The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-13
BRIGHT AT FLINT CREEK.
Low Price Of Silver Does Not Re-
tard the Work Of De-
velopment
The Wonderful Record of the
Great Silver Mine of
the World.
Many f'romising Properties Being Opened
Up Within q Few Miles Of
Philipsburg.

ia u loAA Vi ~ vi ASuH )"t WA
Sandy Brown 1.-TWO brothers) and Bel
franklin, with one pack animal, cut thei
way up the Flint creek canyon and campee
where Philipsburg now stands for a fev
days needed rest and to make the explora
tions customary in those days, say
the Mail. These pioneers were II
search OF placer gold, but failing
to find that in paying quantities OIL
Flint creek or any OF its tributaries. ant
finding some rich silver float, they con
cluded to stay with the country until thor
oughly explored. That same year the Hop
mine was discovered md located by thes
men, and the following year the Hop
Mining company came into existence
purchasing nearly all of what is nov
knowN as Hope hill, and they have takel
out over 1000. 600 ounces of fine silver. q
near as can be computed; bat never in tn
history OF the company have they been 81
successful AS they have been in the pas
year. The Hope tsn-stamp mill is an ole
fashioned. wet-ofushing concern, built Of
stone in 1867. and yet during the month OF
Dccember. 1892, it urn out about $l2O.
600. which amount was increased in Jan
nary. 1898. ead reports from the mine
would indicate that during the whole yea,
the monthly output will be SO large as to be
almost beyond belief and will probably
reach a sum nearly equal to the total out
put OF the mine up to January l. 1893.
The Granite was first located by James
Estell, Eli Holland and DR.. j. n. Merrell.
BY whom 1t was bonded to Charles Clark.
At frst this great mine had many ups and
- p-AkA n,a r,A
pluck of MIR. CLARK what the experts claimed
WAS a fair granite quarry was found to
bs the greatest silver mins in the world,
and it has yielded a total ontpnt Of $32,-
900, 600 and has paid over S12, 900, 900 in div
idends, and 1t is today probably this richest
mining corporation, all things considered,
and has moIe promising undevelopsd
ground than any other company, in the
state. The Granite company has 200
stanp s with which to crush the enormous
output of ore from their mines, and are
now engaged in running a tunnel from
Ramsey to their lower workings on Granite
mountain. This will cross-cut q number OF
veins at great depth and furnish new evil
dence that the Flint Creek district as a sill
yer producer has no equal.
The Bi-Metallic ID q continuation of the
Granite to the west and the development of
this mine into the great bonanza that 1t ia
can also be attributed to the masterly pluck
aud energy of Charles Clark. The BIZ
Metallic has a 100-stamp mill situated at
Clark one milo and a half from the mine
and one-fourth Of a mile from PhilipsburR.
the ore being carried from the min by a
tramway. The company's total product
during the few years 1t has been running is
about $40, 900, 900, paying in dividends the
sum of So, 140, 600 n the mine is but par
TALLY developed.
The Trout nine has produced 81 1876, 293
-, o;I-Ar nhA I0xrouA xunptyp ra d. thso ,ir y,
are 900 feet below the surface. but NO stop
ing has ever beon done below the 500-foot
level, on which level the ore bodies are on
an average of six fest in width and yield an
average assay of SIS per ton, silver.
The Puritan lies east OF the Trout Of the
same hill. and is rapidly coming to the
front ~ q great producer of silver. Less
than n year ago John McKechney came
here from Chicago and purchased the Puri-
tan mine and two or three adjoining claims.
A hoist was put in place as soon as possible
and the nine put in good working eondi-
tion, being provided with electric lights
and all modern Improvements. The Puri-
roots, and yet if 1t had not heen for the
nerve and enterprise Of Mr. NeKschrey it
would probably now be ciassed as a failure
instead Of the real bonanza which il IT,,
having between two levels with but short
drifts fully $50, 600 in sight. The SHAFT is
an T refine, and is on the vein all tho time.
and it is gradually widening with dopth,
and the ore now being shipped to the re-
duction works gives a net return after pay
ing all expenses, of $500 per ton or an ay-
srage. The property is now in good work
ing shape. and can and undoubtedly will be
worked, no matter what the price Of all
YER is, as the vein is wide. and tho first
GLASS ore is OF such extraordinary richness.
The CombinAtion-This mins was discov.
cred by finn Shcvely IN 1883, and has been
continuously worked by the Combination
Mining company since1 1888, with one or two
brief shut-downs. A twenty stamp mill
reduces the ore, and the company gives en-
ployment to about 400 men, and this with
the Other smaller owners, leasers and pros.
peoters incident to a mining camp makes
Combination a busy. prosperous little
town, with a population larger than some
counties. Tho Gem any have produced
since june !, 1888. 1894. 993, 10 fine ounces
OF silver, and the miao never looked SO we'll
as it doeB at present.
The prominent gold mines near Philips
burg are the Alps on Harvey creek, and the
Royal Gold at Medhurst. Both of these
properties are now undergoing viQilan:
explorations fer the purpose OF determining
what elags class of reGuction works will b.
necessary to handle the ore suceessrully.
Both have Immense ors deposits in sight
and both have small mills that pay yory
we'll. The Sunrise Mining company, .
P~hilipsbur2 corporation, owns f~ouftseE
claims south of Henderson gulch-an earl,
day placer camp-about twelve miles from
this city. 1t ID claimed that the Supris,
people own the ground and ledgas of gold,
bearing rock from which the famous Hen.
aetson placers were washed. but however
this may be. they have running through
their ground q gold-beafing quartz lodgl
of great width, bus as yet xnexplored. Ia,
work done by this company has beer
confined principally to the doyelepment O,
silver lodes On another part of their ground
The silver lodge is very similar in ever,
way to ths Combination, tho formation be.
ing the same and She assays show from
thlrty-hve TO seventy ounces silver anC
from 50 to 50 per son gold. The Sunrise il
one OF the coming properties.
There are many other very promisin,
proi critics unde course of development
within q few miles of Philipsburg. and not
withstanding the low price and uncsrtair
future OF silver there seems to he no let u
by owners of Good-lookinR prospects an,
partially developed mines.
All things conaideted, there never WAS
brighter outlook for tho Flint crock dis
trIct In a mining way than there ia AT p,es
ent. and for manv, many years to come tn
product OF her mines ~euld support a king
dom.
An Important Difference.