The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-16
A Montana Miner Tells Of Some of
the Drawbacks in That
Country.
Great Snowslides, the Like OF
Which Are Not Known on
This Side.
But the Ore ID Rich and There VIII Bs =
Great Boom There This YsAr-Gold
and Silver Production.

= AAOukoUs - uWACt "a -
and Rustler mines In the Libby district.
Missoula county. who has recently been In
the SLOGAN country, talking OF the latter
section said:
II have no fault to ind With the SLOGAN
country. but I am we'll satisied whore am
located. and think I shall rsmsin there.
There will be . stampede there this spring
from oil the mining camps of tho north
west. Some fortunes will be made. but the
history OF oil other high grade mining
camps will repeat itself In some particulars.
and q great many unfortunate ones will
probably come out broke next fall. They
can't all strike II rich. don't think Kaslo
will DO a assond Lsadville. but the excite
mont and the boom will approach
that Of the great Colorado oraxe and
Kaslo will probably this year reach the pro-
portions Of Dsadwood. Tit roads up in
that country are In fair condition. The
sleigh road from Bonner's Ferry 10 Cham
bsr's City, at tho head of the lake. 10 re-
markably fine. l say remarkably. because l
preston. All along the routs the grade 10
easy, and there 10 just enough Of snow to
allow the stages on nner to spin along
with rapidly and ease. and those portions
of the road which lie over the ice of The
frozen lakes afford q delightful drive.
Travellers may 10Y 20 in with perfect
safety, making the "trip from Bonnsr's
Ferry to Chambers in ten hours. There 10
a good stopping place at Chambers"
Referring to the work on the mines Mr..
Lougee said: Taking into consideration
the fact that the SLOGAN country Is practi-
>ulI- T., IA {nSnnnv thu dovo1nnpnAnk IN nrN.
crossing perhaps a. satisfactorily az that Of
any other camp in the country. still, the
miners are working this winter at a great
disadvantage on account OF lack OF protec-
ton against slides. Flaherty and Switzer.
the victims Of tho recent Freddie Lee slide.
200 feet Of snow. That IL the greatest
drawback to the country. and I almost
shndder in contemplation of the danger
that awaits the people at some of the mines
in the spring whom this thaw comes on. It
may not be generally known. but ~ is .
perpetual glaciers in the high mountains
of SLOGAN. There ia no we'll defined range,
but the country is peculiarly rugged. the
altitude Of the hills ranging from
5000 to 5000 .on feet. ., Far =. s00, ,.no tn;
glaciers and cliffs Of Ice and snow arc even
now honeyoombed and apparently almost
ready 10 crumbls and fall, 90 many OF them
surely will in the spring. In one instance
this winter an avalanche occurred. starting
at . height Of over 5000 feet and crashing
down the mountain side at q pitch of forty
five degrees. Incredible a. IL may seem
that huge mass Of snow and iue. rocks.
trees and dirt plunged into the bottom Of
the canyon with sueh momentum as 70
force its wal up the walls OF q similar
mountain on the opposite side q distance Of
300 feet. whore it may be seen to-day, from
fifty to 200 feet in depth. AZ to the mea-
sure of protection against these slides, that
ia going to be a difficult problem in soms
parts OF the SLOGAN country. 1t can not be
lone by cribbina from the top, because II
would cost more to Get timber up there for
that purpose than the average mine il
worth. II is even expensive to pack in
enough for timberinR mines located
above tho timber line. The only way
l know of to protect the minors is by means
OF tunnels in the sides of the mountains.
That is expensive, too. but a good many
will adopt that plan.
''Don't let it be understood that I havs
any fault to find with the country, for the
grade Of tho ore 10 wonderfully high mt
the ore bodies simply enormous. l speak
of the disadvantages solely because they
exist and must be overcome bs some means,
for the people are determined to uncover
that mineral, whatever may be the cost. /
would only caution the miners to look out
and guard against slides before the break
ing up of winter. Otherwise there will be
terrible tales to tell of appalling calamities.
Tn output at this season. and considering
the present stage Of DEVELOPMENT, 10 sur.
prisinRly large. There must be At least 500
tons now stacked up In stacks at Huehes'
warehouse In kaslo awaiting shipment"
Talking of tho outlook for the Libby
mines. Mr.. LouRee said:
Our oamp il not booming. We have
never had q boom and don't want any. We
are ploddino RIGHT ALONG in the even kAnor
of our way. taking out ore all the year
round, and most Of us are satisfied with tho
results. The properties are located all the
way from five to thirty-ive miles from
Libby, n q good wagon road has been
constructed from the CITY to the head of
Libby, creek, 80 that the o.e is easily
brought out"