The weekly tribune., 1894-01-26
As Far As Developed Proves To Be
One of The GI eatest Gold Pro-
ducers in the State.
Over 26O,OOO Tons of Ore in Sight
Estimated To Be Worth
$3,75O,OOO.
Everything in Readiness to Prosecute
Work on a Large Scale in
the Spring.

|
Judith mountains about five miles south
OF Maiden in Fergus county, Montana.
| Twelve months ago this was a wild
mountain region, utterly devoid of settle
ments, until in April, klS93. the Gilt
Edge Mining company incorporated
under the laws of Montana COM
menced work on the claims they owned.
These claims consists of thirty We
full mineral quartz claims, embracing
about seven hundred acres of land, and
in addition to this have other claims,
coal and placer, to make up tract of
nearly fifteen hundred acres.
Mines Developed.
Two o. these quartz locations have
been developed (not merely prospected)
in the fullest sense of the term, their
names being the "Gilt Edge" and the
"Chicadee." The vein is blanket con-
tract of lime and porphory, with width
of five to so feet between the walls The
ore is an auriferous ferruginous quartz
in gold, with an average value of fifteen
dollars per ton.
In these two developed mines, there is
estimated to be 250OOO tons Of ore in
sight worth S3,75O,OOO.
From April to December l, 1893. the
company paid out for mill and mines
the sum of $4,000. and the total ex.
penditure to January 1st, 1894 was
Sl4O,OCo. Messrs. 7. E. Collins and j. r.
Arlington of Great Falls contributed
x3O,OOO, and Il. A. Ammon and New
York friends $4,000. The mill started
up about September l, 1893, and since
that time has furnished $4,000 in gold
bullion.
The mill treats the ore by what is
known as the Cyanide Leeching Process
The process consists of a series of tanks
containing the pulverized ore, and then
strong solution of Cyanide of Pot
assium is allowed to leach through the
tanks, this liquor takes up the precious
metal in solution, finally depositing it
on extremely fine zinc shavings, which
are so light in weight, that the zinc and
gold are treated as bullion. 1t is the
zinc shavings on which the patent
rests.
The mill production since work COM
menced has averaged thirty to thirty
five tons per day, but the capacity is
now being extended so as to treat one
hundred tons daily.
At the present time the company's
debts do not exceed $4,000. r. A.
Amnon has arranged in the east for
payment OF this, and also for sufficient
capital estimated at $4,000, to erect a
800 ton plant at the mines, in which the
ore will run by gravity into the mill.
False Reports.
Considerable comment has been caus-
ed by the bullion incident of last Satur-
day, which was increased by lot of
irresponsible parties in Great Falls, un-
acquainted with the main facts sending
kilograms over the United States, injur-
ing the company, and hurting the
country by so doing. Practically all
labor hired was paid up to January 1st
1894. The amount of money owing
merchants at Lewistown is S7l35
When Mr.. Ammon went out to the
mines, he took $4,000 with him and ar
irving at Lewistown these merchants
insisted on being paid. This he refused
to do, stating that the labor should be
paid first which was done, anyhow most
of the money paid the men went down
to Lewistown into the hands of the
merchants. Subsequently to this these
parties in Lewistown insisted On having
the bullion, which was refused, and the
subsequent events are matter of news
paper notoriety Ten deputy sheriffs
were sworn in, and placed on the roads
to Great Falls, Fort Benton, Junction,
Billings, etc. The wild drive
through the Basin to Great Falls by
Frank Moshner, and Jack Purr, with
the bullion, and the safe delivering of it
forms an interesting episode.
As stated before. prior to this COM
pany commencing operations, this was
wild mountainous region, miles away
from the haunts of man. Today there
lisa plant which of its kind is tho largest
in Montana, and perhaps in the United
States. A village of $50 to 400 people
has grown up. and over 100 houses have
been built. Nearly forty children are in
the town, and school commenced.
Thus since this company went in, where
solitude reigned, there is now full
fiedged town, whose influence and pros
perity is felt now, and will be still more
30 in the future, over wide area of
country.