The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1894-07-26
THE ROYAL GOLD PROPERTY
ONEOF GRANITE COUNTYS RICH
EST GOLD MINES.
History of the Famous Property
From the Time of Its Discovery
to Date-A Profit Of $4,000
in Less Than Nine Months.

Of the gold-bearlng districts thus far
discovered in Montana there is none
that promises greater production than
that section which includes the Royal
Gold mine. The richness Of the Royal
Gold has frequently been commented
upon by the state press, and though the
published output seems fabulous it Ger.
talnly has not been exaggerated, and in
fact full and correct statement Of the
richness of the nine has not yet to our
knowledge appeared in print. Through
the courtesy of Mr.. Willard Bennett, the
superintendent, The MAIL representative
was shown through the mine very
thoroughly during the week past, and
we are pleased to give space for the ex-
planation of property which promises
SO much for Granite county.
The mine is located in the range of
mountains that divides Granite and
Deer Lodge counties and is about twelve
miles in a northeaster]y direction from
Philipsburg. The property was origl.
nally located by Messrs. Smiley and
Swain, two prospectors, who succeeded
in getting Willard Bennett and w. W.
Turney interested in the property. They
were soon convinced of the richness of
the property and deal was consum-
mated with the owners in 1891 whereby
they received $4,000 for all their right
and title in the Royal Gold. Mr.. Turney
managed the operations on the property
for some time after that and with a
small Huntington mill IN use he took
out considerable gold and made develop
ments sufficient to warrant operations
on more extensive plan and last year a
l0-stamp mill was built. In the mean
time Mr.. Turney had disposed Of all his
interest in the property to Willard and
Nelson Bennett and Conrad Kohrs, re-
ceiving total of $4,000 therefor ,sssz. ,s.as..
Willard Bennett then took charge of
the operations, and to him is largely due
the success of the mine from its discovery
up to the present time. He blazed the
first trail into the place and his unfail-
ing confidence in the mine and his will
ingness to expend money in it's develop.
ment has made It what it now is. When
Mr.. Bennett took the management the
property owed him $4,000, and in less
than nine months run with ten stamps
he had paid off the debt and made the
stockholders richer by $4,000 in diyi-
dends
The mill is not now in operation, as
the flow Of surface water into the tun-
nels lately has prevented the extraction
Of ore. The water is slowly receding,
however, and thirty men are now en-
gagged in one way or another in prepara-
lions to start the mill at the earliest
possible time.
The development thus far made con-
,ists OF 5000 feet of tunnels and drifts, |
and at least one-half OF which has been
or is now in ore. It is estimated that at |
east a half million dollars is now in
night, and as greater depth is attained
he vein becomes stronger and rich
Everything about the place in tt way I
# permanent improvements shows oe |
and arrangements fc,
1omic operations. A tram road of 43 /
eet is built from the upper tunre 10
he mill which is operated by gragtta-
ion and the ore is conveyed by it a
,ost of less than three cents pc ton.
The superintendent is now planning 20
'un the mill with water power, which
,an be done about eight months in each
'ear, and that will prove a big saving.
lust now Frank Durand is laying = II
arge contract of wood, and whel .isa
mill is again started up there Will be