The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-26
IN GRANITE COUNTY.

Philipsburg. May 24-The Bi-AIetallic
mine is again closed and there is an
exodus from the town of Granite which
practically amounts to complete deser-
ton. The drifts in the mine have been
bulkheaded and the pumps pulled up
and everything about the property
would indicate a shutdown that is lit
tie short of abandonment. 1t has al
ways been the Standards correspond
ents, throughout Montana, who have
first seen the sun cleaning through
riffs I'm the breaking clouds, but upon
this occasion, so far as the great sill
yer producing properties, the Granite
and Bi-Metallic, are concerned, there
is no hope of a resumption of work i'm
the near future, and he who could tell
when the whistles will again awake
the sleepy mill man and miner. would
be an invaluable prophet in presiden-
tial bookmaker's shop in 1896.
1t cannot be otherwise than that this
action on the part of the companies
will have disastrous effect upon the
business interests of Philipsburg. 1t is
true that the business men are in
much better shape to stand a financial
storm than they were in 1898, but in
many respects the present is even
worse than then. At that time the
business men and others who were in
debt had every prospect OF visit from
the sheriff, but even that was better
tnan the prospect OF an incufable at
tack of dry rot and being carried fnau-
cially backwards for an indefinite per-
iod. without knowledge of the future,
almost without cause TO hope for relief
in the future. The liXivation plant is
still running and employs a few men.
but that will not last always. and the
other mining properties in this district
have never employed a large force and
are not likely to at the present price of
silver.
The immediate cause of the shut
down is not known. and as large bust
ness concerns do not lay their future
plans or motives for present action be-
fore the public each individual can
have his own guess, IL he SO desires.
knowing that he is just as likely to be
right as his neighbor.
The Combination company at Combi-
nation will in all probability continue
to run. for a time at least, and while
this will materially assist the county
tax collector in 1896. aside from an oc-
casional raid upon the county jail and
| the consequent spending of little
money for whiskey. II can be OF but lit
tie benefit, generally, to the Philips
! burg business man.
For the past 10 or more years Philips
burg has unquestionably been one of
| the most prosperous little towns in
/ the West, her people have been pretty
generally free from debt. all kinds OF
| business has thrived. commodities of
/ all kinds have certainly commanded
| fair prices. and IL is with the utmost
| sorrow that the Standards correspond
! ent is forced. by the present condition
| OF affairs. to chronicle the fact that a
| grave crisis confronts the little mining
| city, while Granite. with its former
| population Of 1900 will be obliterated
| The financial condition Of Granite
county and the levy for the present
year is the subject 81 CONSIDERABLE talk
| among the taxpayers. Assessor Hom-
| man is OF the opinion that the assessed
| valuation FOR the year 1895 will be
! about $4,000. 600. or nearly the same as
] IL was last year. Should the levy be
1 the same and the running expenses OF
| the county the same, the countys debt
/ would be Increased by nearly $50. 600 10y
Il March J. 1896. IL would require tan
/ levy % quite 80 mills for the present
/ year TO pay the interest on the county
| Indebtedness OF $56.7l2.59 March 1. 1898
/ and pay the running expenses FOR tht
year ending March !, 1896. With tn