Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-08-17
a VISIT TO GILT EDGE.
The Mines Yielding Up Their Treasures of
Gold Which the Mill is Saving.

The writer, accompanied by W. T. Me-
Farland, paid a visit to the Gilt Edge last
Sunday. Those who have not visited the
plant have but little idea of its extent and
the work that has been performed in the
past three months. There will be found II
gold mill Of large Dimensions complete in
uli machinery AMI working successfully un-
der the cyanide process. Besides the mill
are the assay office, rebuilt with iabratory,
furnace aud everything complete in a more
substantial manner, managers residence
aud office. store ioreman's dwelling
and other buildings.
We took the opportunity to visit the
mines operated by the company. At the
C~hickadee. from which the most OF the
quartz is now being taken, We found an
immense ore lin and rhute from the bottom
of which the wagons are quickly loaded
with their valuable freight. y part Of the
ore from this property was for a time
mined by an open cut. At this point
"a drift is being run on the ere. To the
right il the incline tunnel, now in nearly
100 feet and in good paying quartz. On
the east side of the mountain a tunnel,
in so feet. j. being run To get beneath the
ore body. High grade rock has already
been struck aud is being treated at the
mill. While the openings are but fairly be-
gun ali are la ore and give every assurance
OF Improvement AS Developments are
pushed along.
The Gilt Edge, which lies but a short dis
tance to the south, has "a 15U-foot tunnel.
La this "a large cave WAS struck "A month or
50 ago, while working in quartz. There is
ore overhead and below. A shalt, now
down ten feet, is being sunk to get below
the ore, when "a tunnel will be run from the
east side. enabling the company to get at
the ore from the same gulch as that OF the
Chickadee.
Both properties are evidently on the same
vein as is also the Black Bull which can be
seen less than half a mile distant and from
which ore is now being worked in the Ma.
ginnis mill.
The courteous manager, Mr.. Sherard,
kindly showed us through the mill and ex-
planned the process. The fine dust created
by dry crushing reminds one very much oil
IA luur mill. The gold is gathered in solu-
ton from the nine immense precipitating
tanks or settlers, which are emptied once
in twenty-four hours. The is
now constructing seven more, II with
a capacity of go tons each. The solution
is caught in zine boxes in which are placed
zine shavings, the latter becoming impreg,
mated with the gold. Mr.. SheraTd clearly
DEMONSTRATED how the process was saving
the gold by the weight and color Of the
/ shuvngs in the boxes, the contents of the
| first Boxes being dark. brittle and heavy
whilethey graded down until the shavings
we're hs bright and whole as When placed
IN thu boxes. Assays from the boxes give
an enormous yield ia money value to the
ton, Shile the gold is very line in quality.
The Iss in the ~tailings is now reduced to
50 csnts per ton.
TIL. company Is fortunate in the discov.
cry d Il coal vein in less than two hundred
ynrts from the mill. Thu mine is opened
by a14O-foot tunnel and "A 2OO-foot DRIFT
The vein lie ~ inches wide and is an excel
lent quality Of Ignite, nearly free from
sulphur and slate. 1t costs the company
SID a ton To NINE it aud the mill con
sums two tons "A day.
Tie town Of Gilt Edge is daily becoming
mor pretentious, and but for the financial
| depression would have been twice its pres
/ rnt sze. The dealers there, nf whom men
t%ionwas made last week, are hopeful ana
hoe ful a. to the future. When the com
pan reaches "a pay day, which is not far
distant, the place will present "A lively
aspect for its age. Mr.. Clark has an Office
nenpy completed, where he will be pleased
to So his friends and offer them bargains
in t,wulots