The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-01
ANACONDA news.
A NEW MINING DISTRICT
On the Rock and Stony Creeks
in Granite County.
EXTENSIVE ORE BODIES
A Splendid Group of Mines Being De-
veloped by e. j.. Corcoran of This
City and Rex Lindsay-Gen-
eral Mining News.

One mining section of Granite county,
Z says the ~Philipsburg Mail, comparative
ly unknown outside of its immediate
vicinity, is the country between west
fork of Rock and Stony creeks. About
10 miles west of Philipsburg on the
eastern bank OF Rock creek a splendid
group of mines is being developed by
Rex" Lindsay of his city and E.. j..
Corcoran of Anaconda. Although rich
hoat a been found at the foot of the
mountain on several occasions, the lead
was not discovered until 1898, when the
Famous Quartz gulch placers across
n creek attracted so much attention.
After the great silver mines of Gran
lite county were shut down in 1898 a
number of the miners turned prospec-
tors and a good many new discoveries
were made that summer. Thu Lindsay
Corcoran properties are situated in an
ideal location, the working being on
the hillside several hundred feet above
the creek, while a five-stamp mill is
grinding out the yellow metal at the
foot of the mountain. The ore bodies
are large and extensive, having been
traced for several miles, and while the
ore is not as rich as some specimens
that have been found, the average is
very good, and with better facilities
~ tiNdtiilSAA, LdiiioOllic pIOlllS are dS-
sured.
Across Rock creek. about a mile in
a westerly direction from this place,
are the placers of Quartz and Basin
gulches. Ever since the gradual de-
crease in placer mining of the early
days in Montana, was ii presumed by
many that the placers had all been dis
covered and the attention of the pros
pector was directed chiefly to quartz.
When the slump in the white metal
in 1893 paralyzed silver mining in this
country, the early idea of placer mining
was again revived, and as a result thou
sands of dollars worth of gold dust
has been taken from the gravel of sew
eral gulches in this section.
The Eureka placer mines, situated
near the mouth of Quartz gulch. are
owned by a corporation-the Eureka
Mining company. Although gold was
on this property in the year
1898, no work of any consequence was
done until 1895, owing to some litfga-
ton over the ownership. For the last
three seasons, however, work has been
prosecuted vigorously and a goodly
quantity of gold has been taken out.
There is one great drawback to placer
mining in this section, the shortage of
water, which limits the season for
washing the gravel to May and June.
Some years when the snowfall in the
mountains is light the run will not last
more than six weeks, and water must
be r~eservoired at night and sparingIy |
handled during the day time. The
ground, however, is fine. nicer
looking grave never was seen any,
where. About 10 men are usually en-
ployed in these diggfngs, and with the
aid of a small hydraulic from $4,000 to
$4,000 worth of gold dust is generally
washed out during the short season. 1t
is estimated that at least half a mill
lion in gold is deposited within the
boundaries of this piece of ground. and
with a moderate head Of water through
out the year would soon place the stock
holders in comfortable circumstances.
In Basin gulch, a tributary of Quartz,
a number of parties are successfully
operating placer mines. Like in Quartz
gulch, the shortage of water confines
the season for washing to the spring
months, when the snow water is SWELL
ing the little mountain streams. Esti-
mates based on the amount of gold
dust extracted from several claims in
this gulch place the value of the grav-
ell on an average of IS a cubic yard,
ana under the present system of work.
ing there will be placer mining in these
parts for many years to come.
Gold was discovered in this gulch
during the summer of 1893 by II. G..
Allen and his partner, w. G.. Specs.
who ~prospected during that summer,
ana IN with Sim ShiVely, now
on an exploration tour in the Klondike.
located the first claims in this district.
Their work for the first season was con-
flned to rockers, but the prospect was
so encouraging that a system of work.
ing on as large a scale as the limited
water supply would permit, was arrang-
and three small hydraulics are now
in operation in this gulch during the
brief season every year. Notwfthstand-
ing that the water is scarce and only
SIX or eight men are employed in the
several digg1ngs. these placers produce
something like SIS, 900 or $40. 900 worth
OF gold every season. The gold is what
would be termed coarse gold and some
nuggets have been found. 1t
Is nothing unusual during the mining
season to see a two and a half pound
baking powder can full of gold dust
standing on the window sill of a min
ers cabin in the gulch.
The first diggings near the mouth of
Basin gulch, and adjoining those of the
Mining company, are owned by
j. t. Pardee of this city. From six 70
eight men are employed here during !
the mining season, and with the aid of
a hydraulic $4,000 or 1900 are taken
out every spring.
Sam Watson, an old-time Granite
miner, is working the adjoining ground
above Mr.. Pardee. He also has a hy-
draulic and several men employed.