The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-10
BOARD OF TRADE.
Interesting Report of Chairman BIclford
on Mining Matters.

Interesting Report of Chairman Bickford
on Mining Matters.
MIssoULA. April 9.-The board of trade
committee on mines and mining, through
its chairman, w. NJ. Bickford, has rem
dered the following interesting report,
which was presented at the meeting of
the board last night, but was not read,
owing to the small attendancs:
Missould Board Of Trade:
GENTLEMEN: Your committee on mines,
milling and smelling. called upon to investigate
and report upon all matters relating to the gen.
eral interest OF these subjects, would report as
follows:
The paramount interest In IN ming win, dur
ing the coming season. center around the placer
operations In Quartz and Cedar creeks. While
the snowfall has hardly been sufficient to war
rant the expectation OF the usual volume OF
water 10 be used Tor placer mining purposes 1t
still remains true that parties who are develop
ing this important Industry are In much better
condition to avail themselves OF the limited
supply than ever before. Active operations
win commence within the next three weeks on
all the ground opened last year and much new
ground win be explored on gulches tributary to
the streams named.
The experience OF the past few years In placer
mining seems to show conclusively that old
methods should be abandoned In handling deep
ground and the more progressivs and satisfac-
TORY WAYS huch a. TIC uanuliuE OF n large
amount OF gravel with the aid OF ground suc-
ing or hydraulic mining should be adopted To
accomplish this result the old method OF acqur-
ing title TO placer ground is Intellectual for the
reason that no tract OF land containing only
20 acres is OF sufficient value TO warrant the
expenditure OF the money necessary to get the
ground In shape TO WORK. Large holdings are
necessary. Cooperative methods must be
adopted. either In the form of joint stock CON-
panies OF In the consolidation of interests by
adjoining coowners. so that the ground may be
worked through one ground slulce and by
means Of one hydraulic plant. The output OF
placer gold for this season should amount TO
$4,000 and should give employment to quite a
number Of men at good wages.
In quartz mining no new properties are
spoken OF. although later developments at the
Mammoth mine show the property 10 be more
valuable than was expected A mill has lately
been completed with 10 stamps dropping and
the output is such that the owners are well
pleased This mine Is In the edge OF Deer Lodge
county but II Is much more easy OF access from
MissOula Than any other point on the Northern
Pacific railway. Some steps should be taken
tending toward the Improvement of the roads
between the mines anu Missoula. because the
volume OF business 10 be done can IN this way
be kept and II II is not done other roads viii be
bulit which will make it n shorter haul 70 the
railroad az some other point than from here
As matters now stand. the distance Is much
greater 20 Missoula than 10 Bearmouth bu.
there Is no road TO the latter place and only a
poor one 70 the former point. II the condition
OF the road should be brought 70 the attention Of