The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-27
PROSPEROUS FORT STEELE
The North Star II Ready to Ship
400 Tons q Day.
JOINT CELEBRATION
Independents a Dominion Day win
30 Observed ct Fort stssie-Cans-
diana Have . Personal Interest
In he Result of the War.

Great Falls. May 2e.-N. L. McCurran.
manager Of the North Star Mine at Fort
Steele. IL in the city to-day looking after
b business Of his company. which. at
the present time. is shipping its ore by
way of the Kootenai river and Jennings
to the smelter in this city. This evening
he said to a Standard reporter that the
seasons shipments had begun and
would be continued throughout the
summer. The total amount to be shipped
is about $500 tons Of ore. Last sum-
mer the company was hampered by the
fact that there was but one boat run
ming on the river after the wrecking
Of the North Star In the spring and in
consequence the ore could not be ham
died very rapidly. This year, however,
there are two large boats running n
h shipments will consequently be
largely increased. At the same time
the ore shipped is some that was mined
two years ago.
In speaking of the camp, Mr.. McCur-
ran said that the North Star had been
the only mine in Fort Steele which had
worked steadily throughout the winter,
and most of the work done on it was in
the way of development. Other claims
have lain idle, covered with deep snow.
which has not yet disappeared. AS soon
as it goes off work will and
it is likely hat many good mines will
be our between this time and fall. The
improvements in the navigation of the
Kootenai river, In the securing Of which
David G. Browne of this city played an
important part, will have a tendency to
increase the development of the mining
property In that country. but most OF
the owners at present are waiting for
the extension Of the Northern Pacific to
reach the place. That will make 1t pos
siple to ship ore which now Is worth
less. The North Star management is
intending to put In a spur track run
ing to the mine and then 1t will be
easy to ship 200 tons a day, the ore be-
ing blocked out now. although the mine
Is not running.
Fort Steele is apparently In a very
prosperous condition. Mr.. McCurran
stated hat 1t had raised the sum of
81 1000 for a grand celebration. beginning
of the LIST of July, and running through
the Fourth, thus being a celebration of
both Canadian and United States events,
Dominion day and Independence day.
Excursion trains will be run from Spo-
kane, Seattle, Victoria n Vancouver
and the inauguration of the camps con-
nection with the outside world will he
one 10 De ItHitII1DtTcu. III NoihcStioh
with this celebration of an American
holiday, Mr.. McCurran remarked that
any one who spoke the English tongue
would be exceedingly foolish to do other
wise han wish the Americans well In
their fight with Spain. So far as h
had observed people on the other side
of the line felt the same as those on this
and took every bit as much interest in
il. Daily kilograms on the wal are re-
as.-A A+ Earf Gtonln nrinfnd and niTan-
lated throughout the camp and sought
after as eagerly as are the Standard
bulletins at this point, showing that the
Canadians take a personal interest in
the outcome.
Among the Americans at Fort Steele
with whom Mr.. McCurran is acquainted
are H.. r. Collett and Thomas Starbird,
who spent several weeks In this city
during the spring. They rave four
claims there which are as yet undevel-
oped. but appear very promising. While
there are many Americans all through
the Kootenais, the larger part of the
capital invested al Fort Steele Is Ca
madam, as in West Kootenai II is En-
glish. The gentleman stated that from
what he had learned he believed that
development on this side Of the line to
the south Of Fort Steele would show UP
some excellent mines.
The Standard reporter asked what ef-
feet the building of the road would
have upon the shipments of ore to this
city. Mr.. McCurran said he could not
tell at the present time. 1t was all a
matter of transportation rates: IL the
present cost could be beaten by ship
ment over the Canadian Pacific to some
Eastern emelter then that would prob
ably be done II the reduction was great
er than the difference in tariff and ex-
port duty. These latter consideration
are now working for the benefit OF
American smelters. There had beer
considerable talk of building smelters al
Fort Steele, but that was a very indef-
mite matter and in his opinion not feast
BILE.
As an illustration of the manner In
which the camp had grown, he quoted
the history of the camps paper, thu
Fort Steele Prospector. 1t was started
in the early days of the camp-and thest
were not so long ago-by a man named
Grace, who wrote out his news on q
typewriter, and likewise his advertise
ments, and then made copies of his orig
inal on a mimeograph. He was editor
business circulation depart
ment and advertising agent. all in one
Now ne has an excellent press and toi
room and affords the luxury of a sala'