The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-09
THE BLUE BIRD RESUMES.
II Means Work for Five Hundred
Men at Burlington and
Rocker.
Lower Levels Are Full of Immense
Rich Ore Bodies Still
Untouched.
John =. Lloyd begins Suit Against Couch
of the Boston and Montana for
Fee Money.

BUTTE, March 7.-lSpecial. The closing
of the great case, j. A.. Murray vs.. the Blue
Bird, has been the chief topic of converse
ton among the mining men of the camp.
It was effected by the Blue Bird company
paving Mr.. Murray 100000 for his interest,
not only iii the Little Darling, whore the
contest arose, but in the Darling, Minta
and a number of adjoining claims OF less
value. The full particulars of the sale were
given at the time in these columns, but per-
haps the great deal will be better under
stood from the following talk had with
MI. Murray by your correspondent this aft
ernoon:
.Well, this matter is q very simple one.
The Little Darling and Lena h. claims lie
south Of and nearly parallel to the Blue
Bird vein. which dips to the south under
them and rather fat. Some years ago con-
siderable ore was taken from ayeln crop
ping on the Little Darling and having u
dip considerable deeper than that OF the
Blue Bird vein, but at about 100 feet down
the vein got smaller n work was suspend
ed for a time.
I'm the summer of 1899 the Blue Bird
on its 400 level, ran a long cross
cut south through granite (Which is now
seen to be the Blue Bird foot wall), ana
struck a large ore body under my surface
ground, and below the point where my
work had been suspended. This ore body
was not then connected with the other Blue
Bird workings by openings along the vein;
At that time any reasonable man Woui0
have considered hat ore body as belonging
to the Little Darling. vein and not to the
Blue Bird. I SO considered 1T, and at once
proceeded to assert and defend my rights
to it; as l propose always to do in regard to
any and all property that | may believe to
belong to me.
"since the litigation began the Blue Bird
on one hand, and | on the other,
have made Developments which clearly
show continuous connection from the dls-
puted ore-body up to apex IN the Little
spur or branch of the other, or whatever has
happened there, / leave for biologists to ex-
plain. But, as / now see that the Blue Bird
company has made clear proof OF having a
continuous vein under my ground; as their
location is older than mine; and as was
under heavy bonds for damages; l consld-
cred it business-like and the fair thing, to
try to end the dispute without further loss
to either party. l went u to the Blue
Bird mine tor that purpose and met with
fair treatment, and as the Blue Bird vein
carries about all the value possessed by the
Little Darling and Lena K, of course | was
willing to turn my interest in those claims
over to the Blue Bird company in the settle
ment.
I'm buying from me the Darling, Nauta-
lus and a number of other claims, the
Blue Bird company has secured at a reason
able price Gnme very valuable ground. which
it is in good position to develop, and in
which l wish it every success"
Tn importance of this resumption to
this camp and especially to the towns OF
Burlington and Rocker, both of which are
.~A H. 1annpIorf un0n the Unrk1nr nj
this mine, can hardly be overestlnated. II
means steady work for 500 men and a most
decided addition to the silver output of the
camp.
The min resumed wotk yesterday, the
irst thing to be done being to pump the
water out of the lower levels. When the
last decision was made against the company
the pumps we're raised and the water was
allowed to flood the mine. 1t was about
ten feet in depth on the 600 when the pumps
were put back. but SO small a quantity OF
water will require but q comparatively short
time of constant running on the part of the
pumps. The mine is one of the best tim
bered in the camp, the nature of the ground
requiring especial precautions to be taken
against a cave. This important work has
been lone so we'll that no accident of this
kind mars it's history. Above the 300 the
lead has been pretty we'll worked out,
though a large quantity of fine milling il
left to be used IN putting the base on from
below through the mill. In the lower level
are still immense bodies of rich ore virtually
untouched. In some parts the vein aver.
ages five posts in width and all good rock
It is without doubt one of the most valua
BILE silver mines in the country. and the new
claims just added to the property will in.
crease that value largely.
The Harris & Lloyd has been the cause Of
lot vexatious litigation only second in in.
terest to the Bit Bird. About a yea
since this valuable property was sold b.
John E. Lloyd to the Boston q Montan,
company for 500, 900. When the purohas,
money was yet in the bank, Carter u Owen
mining brokers, attached $4,000 of it
which they claimed AZ commission for as
sisting IN making the sale. This was tn
commencmen of u tedious suit, which wa
ended last Tuesday in a compromise, vir
tually a defeat for the brokers. AS soon a
this compromise was effected Mr.. Lloy'
commenced suit against Thomas Couc
superintendent of the Boston u Montana
Lloyd claims that when the sale was in pro
gress Couch promised him $4,000 as a fe
if he succeeded in bringing it to a success
full issue. This money was to be given as
fee and not as a part of the purchas
money. Of it he claims to have receive
only $4,000 and he now wants the remain
ing $4,000. This last suit WAS only con
menced yesterday and it promises some e.
ceedingly interesting developments.
A GOOD MINING DISTRICT.