The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-06
WITH A DETERMINATION
Prospectors of Moose Lake Dis
trict Still Pegging Away.
NEW MILL is BEING BUILT
Another Seasons Work viii Give an
Idea OF the Stability OF the Country.
AS to Roads and Their Prob
able Improvement

ne TACT IHdl the HOPKINS mill is smut
down and the recently constructed High
land mill has been hauled out OF camp.
does not deter owners of mines in the
Moose lake district and others in their
determination to resume active develop
ment work there the coming summer.
Men familiar with the state of affairs
| surrounding the idle Hopkins property
state that the action of Mr.. Hopkins in
shutting down his mill was not due to
lack of ore for treatment. They say that
the mill was mismanaged and that the
ore, properly handled. would pay to re-
duce. In regard to the removal of the
Highland mill it is claimed that this is
the result Of a disagreement among the
projectors OF the enterprise. The mill was
erected to treat the ores from group of
claims, among which is the Cadie lode,
well known. The miners in that district
unite in saying that the undesirable out
come of the Highland and Hopkins ven
lures does not demonstrate the instabi-
ity of the mines of Moose Lake. On the
contrary. they are more hopeful of the
future. The ores assay just as much as
they ever did and development shows en-
larged veins.
Up there the miners pay no attention to
the antics of uncertain operators that
come into the district, make a pretense
and depart as mysteriously as they en-
their mines and asserting ore that will be
reduced to bullion as soon as a response
BILE company shall put up mill.
What encourages the prospectors in the
district more than anything else on the
surface is the building of the Brran mill.
This enterprise is backed by substantial
men, among whom is j. A. Dunlap of this
city. A few days ago a carload of ma
chinery was shipped to the lake via
Drummond and Philipsburg. This included
stamp batteries and other machinery
necessary TO complete the plant, which
will be modern i'll every detail.
Mr.. Birran has a force OF men at work
extracting ore, building houses, tramways
and making other imp oyeInsnts. Ii is
proposed to start the mill rs soon as the
batteries are set Battery timbers are
now being cut and hauled to the mill.
When once this mill begins to pound out
gold it will be a permanent soarce of rev
enue and there viii be regular Joy roll
in camp.
The big copper lead eight miles from the
lake is said to be e great showing. Re-
ports have it that the Butte d Boston
aolds an option on the lead which ex-
tends over a number of claims. Should
this or any other wealthy corporation
take hold of that property and begin to
extract ore it would be boon to the
lake district, for it is believed that, II
the copper lead ever does amount to any
thing, the town will be at Moose lake.
Besides ore indications in that district
there are placer claims the several
forks of Rock creek which are attracting
more or less interest in this city. While
no Klondike reports come UP from there,
prospects have been had that encourage
the holders of claims to the extent that
work will be prosecuted on bedrock the
coming season.
The district is about 40 miles southwest
of Anaconda In the the roads
are good. In the winter they are not. Dur
ing rainy seasons they are almost impas-
sable. Last summer the road across
Georgetown flats was improved some
what, but 1t probably will not be much
better than it is unless the citizens of
Anaconda take hold of II and fix 1t. The
short cut from the east fork of Rock
creek crossing to the lake could be put
in shape by an expenditure of a few hun
bred dollars.
Further down Rock creek the ranchers
and placer miners are anxious to put
themselves on the main line to Anaconda.
They are willing to repair the road as far
their labor will do 1t. but 1t Is desired
that the citizens of Anaconda assist them
to the extent of furnishing bridge mate
rial As the road now is it is necessary
to ford creeks four times coming from
their valley to this city BY repairing a
couple Of bridges that are sometimes used
and building two new ones the road
would be in first-class shape for travel
and Anaconda would benefit by the ex-
penditure of few hundred dollars.
Colonel O'Leary of this city is in COM
munication with residents of lower Rock
creek and its tributaries in regard to the
proposed road repairs. They agree to do
their share of work provided the citizens
of this city do theirs. The section of road
spoken of is in Granite county, and 1t is a
fact that that county will not put 1t in
shape to benefit this town. SO If 1t is to be
repaired the work must be done by pri-
vate subscription III this city. Colonel
O'Leary has spoken to number of bust
ness men here regarding the matter and
they all offer to assist. No subscription
paper has been circulated, but probably
will be this week.