The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-19
STILL FORGING AHEAD.
Despite the Shut Down the CGur
d'Alene Country is Growing
and Prospecting.
The Contest Between the Bunker
Hill and Sullivan and the
Mammoth Settled.
The First Named Becomes the Owner OF
Lattcr-The Sweeney Tunne ON
the Last Chance.

the Last Chance.
WAnpNrn, Idaho, April 16.-lSpecial.l-
Notwithstanding the distressing times on
account of the general shutdown OF the
producing mines, people are IN a genlal
mood, The mine owners declare that they
will not resume work for several months.
hut all Indications point to extensive oper-
atoms before long. At no time IN the MS
tory of the Coeur d'Aleno has the future
looked brighter. In every direction active
preparations are going on Tor extensive
mining, Mills are being enlarged and put
in repair, and important developments ana
improvements being MAIDS at all the Erlh-
ojpal mines. In some instances important
deals are pending for the purchase OF large
interests to facilitate mining on a more ex-
tensiye plan. The latest event OF this klnd.
and one that has more significance to the
prosperity of this section than any thing
that has happened for a long time, Is the
recent settlement of all controversy be-
tween the Bunker Hill and Sullivan com
PAW and the owners of the Mammoth
mine. BY the terms Of agreement the
entire property passes into the control OF
the Bunker Hill and Sullivan company and
removes the one great obstacle to unre-
stricted operation of this great property.
Up to the present time this company has
done but little real mining. their affairs
having been hampered with a series OF law
suits. For only three months during the
last three years have the mines produced
ore. This company has been exceedingly
unfortunate; it has had one setback after
another ever since it began operations, and
the present termination Of its controversy
with the Mammoth illustrates the folly OF
mining litigation. At the time they began
operations the Mammoth was a rather IN
significant and obscure prospect, adjoining
the Sullivan mine, which was offered to
them for a small consideration, but which
has since been the means Of embroiling the
company into expensive litigation and tho
business interests and politics of the coun-
try into serious complications.
There is probably wrapped up in the his
tory of this case more petty jealousies and
personal ambitions and more OF the politics
OF Idaho than anything else in the state.
When litigation began W. Il. Claggett be-
came counse for the Bunker Hill u Sulli-
van company. At this time W.. b. Hepburn
was chairman Of the republican state CEN
trail committee. a great lawyer, and one of
the principal owners Of the Mammoth
mine. About this time Idaho became a
state, and Mr.. Claggstt became ambitious
to be its United States senator. MIR. Hey
burn was the popular man, but Mr.. Clag-
gett's connection with this great mining cor
poration, together with Mr.. Hepburn oppo-
sitions to it, give him great prestige over
Mr.. Hepburn. The struggle that ensned
was a fierce one, and at times it was diff
cult to tell what were the interests at stake.
Among other things THAI Mr.. Hepburn did
was to secure a restricting order from the
court enioining the Bunker Hill & Sullivan
company from taking ore out Of the
Mammoth, which virtually stopped all
mining operations, and as a consequence
prejudice became rampant against the
Mammoth people. The case came to trial
here in the district court in the midst of a
heated political campaign. During the
trial of the case the judge was nominated
for congress, and MIR. Claggett, the compa-
ny's attorney. recommended for senator
from North Idaho. A decision was rem
dered against the Mammoth COMPANY. Mr.
Hepburn took his case to the supreme
court and won it, mostly on exceptions to
the ruling OF the lower court. Tit recent
settlement is the sequel to it all.
The loss to the company has been enor-
nous. 1t is said that more than $1,000
was spent in litigation, besides the loss
of nearly three years. time. Tbs company
could have bought the property when the
suit was begun for $4,000, and it ia under
stood that the recent settlement was Oh a
basis of 100000. The particulars of the
deal have rot been made public, but your
correspondent has sufficient information to
say that there will be some new features IN
the company's affairs, probably q new man
ager. There will also be some new stock
holders and Mr.. Hepburn will be the com
~opvsc lopp1 o1viuar II will rrch,h1u bo
some time before the mine will resume
operations on account Of a lack of ade-
quate means of TRANSPORTING the ore from
the mine to the mill. A bucket tram
way was built, but il is SO break
able that it will have to be abandoned.
During the three months it was used it
caused a great deal of trouble and did con
siderable damage. At present some i'm.
provements are being made for temporary
use, but a railroad will have to be built.
The mill, too, is not equal to the capacity
of tho mine, and plans are made for en-
larging it. Every indication points to I'M
interrupted operations on an extensive
scale. Miners who are acquainted with
these mines say that they are capable Of
becoming the largest producers and divi-
dend payers in the states and that theil
development and facilities for operating
them are entirely inadequate to their yield.
ing capabilities. The recent settlement is
regarded with a great deal of satisfaction
by people here; 1t does much to insure lesl
interrupted operations and a consequent
prosperity to business generally. 1t has
also done much to remove the prejudice
against the owners of the Mammoth.
In many other directions important i'm.
p~rcvements are going on. The fact tina
shipments of ore have been stopped doe
not interfere with development work. Tn
principal work of this kind is the Sweene,
tunnel on the Last Chance mine. 1t is tn
greatest undertaking in the way of devel
opment work that has yet been attempte,
in the Cpur d'Alenes. The mine is stu
ated on tho same mountain as the Bunke
Hill, but Il short distance away, and con
slderably higher. Heretofore the propert
has been worked il a comparatively sna al
way by short tunnels and shafts, but tn
situation was not favorable for that pla
of mining, and the manager, M. Sweeney
more than a year ago started n mammot
tunnel to tap the vein 500 feet below th
present level. Its entire length will b
when complete about 5000 feet. It is sieh
feet high and twelve feet wide, and is no,
in 1000 feet and going ahead ut the rat
of 200 feet per month. Macbiu
drills are used and men wor
eight hour shifts. Tho result il watche
for with a great deal of interest, as it wi
in a great measure determine the produ.
tiveness of the bill and is of much sicnii
oance to other properties. The lmportan,
of the work can be better understood whe
it is known that during the recent trial
court IN which this mine was involved, ii