The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-08

minis and from confidential replies
made by individuals. mining compa-
MES, smelters and refneries to inter-
rogatories and letters, aided by per-
sonal investigation and travel. Every
care has been exercised to avoi dupli-
cations and the results are reliable
and accurate.
The changes made in the geography
of the state by the legislature which
convened in January, 1897. affected the
production of several counties. Broad
water county was created from ad-
Joining portions of Jefferson and
Meagher counties. Additional areas
were also segregated from Meagher
county to be annexed to Cascade and
to Lewis and Clarke counties. Thus
what of late years had been the metal
producing districts We're taken from
Meagher county. However, this coun-
ty has not lost its prestige as a mining
region. The recently constructed Mon
tana railroad, connecting the lead car
Donate camp of Castle in Meagher
county with the Northern Pacific rail-
road. was put n operation during the
year and encouraged h a district to
a new activity. Meagher county, there
fore. became n largest lead produc-
ing county in the state.
In Montana gold Is obtained either
from the auriferous gravels of placer
nlIICt vi IIOIu III VI iooCb hin ~
one of the following methods:
(a)-By smelling ore from the veins
or lodes.
Cb)-By milling. amaigamation and
concentration. together with cyaniding
of quartz ores.
(c)-By placer. hydraulic mining or
dredging OF gravels.
The smelling products from odes
and veins comprised those generally
classed as copper, lead M dry ores.
The gold derived from this source was
l07, St7.374 fine ounces or 81, 231. 883. 70.
equivalent to 4e.G per cent. of the en-
tire gold yield OF the state. The gain
for 1897 in this class of ore amounted
to II. 146. s5s fine ounces. or $3.50. AS. IL.
During 1897 there was a decrease of
| sees. 044 fine ounces or 313s. 1884 in the
production Of mill bullion over that
of the previous year. The proportion
obtained by mills to the total yield OF
gold in the state was 35 per cent. This
decrease has q partial explanation In
the fac that the mills OF the Mon
tana Mining company, Limited, drum
Lummon mine) at M~arysville. were
idle until May 1. pending exploration
OF ore bodies In the mine. As h fg-
ures include the product from cyanide
plants. there was still a small decrease
beyond that explained in the shutting
dow of the Montana company's mills
The output by this company from theiI
cyanide plant during h latter part
of the season In a measure also affects
he decreased output from their gold
mills.
The output of gold from placers
during 1897 was 33.41s.s23 fine ounce
or $3.50, s30.43. The increase over 1881
was a small one. The year 1896 had
been a favorable one for placer min
ing. but the miners report 1897 to have
beef a short season for water" Thi,
was due TO the quick and early melt
ing of the SHOWS and to Z
scarcity OF spring rains. IL was ex
pected. therefore. that the figures TO
1891 would show a decreased outpu
from the placers as compared witt
those OF the previous year. However
the Introduction and successful opera
ton OF machines. or dredges. effecte,
an increase and inaugurated a new er,
in the history of Montana placer min
ing. The results achieved by thes
dredges during the year merit NOR
than a passing notice, as they promis
IN materially increase the output o
placer gold in the near future. The,
are. therefore. fully described else