The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-01

in the even tenor Of her way. bat the past
year has witnessed nnmber of big goid
strikes, and several sales 70 mon with large
capital. an indication Of the psfmanency of
her ore veins. Within the last sixty days
discoveries OF gold quartz have been made
in Meaghsr county. along the line Of the
Montana Midland, that insurss within a
year another rich producer OF the yellow
metal. Jefferson. rich both in gold and
silver. is not behind the other counties in
the number Of new gold properties re-
ported. nor has that county much difficulty
in finding men with money 10 aid her peo-
pie in developing them.
Thus IL will be seen that the drop in the
price of silver. while II had its bad effects.
had also the result Of directing attention
10 the gold deposits of the state. Hun
dreds Of practical mining men who were
thrown out OF work when the silver mines
closed engaged in the search for gold;
others took leases on Cold quartz mines
that had lain idle for years. aud others
again went TO placer fields that re-
coived but slight attention for long time.
Tho frst Olhss in msnY instances we're sue
cessful. and the result Is discoveries Of
there was any quartz. The second class.
the lsssees. avSiled themselves of the mod
ern and cheaper methods of reducing ores.
The took ore that ran from g. to $50 ton.
which under the old manner OF treating
would NOS pay 10 work, and by
one OF the new processes add
ed both 10 their own and the
states wealth. Ths third class did not at
tempt. in many cases. TO work the bars that
had been gone over, many OF them three
and four times for the Rlittoring dust, but
they went 20 the creek bed-the place where
there must be more gold than was In the
bars. bat which had been left because Of
the difficulty In handling the water. Capt.
tai was required in this behalf, and 10 was
quick 20 respond. I'VE are drifting 10
bedrock" Is today an expression heard in
almost every placer mining locality in tho
state. and IL means that when bedrock is
reached many OF these enterprises will
make their owners rich. Had not capital
been driven from the silver mines 10 would
not have been available for these plaeeFs
and other gold mining enterprises.
But while 1893 saw a great decline 10 sill
yer mining aud such q wonderful impstus
given to gold mining. IL did not witness by
any means the extinction OF the silver min
ing industry. 10 saw the profits OF the
owners cut considerably. and the expenses
OF operation reduced In every possible way.
but 10 did not see all the silver mines shit
down nor developments stopped In any Of
them. Many that closed In the summer
started mp later. some bsing worked by
their owners and others being leased TO the
miners. while the total output OF the
silver mines Of MontAna for 1893 will fall
below that Of 1892. IL will nevertheless 90
away up into the millions. As the year
closed ID Was announced that the ownors Of
the big silver mines a. PhilipsburR the
Granite and Bi-hetallic, had decided TO
sIpsnd $4,000 in improvements looking
10 the reduction of operating sxpensss
and a. soon as they were
made the mines and mills would be started
mp again. In Jefferson county. noted for
Iis silver mines. there was q temporary de-
preston. but At the close OF the JsaT there
were more men working In silver mines
than At the beginning. In Silver Bow. the
banner mining county Of the state. the de-
preston In silver Was severely felt al hrst.
but there was q gradual rseovorT. aud ell
she properties, with possibly two creep
tons. that wsrs being operated a year ago.
arc working full fores Of men now. And
90 the story goes In all the silver producing
sections-tempofary suspension. followed
BY rscupsration and rstrenohmsnL
But silver snd gold do not represent the
total wealth or Montana In minsfalG In
1892 ths stats prOduesd iG4, 10000 pounds