The Anaconda standard., 1898-02-24
IN TWIN BRIDGES.
On the Eve of Another Placer Mining
Season.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Twin Bridges, Feb 22.-William Salt
mer, mining man of BaInaek, was in
town last week on visit with relatives
here. Mr. Saltmer While in conVersa-
ton with the Standard reporter stated
that the old ex-capital was on the eve
Of another successful placer mining
season. The dredging companies that
have been idle all winter on account of
the ice in the creek are preparing To
resume operations and have mechanics
at work repairing the dredge machine
ry. The r. l.. Graves" which was
the first dredge put in operation, is
nearing what is known as Yankee
Flat" slowly but surely This fiat
has a history, as ii was the original
town of Bannack. 1t is. now covered
with from 10 to 80 feet of gravel. which
came from the gulches above. In the
early Cos some prospecting was done
which resulted satisfactorily to the
owners of the claims. 1t is stated by
one of the old timers, who al present is
a resident of Bannack that shaft was
sunk not many hundred yards from
where the IF. l.. Graves" now rests
and as high as SIS to the pan was
panned out. The owners We're driven
out by the water and could not agree
among themselves about pumps, so it
was abandoned as they thought. for
more favorable diggings. The coming
seasons run by this dredges Will be
watched with interest. The "Magg A.
Gibson" and "A, II. Greater struck
rich ground last fall and the output of
gold from these two dredges will be
more than twice that of last year A.
+. Ball. who represents the English
syndicate that is constructing the big
dredge three miles below town. is back
from England. and Will push work as
fast as the weather will permit This
dredge is somewhat larger than the
..If. Il
construction. The bed of the creek
where this dredge will operate is more
confined than above and the ground is
supposed to be richer, as the gulch is
very narrow and deep. Mr.. Saltmer
stated that quartz mining was looking
up some and that the future prospects
in this line are very promising.
Edwards and Curin commenced work
on the famous Excelsior last week by
putting force of men at work in the
shaft, which will be sunk 100 feet deep
er The mine is leased from the West
ern Enterprise company of Butte
Messrs. Edwards and curin worked the
same property last season with good
results. The ore is treated in the Gold
en- Leaf mill nearby. The mine has
been one of the best producers in the
district. but the vein ''pinches" at times
and il takes just such men as the leas-
ers. who have pluck and energy. To
work this property. The Polaris mill
was erected this winter and will ne
ready to crush ore in IA short time. and
will be kept continually running if the
new process is a success. Mr. Saltmer
and his wife. who accompanied him.
returned home Sunday.
Some Good Finds.
L. J. Fifer passed through town last
Thursday on his way 10 Basin. Mr.
Fifer has been prospecting in the To-
bacco Root range for some time, and
has made some good finds. Before leav-
ing he leased the Bonanza, near Mill
Greek. To Messrs. Bjork and Hammond.
who started TO work the property at
once. The Bonanza was discovered by
running an open cut 100 feet through
the slide rock. which caused big breaks
In the formation above. The vein will
be cut by a tunnel which is being
driven for that purpose. 1t is in now
10 feet. and ii is thought % feet more
uncovered in the open cut has been
cross-cut for eight feet and only one
wall was found. The ore is gold and
runs from anywhere up to $40 per ton.
On the Ruby.
IL was rumored last year that a party
of prospectors had found good pay
ground on the Ruby, few miles above
Twin Bridges. The gravel panned 10
cents 40 the pan nj a depth Of only four
feet. james kruppner comprised one Of
a party of six men Who began sinking
in the old river bed Of the Ruby near
psontiuuyl on page Ninea