Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-05-26
THE TINES AT GILT EDGE.
A Conservative and Candid Representasten OF
Facts BY One Wen Informed.

done to justify the assertion that
no where in the state is there SC
large an amount of pay ore in sight
considering the depth of the work
ings. Away back In the early
eighties the original discoverer oI
these mines predicted that they
would become great producers. Bot
at that time public interest was
centered In the great Spotted Horse,
Orc Cache and other SPLENDID mines
around Maiden, and 1t was hardly
thought that the Gilt Edge mines
were worth considering.
The discovery of the cyanide pro-
cess however, coupled with the fact
that the Gilt Edge ore bodies are
practically inexhaustable. has re-
suited in demonstrating that at no
distant day the Spotted Horse and
other great mines OF the Judith
range will have to look to their
laurels.
There has been failure. of course.
But that the failure is due to the
mismanagement of scoundrels and
not through the fault of the mines,
is a fact well known to the general
public. The prospects of these mines
were never so bright as at present.
Under an honest and efficient man.
agement the Gilt Edge mill is turn
ing out large quantities of bullion
every month.
The employees are paid regularly
in full and a large surplus is left for
the company. A number of the mines
have recently been sold and bonded
to a strong syndicate of eastern cap
italists who will begin operations
during the coming summer. And
taken altogether, the benefit to be
derived by Fergus county at large
from the discovery and successful
operation of these mines can hardly
be overestimated. 1t will result in
attracting outside capital for the
much needed development of our
other prospects which are scattered
throughout the length and breadth Of
the whole Judith range and the two
Moccasin ranges. The continued
working of the Gilt Edge properties
and the development of other good
mines, will cause a railroad to be
built here at an early day and Fer
gus county will rapidly attain the
rank that Is properly hers. A min
ing county second to none In the
state.
A recent visit to the Gilt Edge
mines proved to be In the nature of
a revelation. At the Lookout mine
an ore body of unknown width is
disclosed. The lead il shown to be
over 40 feet I'm thickness and no walls
in sight yet. 1t is- a really wonder
full mine. The numerous tunnels and
Slopes are all in high graaie ore and
it seems as though the whole mine
was one endless, inexhaustable mass
of wealth. The Lookout adjoins the
Chickadee on the west. The latter
mine is probably the most valuable
in the group. There are two known
veins on the Chickadee. The Look
out vein extends into and through
the Chickadee, and then there is the
Chickadee proper The latter vein
has been more thoroughly explored
than any vein In the group. Im
mense bodies of ore are disclosed
and last fall a tunnel was run which
taps the lead at a depth of $50 feet
on the dip of the vein. The tunne
after reaching the vein was run 8 OIL
10 feet into the ore body, but nC
signs of q wall are visible so tht
width of the vein at this point is un
known. The Chickadee is now under
bond and we are informed that tn,
bond will be taken up before it II
due. With good management, tn,
Chickadee is sure to become a greaI
producer. And as the gentlemen
who are going to operate the prop
erty are mining men, 1t is confidently
expected the output of this mine will
abundantly prove the claims of Fer
gus county to recognition as a min
ing field.
The Lucky lode is on the west O
the Chickadee and Lookout mines
and while but little has been don
here I'm the way of development, ther
has been enough work to- show tina
the mine is an extension of the Chick
adee vein with he same grade AM
character of ore that is found Il
other mines of the group. Adjoining
the Lucky on the west and south
west is the Standby group consist
ing of the Standby, Fraction an
Standby No. 2 lodes.
These mines were recently sold I,
Wyoming people and will be opeI
ated In conjunction with the Chicks
dee and other mines by the easter
lsyndicate before mentioned. Ther
Is not a great deal of development
on the Standby group, but the croI
pings of the ore bodies are stronge
and more uniform than those of an
/. of the other mines. The ore is {
good grade and as the mines ar
higher up on the range, there is
possibility that the Standby grou
will develop into the most valuabl
lof the Gilt Edge properties. How
ever that may be. there is now wit
. only a small amount OF development
sufficient ore In sight to justify th
, erection OF reduction works.
Space will not permit the mention
ing of other mines In detail, but
there is any one who doubts til
value OF these properties. a visit {
the mines themselves win allay a
doubts and convince the doubts
that the half has not been told.
The repeated failures In the pas