The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-14
LIBBY MINING DISTRICT.
A Promising Section of Missoula County
and Its Mines.

A Promising Section of Missoula County
and Its Mines.
The Libby Miner, published at Libby. in
Missoula county, on the line of the Great
Northern extension, ID the last issue gives
quite a lengthy description of the mines in
that section. 1t says that on what Ia termed
She Big Bend of the kootenai river, be-
tween latitude 49 and 49, longitude Green
wich) lis and 1l6 80 100 west, lies a mining
district that until recently WIS "a little
known as some portions of Alaska. Hav-
ing made its debut rs a mining country
fist in the carly COS, by plscers located and
worked on nearly every portion of its area,
it naturally subsidized owing to the floating
disposition of its disooyersrs and the then
unknown existence and virtue of ar
gentiferous quartz. and the lack of trans
portation. into q state of lethargy, is quiet
only disturbed by the regular yearly visits
of some few prospectors who came to sluice
out it's still remaining dust" Time,
energy and persistence on the part of those
who had faith in is, constant discoveries of
large ore bodiea and the advent of the
Great Northern railway, produced results
that marked il as the EldorRdo of the
northwest, the equal if not the peer of any
in existence.
The placers are still an important factor
and their generous output tends yearly to
make Montana hold her present position as
a mineral producer. The principal placers
ere located on the upper or southern por-
ton of Libby creek and its tributaries,
and are of a character that causes
active development TO be pursued dur
ing the entire year, the guper-abundance
of water admitting of this. The product ia
exceptionally fine, the local trading price
being $1S PEI ounce and assay returns
netting Sl9.46 Gu. 5. mint). 1t is coarse in
character with q bed rock Of slate and
shols.
The quartz lodes are the main features in
this district. Beginning at a point about
f~orty-hve miles south of Libby on tho east
side of ths Cabinet range, at or near the
headwateIs of the varions forks of Fisher
creek, are the Fl ut eIlstlnR openings made
on the great abiue contact. Here ara
located the lip Top and Lake lodes. the
Black Tail and the Sure Thing, owned by
j. Simpson. These are all high grade gold
and silver properties. The present show
ings have free gold in abundance. The
next IN line, i've miles north, is Falls Creek,
by some termed the head of Libby creek.
Here are situated the kingfEher, Great
Northern, Splinter and Japan, the Great
West, South West, Silver Rule, Mountain
King and cannon Ball, tho Diamond join
and Sampson and the hex, all high grade
ores carrying gold in generous quantities,
the first two groups being tho late gold
$1,000 %HA'OS iNA' W "a 40 itAill5ST u ttht
having numerous claims ON the game vein,
and the character of the ore the same AZ
the Falls creek property. Three miles
north is Poorman creek, which represents
at all times a spirit of activity. Here
development Is pushed with energy anC
the showing ia consequently good
The next in order. three miles north, il
Gable creek. Then, one mile north, il
Bear creek. having for it's promoters the
East Kootenai Mining company, own
ing and controlling a number of claims
among which is the well known Carlbo,
lode. Three miles north is found Bi,
Cherry creek, almost entirely owned tnC
controlled by al active Spokane compan
Their holdings are numerous aud good
Doc Howard owns the connecting land be,
tween their group and tue celebrated Snow
Shoe, and has q showing second to none
One and ons-hslf miles north ia the snoy
Shoe creek, having within its boundarie
the group consisting OF the Snow Shoe
Rustler and Poroupine. having develop
ment of sufficient amount to have pro
duoed 200 tons of ore on the dump anC
opening and stripping a continuous chut,
OF ore for 1900 feet OF gool
quality. Here also is found tn