Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-28
M~ONTANA'S MINERAL EXHIBIT.


Magnificent Display of the Products
of the silver States Mines.
The Montana exhibit occupies one of the
four large central spaces that front on the
main aisle of the Mines building and both
in completeness and convenience of arrange
ment it compares very favorably with any
other in the building. In one respect the
Montana exhibitors assert their superiority
and this is the fact that every specimen that
Is displayed comes directly from the mine
where it is produced. They have not had
the advantage of a surplus of material from
previous exhibits and there is only one arti-
Gle in the entire exhibit that has ever fig
ured in an exposition before. The material
was collected and Installed under the SUI
pervision Of Samuel Anderson of White Sui
phur Springs, who remains in charge of it
during the exposition.
The visitor to the building is at once
struck by the artistic decorations of the
Montana exhibit. Thu railing which sur
rounds it is constructed to represent building
| stones of the state and the pillars and other
superstructure are in imitation Of the gold,
silver and copper that constitute the prin-
cipal mineral products. A handsome silk
flag is Hastily draped from the huge copper
arch over the entrance and the interior Is
fully occupied with showcases and pyramids
filled with a profusion Of specimens that H.
~lustrate every feature of the mineral re-
sources Of the state.
The exhibit contributed by Marcus DAILY
from the Anaconda mines occupies a conspic-
uous position in front of the entrance. It
includes two massive bars of solid silver
which weighs over 200 pounds and a collec-
ton of bars, ingots and cakes of copper.
There Is also a huge boulder of copper ore
which is one of the most massive specimens
at the exposition. 1t weighs 1000 pounds
and Is 70 per cent copper.
A showcase further down the booth con-
tains one of the finest collections OF wire
gold in the building. 1t is the property of
Roger c.. Knox of Norris and its intrinsic
value is considerable. The case also contains
a peculiarly rich collection Of gold and sill
Yer ore from the Ruby mine.
Henry Filing of Virginia City has contrib
uted a very valuable collection of gold mug
gets of tremendous size and value. These
are worth as much as $3.50 each and the
entire collection is valued at over 81, 900.
The same case contains q small collection OF
Montana precious stones, including rubies,
garnets and sapphires.
The remaining case contains a private col
lection of very rich specimens. 1t is a very
extensive and interesting exhibit and in
cludes a large number of rare and novel
formations that are Of more than ordinary
interest to the student Of mineralogy.
On each side of the showcases is a row
of pyramids laden with an extensive collec-
ton Of ores just as they come from the
mines. These include gold, silver, copper
lead, bismuth, graphite, anthony and ashes
tos. This is an exceptionally complete show
ing of native ores and illustrates the rich
ness of the deposits that contribute to the
minaral racourcas Of Moptana Tho rao. -,
the booth is occupied by a display Of building
stone, including granite and various varle-
ties OF sandstone. There is also a small ex-
hibit of fire brick, which are being extern
siyely manufactured. There Is also a very
rare collection of jasper which is suscepti-
BILE OF a high polish and of very
effects.
The limitless supply OF coke and coal that
Is among the possessions of the state Is II
Illustrated by a large display on one side OF
the booth. The handsome oil painting rep
resenting the Never Sweat" mine at Butte
is a very striking feature of the decorations
and 1t covers nearly the entire rear OF the
booth. Among the ornamental features IL
also a very ingenious piece of pen work By
William Zastrow of Helena. This is an arch
OF very artistic construction which bears
the portraits of all the presidents from
Washington to Mckinley, The border Ii
formed of a collection OF rare stamps also
set in an design in pen work.
The only feature that has ever figured
in a previous exhibit is a handsomely carved
chair of Montana cedar, which is the prop
erty OF Madison county. 1t was on exhibit
ton at the Worlds Fair and Is valued al
$3.50. The carving represents the various
wild flowers Of Montana and is executed
with more than ordinary skill.