The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-18
IN THE FLATHEAD.
New and Interesting Developments in and
Around Libby.

New and Interesting Developments In and
Around Libby.
Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Libby, March 15.-During the past
week II. A Schwartz of MissoulaS has
spent several days in Libby. Mr..
Schwartz is the attorney appointed by
the interior department to defend the
classifications made by the United
States mineral land commission
against contests instituted by the
Northern Pacific Railroad company
and the object of his visit here was to
secure witnesses in a contest which is
now on trial before the register and
receiver of the Kalispell land office.
The ground embraced in the contest is
all of the divide between Flathead and
Missoula counties north to the limit
of the indemnity land grant of the
Northern Pacific, which is in the neigh
borhood of Tobacco Plains. The strip
is six miles east and west and 36 miles
north and south, with Fisher River
station on the Northern Pacific about
in the center of it. The ground was
classified in 1856 by the mineral land
commission, and almost all of it re-
turned as mineral. The exception is
a few square miles in the Fisher river
valley, and north of Fisher river sta
| ton that are covered with valuable
| pine timber and show no mineral. The
/ lower end of the strip in contest COW
ers the eastern portion of the Fisher
mining district, and contains many
mining claims, which are represented
from year to year, though the district
/ is not yet well developed. The upper
portion covers the course of the Koo
tenai river for a number of miles
1t had been generally understood by
the people of this district that the
classification of the mineral land COM
mission for the northwestern part of
the country would go uncnallenged.
/ The commission returned everything
as mineral, recognizing the fact that
/ the country will never be put to any
/ other use than for mining. The rail-
road company saved the right to con-
/ test by filing blanket protests against
the classfications in 1896. and has since
been investigating the country and
preparing maps In view of their ac-
tion in the present case 1t is now be-
lieved that they will contest all the
| other returns of the commission in the
! Libby. Frog. Sylvanite and Bull river
mining districts. The present contest
would undoubtedly have been decided
in favor of the railroad company. in
default of any testimony to the con-
trary had it not been for the appoint
ment of Mr. Schwartz.
The latter is an energetic young man
who has had considerable experience
| in land cases in Wisconsin. His COM
ing aroused great interest among the
miners and prospectors here and they
We're eager and willing to furnish him
with information about the country.
The present contest involves only the
| eastern edge. of the mining country,
and therefore a large mass of testi-
mony is not available. The outcome
| will be watched with great interest,
and the miners will be ready for the
next one if it covers ground farther
west. The coming of Mr.. Schwartz
puts an entirely different aspect on
these contests, as he has been author
lied by the government to summon
witnesses and pay their transporta-
tion to the places where the hearings
are held.
A. b. Johnston and Lewis Getner
have sold a half interest in two of
their placer claims on Libby creek to
Josiah Baldwin of Newark. n. j. The
claims are the Hard Luck and Fisher
man, and they are situated just II
miles south of Libby. and are the low
est locations on the creek that have
ever been worked, the other placers be-
ing situated further south. Messrs.
| Johnston and Getner received a cash
consideration of 81. 1000. but their prin-
cipal motive in making the deal was
to secure a partner with capital who is
/
open up the ground in a systematic
manner Mr.. Baldwin is man of con-
siderab BILE means. and he has made
thorough Investigation of the property
in which he has purchased an interest
He spent two months here last fall and
had the assistance of several compe
tent experts. Since that time he has
investigated several other placer min
ing propositions in other districts in
several of the Western states. but
found nothing that suited him so we'll
as Libby creek. These gentlemen have
not made public the plans for the de-
velopment of this ground. but IL is Ger
tain that they will be on an extensive
scale.
After an Investigation Of the Snow
shoe property. company of English
men who are interested in lead mining
in Germany. have taken a bond on the
Snowshoa mine These gentlemen
came over from ENGLAND with the in
tention If interesting themselves in
the Trail creek district. and We're in
duced to come to Libby by Mr.. How
ard @ Walters formerly manager Of
The Snuwshoe mine for the Chicago &
Montana Mining company. The Eng
| lshmen EXPRESSED themselves as
rleased with the property. and made a
uaynent Of $40 600 on the bond. which
Is understood 10 be for S2oA 600. The
nroDerty remains in charge OF the
Ieaser. n. p. Bowers. until June IS. at
which time "A second payment is to be
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