The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-02


Readers OF scientific journals and oil
publications devoted to the mining in
dustry cannot help but be impressed
with the space accorded in these publ
cations to notices Of inventions that
have for their object the reduction OF
free aud refractory gold ores at the min
imum Of cost and the saving OF fine or
-four gold from placers with the small
est percentage Of loss. Save in electric
ity there are probably more brains busy
working out problems, the solution OF
which will be 10 the advantage Of the
gold miner. than in any other OF the nu-
merous fields that claim the time Of the
inventive genius Of the country. These
researches are not confined exclusively
10 this country. Yesterday The INDE-
PENDENT gave space 10 a description Of
a process invented by London chemist
10 extract the gold from refractory ores
Down in Oroville, Cal, mechanic an
nounces the invention OF a device which
be claims VAL save large per cent Of
flour gold. The inventor claims that
the machine will save the lightest and
finest scale gold and that 10 will require
but FIVE inches Of water to operate it,
Another genius, who lives in Colorado,
announces a process for extracting gold
from placers. claiming that with bis
machine placer dirt can be handled for
less than % cents a ton. The inventor
says that the apparatus is a very mex
pensiye one, and that he will place 1t
within the power Of every poor man 70
work bis own ground. The machine is
claimed to require very little water, and
the inventor proposes to do away en-
tirely with the expensive giant
Whether tho inventions referred to
will accomplish all their owners claim
for them, or whether any Of the hundred
or more new processes that are men
toned in the journal will improve the
methods OF gold extraction from placers
or refractory ores now in use, only actual
use will prove. Certain il is that out Of
all these inventions there is sure TO
come process that will be a great i'm
proyement over the methods now in use,
xnd that will open up in the Rocky
mountain country employment TO |
thousands Of men and add millions OF |
dollars to the output Of the yellow |
metal. There is scarcely a mining man |
in the state Of Montana but who knows |
where there is a body Of placer ground /
or a deposit Of refractory ore that would |
mean a fortune to him il be could only /
hit upon some process 10 extract the |
yellow stuff at small cost The depres-
sion in the silver industry has turned /.
the inventive genius OF the world from /
its labors in the improvement Of silver
mining and silver ore reducing machn-
cry to processes for the reduction or ex- /
ton Of gold ore. The gold miner and
the owner Of gold properties has only 70
remember that the best minds Of tho
world are working in his behalf 10 feel
that It is only the question Of perhaps a
year, maybe only month, when the
world will be startled by the announce
ment OF an invention that will mean az
mnch 20 Montana and the mining in
dustry as the invention Of the telegraph
graph, the telephone, the electric light
were all regarded as visions OF a dsor-
dered intellect before they we're demon
atrated 10 be practicable things Of every
Jay life. The type setting aud type dis
tributlng machines we're regarded as
impoasibilitiea before they were proven
10 be capable Of doing the work il was
claimed they could DO. So IL will be
with those who claim that they have
machine Tor saving -four gold, or Tor ex-
tracing % per cent Of the gold from ore
that cannot now be worked AZ profit.
Some ono among them will have an IN
spiratiou, as did Morse, Edison aud the
other great inventors and then what 10
now considered the impossible will be
the simplest thing IN the world And
The man who has the inspiration will
become as famous as those mentioned.
When that day comes no state in the
union and no mining section M the
world viii reap greater advantages than
Montana. She has thousands ~ acres
Of placer ground that either Tor the lack
If sufficient water or the fneness Of the
gold are now o. no use or value % any
onei she has mountains Of refractory
gold ores that cannot Do proftably
mined OF reduced under any Of the now
known processes. Fortunately she mas
thousands II acres ~ placer ground
which can h. proiitab.y operated under
present conditions, aud scores Of free
milling gold mines thar are adding
thousands 81 dollars every year 70 the
wealth OF the world, but when tho
time comes that all the land in the state
that is now known 10 coatain gold can
be prohtably worked, her output Of the
precious metals will place her far aud