The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-09
MISS0ULA COUNTY MINES.
How the Miners Are Developing
Their Properties During the
Winter Months.
Work Progressing on the Curlew,
and Rich Strikes on Adjoin-
ing Properties.
10 operats the Gowric-In the San Martins
Distriot-Fioh Strike Reported In
tho Welcome Properties.

M1ssounA, Jan. Especial THE SHOWS
that have recently fallen have checked
surface prospecting for the winter, but
many Of those who succeeded in locat-
ing during the summer claims of sufficient
promise to Justify Development arc sinking
shafts and starting tunnels ON their finds.
This 10 going on to a greater extent than
has been done at any other period in the
history of the county and with decidedly
encouraging results. On Burnt Fork, .
has been placed on tho Claremont. and two
shifts of mon are sinking the shaft. Ibis
property is a silver and copper proposition.
the ore running we'll in both metals, and
the vein large. The Cnrlow ID running its
concentration and development work ls pro-
crossing on several of the adjoining prop
critics. It is reported that while doing the
development work on tbs Bitter Root and
Prince William Mccormick has struck in
the tunnel a fine streak of high grade ore
such as was found on the surface. From
present Indications the small vein first dis
covered is only q spur from the main ledge,
which is now for the first time
opened in the tunnel. The ore
is a black sulphide OF copper
assaying from 20 to 80 per cent. copper and
from, 100 to 200 ounces in silver. This prop
erty ia one Of q group OF mines belonging 20
Higgins aud Mccormick estates, Of which
the Pleasant View is one. They are located
on the west edge Of the Bitter Root valley,
six miles south of the Curlew. Before the
death of the late owners about 125 tons OF
ore, averaging 1876 ounces to the ton, were
shipped from the Pleasant View. At pres
emit the two estates are owned by a number
of heirs, many of whom are under ago. and
this fact has rendered it very difficult to do
anything with tho property, the trustees
not caring TO do more than the necessary
annual assessment work. AIR. Mccormick
has obtained a lease on the Bitter Root
Prince, and expects to ship high grade ore
within the next few months.
on, the Gowrie, at Camas Prairie, prepa-
rations for resuming work have been made
Tho contract for building q comfortable
boarding and bunk house for the men has
been let to Mr.. John Beaton. When this
is completed the work Of sinking the shaft
will be commenced. Some time since the
Gowrie Mining company was relncorporated
from II non-assessable company into a linn
tied asssssable. The new stock is assessabls
to the extent of two cents q share, after
- WulGA II beOOA ~ oSsAAA ~
assessable. An assessment of one cent .
share has been levied, and with the amount
SO obtained it is thought tho necessary de-
yelopment work can be done.
Forty-fve miles west of the city is the
mining camp Of San Martina. 1t ia located
on Nine-Mile creek on the site OF an old
placer camp. Recent discoveries of quartz
have attracted considerable attention to
this locality. The formation is e ~talcose
slate. Several large veins of rich gold
quartz have been discovered in this forma-
ton during the past year. Among them
the Golden Eagle and Golden Down, which
were last fall bonded to Messrs. Woods d
Larson for $4,000. -Four thousand dollars
of this amount has been paid and there
seems to be no doubt that the land will be
taken up.
At the Iron Mountain mine, the shaft
being sunk in the lower tunnel has reached
a depth of 100 feet below the tunnel level.
No stopping ia being done bat in the progress
of development work about a carload OF
hand sorted ore is shipped to the smelter
in addition to that worked in the conoep-
TRAITOR. The most of the ore now being
sent to tho c~oncentrator 10 from the second
class piles taken from the uppe works and
is largely carbonate ore which works down
concentrates assaying 45 per cent lead and
eighty-ive ounces silver.