The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-06-19
THE BENTON GROUP.
Hon. T. f. Collins Interviewed-A Great
Camp, Its Rich Mines and Wonder
full Prospects.

Hon. T. f. Collins Intervtewcd-A Great
Camp, It's Rich Mines and Wonder
full Prospects.
Learning that the president of the
First National bank had just returned
from trip to Neihart, TRIBUNE repre-
sentative dropped ia the bank yesterday
to interview him. Mr.. Collins discussed
the prospects Of the great camp in his
usual business like way.
81 understand you are just from Nei-
hart, Mr.. Collins" said the scribe "How
is the camp?"
swell, yes" was the answer, II have
been to Neihart and think gave the
camp thorough examination. Its pros
poets are excellent. In every portion
people are working their claims and the
deeper they go the better seems to be
the showing
II suppose there are any number of
fine mines?"
There are at least dozen that will
prove equal to any in the state. Through
out the showing is an exceptionally fine
one"
"Doubtless you can, by some individ-
ual example, give the TRlBUNE's readers
an idea of the development work."
swell, take the old Benton group
You know this is now called the Mon
tana Gold, Silver, Platinum and Tellu-
rum Mining company. This group OF
mines is at the head Of Snow creek and
was. as all miners know, the first loca
ton in this section. 1t may therefore be
properly termed the key to the situation.
1t is an excellently located group and
consists of seven claims. all assaying
rich in gold and silver"
what development work has been
done? Quite extensive, is it?"
| "Yes, it is quite extensive. 1t is nat
ural tunnel site. A tunnel is now in
about 500 feet, extending 400 feet below
the surface. This it is proposed to run
1000 feet further, making it 1,5O0 feet
below the surface. One hundred feet
from the mouth of the tunnel one of the
richest veins of ore in the state was
crossed. The rich streak runs from four
to twenty-four inches in width and shows
high grade ore all the way. Along this
vein levels have been run over 400 feet
and no break has been discovered. Also
winze has been sunk sixty feet and
from this level run over 200 feet and
the vein everywhere retains its uniform
character. That, guess, is about the
amount of development done. You can
see it is considerable" From assays and
working tests the ore will average s4OC
to the ton in gold and silver About one
third is gold. A conservative estimate
will place the amount of ore in sight al
1,50O tons, worth about 100000 The
ore is easily mined, the only timber re
uuired being of an inexpensive charac
ter. The work thus far has been dont
by twenty or thirty men, who have beer
working for year past Its entire ex
pense has been met by the small amour
of ore shipped, and there is even none.
in the treasury from the same source
,, And yet the work is all development
what are the prospects of th
mines?"
Good. One vein ] have already tol,
you of. Within 40 feet of the face of tn
tunnel the company expect to strik
another vein in about a month and IL
, 300 feet yet another is looked for. Judg
, ing from surface indication. both of thes
are even richer than the vein at presen
being developed"
y What is the character of the ore!"
1T contains gold. silver, platinum an,
q tellurium. The two latter, however, W
e have not as yet been able to do anything
S with. Both are valuable metals though
] and are found in paying quantities.
y what ore have you ready for ship
e ment:"
= There are two carloads of high grad
e ore in the ore house, on which the CON
n pany expect to realize $4,000 and from
0 l5O to 200 tons of other ore which wi
probably bring s2OOOO."
J. Then the Benton group is a goo
n one?"
o within year, it will prove a worlt
: beater."
o What can you say for Neihart?"
T. 'Neihart is thriving, | would not ;
e surprised if in a yea1 it had 1900 pcopl
and tributary population of twice thu
number. 1t will be without rival say
Butte. Building is going on at a ma
d velous rate, even for booming mlnin
h town, and real estate well, OF cours
:, the real estate is all right
"What will all this do for Great Falls:
: "Wonders. The Neihart smelling wi
5, be done here and we will furnish ht
s with all her general supplies"
J. "How are the other mines?'
"All tiourishing. The Cornucopia
+ doing well. On development it wi
e probably prove to be of the same cha
o acter of ore as the Benton group.
. "Anything more of Interest,""
IL IT balinvp not y"