The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-27
A 3 A OUTPUT.

Tho Figures Given by w. d. Wheeler, In
Charge Of the Assay Office.
w. Q. Wheeler. in charge OF the United
States assay office in Helena, in his report
to the director Of the mint for the year 1881,
has the following on tho mineral output of
Montana for that year: The product Of the
precious metals in the state OF Montana Tor
the calendar year 1891 was approximately:
GoldI $2.89l, 1856; silver, {, 349,O66 fine
ounces, coming value of $21, 1873, 1856; total
value, ga, 029, 572. These figures show a
slight decrease IN the gold product as COM
pared with 1880, and an increase of about
100000 ounces Of silver. Owing to an
abundance Of water in most Of the placer
districts there was a substantial increase Of
the placer output in the counties Of Deer
Lodge, Jefferson, Lewis and Clarke.
Meagher and Missoula. The opposite il
true of the gold quartz properties, and to
such an extent as TO show a decrease
Of over $4,000 in the total gold pro
duct OF the state, due principally
to the decreased output Of gold
properties in Lewis and Clarke and Fergus
counties. Although several new properties
report gold products for the year, the
increased placer product. to countsrbalance
the decrease in several large gold proper
ties, one Of which produced no gold the
last year and smother only 4 small amount,
The falling off Of $500 ounces in the out
put of the Jay Gould mine, of nearly a.
6,7OO ounces in the Montana company, vas
not counterbalanced by other gains, Ths
most notable gains were over 5000 ounces
from the Empire mine. in Lewis and Clarke
county. and from the Lexington and Colo
rndo Smelling and Refining company. OF
Matte. tbs gold output Of which increased
1900 and 1900 ounces, respectively. The
falling of, however, in shs gold output Of
many of the large producers Of Silver Row
county was almost equal to the aggregate
OF the last two amounts i 4 there
the gold product IL due to the
shortage of the Jay Gould mine in Lewis
and Clarke county, less the gain il the pla-
Ger product, the gains ana losses in other
counties being nearly equsl. There was an
increase IN the silver product of over Co.,
GOO ounces, due to increased products in 4
number OF counties, but principally Silver
Bow. although the mines Of Aeagher (Cas-
tie district) and Iissonla counter contrib
uted toward this result. The Anaconda,
which was shut down for a considerable
portion or tho year, shows a diminished
product, while another large silver property
in Dser Lodge county reports its product
as over q million ounces nss than in 1880.
1t is impossible to make 4 satisfactory com
parison of the increase and decrease of the |
gold and silver product In Montana BY
SouAsaob AYE Aoc1 6uu lCOU, OWING B0 Cl0 ma
ture Of returns from smeltsrs and refners
for 1880. which prevented . large part of the
? oduct handled by them being credited to
She proper counties.
Especial mention should be made of the
Castle mining district. in Meagher county, |
TO which attention was called last wear.
Although still without railroad connection
1T has materially increased the silver out
put. and the amount of lead produced bv
one company alone was 5000, 600 pounds.
1t seems more than probable therefove.
from the increased output over 1850, which
was estimated at 70, 600 ounces Of silver and
100000 pounds Of lead. that the district will
become q large silver producer in the near
future. The total value OF the product OF
gold, silver. copper and lead was $:39. 6;S5.-
9a5. Production of gold. silver, copper and
lead in Montana for 1891: Gold, I39, SO.
s42 fne ounces; value, g., 1871. 1886. so. Silver.
IL, BAD. .43 fine ounces; value, S2l, 13s.-
1s6. 81; Copper, liz. 7ea, 40 pounds; value.
Sl4. 81. H36. Lead, %, 253. 500 pounds; value.
*l.229,O27. Value of deposits at the ASSAY
office in Helena from Montana for 1891:
Gold. 56.2O6.045 standard ounces; value.
692. rs. Silver, 24.572.67 ounces;
value. $2l,6o3.o2. Total value, 1867. 205. %.