
bic leads. Thu tnnnel is large enough for a
double track.
j. j. Hennessey has taken q lease ON the
Ada. an extension of the Crescent, a;d is
now working that property.
The Frohner has been leased by Messrs.
George IL. Kemp, August Fniler, Charles
Darling and Joe Fleming. They will soon
have a lot of ore ready for shipment.
The Ontario shipped a good deal of ore
this fall, and il developing into a good
mine.
The miners working in the Little Alma
have struck, in the lower tunnel, the rich
chute of ore which Was encountered in the
upper tunnel. While its size and extent
has not been determined. it promises to add
great value to the mine.
In the spring there is every reason TO be-
1ieye that kimini will be the center of n
good camp and that the shipments of ore
will be greatly increased. At least $50 men
are now being employed in the yarious
mines of the district, and there will be such
development this winter in the mines now
shipping ore as to greatly increase the pat
put, to say nothing of those which have
heretofore shipped little or none. Persons
who are looking for investments in mining
properties. will make Il mistake il they
neglect this district.
Jefferson County Mines.
The G. & ID. mine, at Eikborn, has been
making repairs and improvements mt the
mine recently. SO that no ore has been ship