The Anaconda standard., 1895-06-04
A NEW MINING TOWN
COlOma, Near the Head Of Camas
Prairie, Rapidly Growing.
CENTER OF A RICH REGION
ItIsa Young Camp, But the Sur
rounding Mines and Country
Promise for 1t a Prosperous
Future and Steady Growth.

MissouIa. June S.-But few of the
Standards readers know that there is
such a town as Coloma on the map or
Montana, and not many OF those VINO
know of its existence can tell its To-
cation or anything regarding II. Six
months ago there was no such town,
but now il is a delightful and thriving
community. with the promise OF a sue
cessful and prosperous future before
II. It is small. but IL is busy, ana
business is what makes town. When
the success of the Mammoth mine be-
came assured those who are interested
in the property began 10 make arrange
ments for the accommodation OF their
employees, and thus the town of Col
oma was established Its existence has
been a brief one, but it promises to be-
come well known as the location of one
of the best mining properties in the
state.
The Mammoth mine has come into
public notice only recently as a pro-
ducer and dividend payer. but II is rap
idly demonstrating its richness and
mining men who have examined 1t pre-
dict a great future for the property.
L. c. Parker of Philadelphia, who has
Just returned from a visit to the mine
is an old Montanan and is familiar
with the mining interests of the state.
To a Standard reporter this afternoon
he said: ''The Mammoth is great
mine / know of no other property
that has the promise of greater fu-
ture than this one. The ore body is
extensive and the ore is easily worked.
Every condition that Is essential to
success exists here. and | believe that
the Mammoth will become one of the
greatest mines of Montana"
Although IL has only lately become
generally known. the Mammoth mine
was located % years ago by President
Van Gundy of the company that Is
now operating IL. On account of lack
OF funds and other reasons nothing was
done with the property beyond keeping
up the assessment work. until two
years ago. when j. G.. Simpson took
hold of the property. At that time
there was a discovery shaft 10 or Is
all. Mr.. Simpson Immediately began
systematic development work, and de-
monstrated beyond a doubt that the
property is a valuable one.
The ore body was found 10 feet from
the surface and increased in richness
and extent as greater depth was reach
ed. At so feet from the surface the
pay streak is 80 inches wide, and at
the 1O0-foot level the distance between
walls is 80 feet. The ore is high grade,
IlllllnE anu very SOll ana easily
worked. -Four men on ore can keep
the 10-stamp mill running full capac-
ity. and only 16 men in all are at pres
ent required to operate the mine.
While Mr.. Simpson was doing the
development work at the mine. Mr.
Parker was looking after the financial
end or the business, and succeeded in
disposing of the treasury stock Of the
company in Eastern Massachusetts,
With the proceeds OF this sale a 10
stamp mill was erected near the mine
and put in operation. From the very
first the mill has worked well, and Il
is now pounding ore TO its full capac-
ity. and gold bricks are finding their
way to this city with a frequency that
must be gratifying TO the owners. The
whole affair has been business propo-
sition. The mine is all that has been
claimed for 1t, and promises TO prove
a veritable bonanza.
But there is deeper import at
tached TO the success of this property
than the mere profit TO the investors
The eastern people who have interest
ed themselves in the company represent
a district that has often been swindled
by fake mining schemes in Montana
and California, and the people have
come TO be distruStful of this country
If the Mammoth demonstrates TO them
as il undoubtedly will, that Montans
mining property is a good investment
develop properties in this section, anC
mines which have not been developed
for lack of funds will be placed in tn,
list of producers.
To Missoula the success of this mint
means great deal. 1t is situated In
the region which is directly tributary
to this town, and its prosperity means
an increased market for Missoula prod
ucts. The mine and it's town, Coloma
are about sc miles from this city and
as soon as the county commissioners
complete the new road up the Big
Blackfoot, there will be easy means OF
communication between Missoula and
the new town.
Coloma is situated L. miles above the
head Of Camas Prairie. The location
is a pleasant one, and the surround
ings are delightful. There are now
about $50 people in the new settlement
which has two stores and a recently
established postofiice. a mail route
has also been started. which runs from
Bonner three times a week. The peo-
pie are happy and contented, as they
have every reason TO be. They are in
a prosperous community and. Of great
er attraction 10 many people. are in
the center of a hunters and fisher
mems paradise.
Among the residents Of Coloma who
are well known in Butte and Anacon-
da is John Penglase, the veteran whose
acQuaintances are numerous all
through Western Montana. Poor John
is not presentable at present, however
Just how IL happened nobody but John
himself knows. and he doesn't say
much about IL. All that is known is
that he started on a night ride from
Coloma the other evening and returned
late with an eye closed with a swelling
that caused one side Of his face 10 re-
semble a toy balloon. He saws that
near Mitchelfs mill, some sort of an
insect interrupted his star-gazing and
deposited in his veins drop of dead
~ poison that raised the mischief with
him. At any rate, his face looks as IL
he had been in a prize fight, and he
doesn't like 10 talk about il much.
NOTES.