The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-02-11
YHE MAJESTIC 60,
Rumors That the New Company Will
Begin Operations.
THE NEW DEAL AT QUIGLEY
Contracts for Lumber for Finishing
the Plant Said to Have Been Let.
Electric Motor to Be Moved

The Anaconda Recorder of last
Thursday contained an article pertain
ing to the affairs of the Golden Scep-
tre company in which it quotes some
original information regarding the
prospects of the early resumption of
operation by the new company. 1t is
hoped that the rumors which the Re-
corder has heard may be true. and, if
SO, Quigley will soon be classed
among the living again.
Two years ago, says the Recorder,
corps of civil engineers appeared
along the banks of Rock creek, in the
northwestern part Of Granite county,
and began to survey a plat for town
which, few days later, was called
Quigley. At this season of the year
there is generally about two feet of
snow in that country and there was
fully as much that year. Qnigley
was laid out and destined to be the
principal town of the Golden Sceptre
Mining company, corporation which
was going to revolutionize gold min
ing and milling in Montana but it
failed ANONYMOUSLY and made one of
the worst failures at mining in the
history of the state 1t spent over
$500, 900 in development work and
mountain castles, and it is beloved
the men at the helm even went so far
as to build castles in the air and had
|
them. Two months after the town of
Quigley was started at least 100 build
ings were PIT up, such as stores, ho-
tells, saloons, livery stables, DWELLING
houses, church, school, etc. The
population was estimated at 1000 in
the immediate vicinit All the boom
was based upon the mines of the
Golden Sceptre Mining company, ~
miles up the mountains from Quigley.
The company, not finding sufficient
water for milling purposes any nearer
than Rock creek, started 100 stamp
mill at Quigley, which was supplied
with the latest improved free gold
machinery.
From the mill to the mine an cleo
trio railway was erected through a
mountainous country and on this line
the ore was to be conveyed from mine
to mill. In many places the roadbed
was cut out OF solid rock on the noun
tain side or else down several feet
through necks in the mountains, while
in other places there are numerous
swltchbacks in order to make the as
cent. Ihe mill was provided with
three monstrOus turbine water wheels,
which. with water brought in from
ROCK creek. were to generate power
for an electric plant of 1000 horse
power. It was claimed then and is
now that whole mountain of gold
quartz at Quigley warranted all the
improvements made. The mill, q
mammoth f1ume and the electric rail
way were within so days of completion
when the money of the Golden Sceptre
Mining company became exhausted
and then followed collapse unprece
dented in the way OF mining schemes
in Montana. Seven months from the
time the town was surveyed Quigley
had the appearance of an old town.
Men by the hundreds were employed
on every hand. The roads were linet
with freight teams and stages and ever
then they had a hard time to handle
all the freight and passengers Lower
and lower went the confidence in the
once famous Quigley mines until stool
was as cheap as water This was il
the summer and fall of 1896. Las
year. after many ups and downs, J. A,
Macdonald, of Milwaukee, succeeded in
reorganlzing the company with thu
intention of completing the work al
ready commenced. He gave it ou
then that work would be resumed this
coming spring.
Now comes the report that Mr.. Mac
Donald's statement will be fulfilled a!
soon as spring comes Parties say L.
G. johnson, of Philipsburg. who wal
the largest contractor under the man
agement of the Golden Sceptre com
pany, has contract with the new
management and will begin saving
lumber near Quigley in few days, t(
be used to complete the f1ume. All tn,
machinery for this large plant j!
) either on the ground or else at Bonita
and Missoula The same parties repor
about 1876 persons at Quigley who arr