The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-05
FROM TWIN BRIDGES
An Interesting News Letter Reciting
All Important Happenings.
WHAT MINERS ARE DOING
The Old Camp of ochester Taking
New Life-A Rlack Letter Day In
the History of M ontana-Mr.
Letters successor.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Twin Bridges, Feb. 1.-The usual
stagnation succeeding the holiday fes-
tivities has not been missing this year,
and the field for the newsgatherer has
past. Even society news has been quite
scarce. This is probably due, however,
to the severe weather which has pre-
vailed here during January, and which
made outdoor exercises, even to the
extent of a journey to a neighbour
house to enjoy a cup of tea and scan
dalize ones neighbors, anything but
a pleasant social recreation. But the
last week of the month brought us
some weather which made us doubt
whether we We're in Montana or enjoy
ing the GLORIOUS climate of Californy."
And, with finer weather, comes a re
action in all classes of business, and
people are beginning to don more
cheerful countenances, society is stir
ring its stumps with more alacrity,
and people generally seem to be get
ting it into their noodles that. after
ALL there is something worth while to
be done to grease the wheels of prog
ress and bring about that boom of
prosperity which almost everybody in
this section is ready to swear will
burst upon Madison county in this
year of grace.
Those who have kept track of the
Standards news from Madison county
will remember that there was a great
advance in quartz mining last year.
1t is cheering to note that in none OF
the new openings then made has there
been any signs of failure consequent
upon winter developments. Especially
is this true in the new, or, rather re-
suscitated camp at Rochester, situate
about 10 miles from this place. There
are several mines now in operation
there which promise as soon as the
shipping season opens to yield their
owners handsome fortunes. Two or
three weeks ago Messrs. Stark, Woods
* Co. reached the main lead on the
company mine, and developed a four
foot vein of free milling gold ore that
will pay over SIS per ton. They are
now working a dozen men in the mine,
and by spring will have enough ore in
sight to keep them busy extracting it
for several years. This mine has pass
ed through many vicisstudes, having
been worked by Doctor Getchell away
back in the sixties. The doctor, il is
claimed, took over 800 900 out of it be-
fore he lost the vein, which had been
broken and carried down the mount
ain side. Since then several other par
ties have made vain efforts to discover
the lost lode, and tunnels were run and
drifts driven until the searchers gave
up, discouraged and disguised, until
the Stark boys of Twin Bridges es-
sayed another attempt to find it. This
was last summer, and three weeks
work sufliced to show them that they
were in close proximity to It, At this
Juncture, Johnny Woods. an expert
enced mining man of Silver Star,
cured an interest in the mine. and
work has been vigorously prosecuted
ever since. Woods has had a streak
of luck following him for some years
past TO such an extent, indeed, that
woods luck has become a proverb
in the mining districts hereabouts. 1t
has not deserted him in this instance,
as the present condition and prospects
of the mine fully attest. You will re-
ceive reports of some rich returns
from it ere the May birds begin TO
sing.
Another rich property is the group of
mines which has been bonded to A. f.
briggs and other Butte and Minneap-
oils parties. The principal work that
has been done upon these lodes has
been the sinking TO water level, which
has been accomplished. and now oper-
atoms have been suspended pending
the procuring of HOSTS and machinery
with which to handle the water. The
mine looks as well, if not better, and
the proprietors are confident that they
have as good a thing as they want
Common. Easter q Co have done a
good deal of work upon their proper
ties here, this winter. and with entire
ly satisfactory results. The same may
be said OF every mine that has been
operated this winter. The Watseka,
one of the most famous of the old-time
mines of Rochester. is being operated
principally by leasers. and IL is a poor
miner or a not very industrious man
who cannot make good stake out OF
the rich ore which it contains.
At Silver Star, also about 10 miles
from here in a northerly direction. +.
r. Merk is continuing 10 work the
Broadway with the usual force Of men
and with undiminished success. This
is one Of the big mines of that dis
trict. and its shipments average over
a corload per day during the shipping
season.
Not far from the Broadway. the Au-
rora and BOrealis mines are located
These are operated by McFarlane &
Co. Of Butte, and are turning out ore
in large quantities and Of high grade
II is reduced in the Iron Rod mill. but
that being run by water power The
embargo laid upon il by Jack Frost
will prevent the music Of the stamps
from being heard until the springtime
comes.
Another new enterprise to he start
ed in Jhis neighborhood is the reopen
ing Of the Libby mine. near the Big
Hole river. which viii be undertaken
by William OwSley. Butte's popular
ex-mayor. The Libby was once a IA
nous gold producer and was worked
until the water came in too fast for its
owners u handle, and they We're OBJ
liged u abandon II. II is the intan-
ton now 20 clean il out. put in tho
necessary pumping machinery. and
operate II on an extensive scale. II is
known that the ore had NOT diminish
ed in richness nor quantity. and il is
believed thai v-haw sg-zFarf, d ffH-4TTr-