The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-08-26
RICH COLD 8ECYl0N
WITHIN GRANITE COUNTY
Quartz and Basin Clutches, Tributaries Of
Rock Creek, Promise Great Things
in Placer and Quartz.

Rock creek splendid group mines is
being dev loped by "Rex" Lindsay, of
this city, and E. j. Corcoran, of Ana
conda Although rich float had been
found at the foot of the mountain on
several occasions the lead was not dis.
covered until 1893, when the famous
Quartz gulch placers across the creek
so much attention.
After the the great silver mines of
Granite county were shut down in 1898
Il number of the miners turned prospec-
tors and good many new discoveries
were made that summer The Lindsay
Corcoran properties are situated in an
ideal location, the workings being on the
hillside several hundred feet above the
creek, while a ive-stamp mill is grind
ing out the yellow metal at the foot of
the mountain. The ore bodies are
quite large and extensive. having be n
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 for
treatment handsome profits are a, sured.
Across Rock creek, about a mile in a
westerly direction from this place, are
the placers of Quartz and BASIN gulcnes
Ever since the gradual decrease in
placer mining OF the early days in NJ on-
tana, was it presumed by many that the
placers had all been discovered and the
attention of the prospectcr was directed
chiefly to quartz. When the lump in
the white metal in 1893 paralysed silver
mining In this country, the early idea of
placer mining was again revived, and as
a result thousands of dollars worth Of
gold dust has been taken from the grav-
el of several gulches in this section.
The Eureka placer mines, situated
near the mouth of Quartx gulch, are
owned by corporation - the Eureka
Mining company. A though gold was
discovered on this property In the year
1893, no work of any consequences was
done until 1895, ewing to some litigation
oyer the ownership. For the last three
seasons, hewever, work has been prose
cnted vigorously and a goodly quantity
OF gold has been taken out. There is
one great d awback TO placer mining in
this section, the shortage of water, which
limits the season for waehang the
gravel to May and June. Some years
wien the snowfall 10 the mountalns is
laght the run will not last more than SIX
weeks, and water must he reseryoired at
night aud ssparingly handled d9ring the
Gay time. he grOrUd. howeveG. is fine,
and nicer Booking graz el never was seen
anywhere Abont ten men are usually
eEnployed in these ,5iggings. and with
H.,f- hv,A M
to SIS, 900 worth OF gold dust is generally
is estimated that at least half a million
ia gold is deposited Within the bound
aMes of THE piece of ground. and with a
moderate head OF water throughout the
year would coon place the stockholders
In quite comfortable circumstances In
Basin gulch, tributary of Quartz, II
nuna Der of parties are successful oper-
at1ng placer mines. Like III Quarlz
gulch, the shortage of water confines the
season for washing to thespring mon hs,
when the snow water is swelling the lit
tie mountain streams. Estimates based
on the amount of gold dust extracted
FROM several claims in this guIch places
the value Of the gravel ON an average of
IS per cubic yard, and under the present
system of working there will be placer
mining in these parts for macy years to
come.
Gold was discovered in this gulch dur
ing the summer of 1893 by Ii. G. Allen
and his partner, G. w Specs, who pros
pected during that summer, and in com.
pany with Sim Shively, now on an ex-
ploratton tour in the kJondike, located
the first claims IN this district. Their
work for the first season was confined to
rockers, but the prospect was SO encour-
aging that system OF working on as
large scale as the limited water sup
ply would permit, was arranged, and
three small hydraulics are now in oper.
alton n this gulch during he brief sea
son every year. Notwithst tanding that
the water is scarce aud only six or eight
men are employed in the several diggings,
these placers produce something like
$4,000 or $4,000 worth of gold every
season. The gold is what would be
termed coarse gold and some very hand
some nuggets have been found. 1t IS
nothing unusual during the mining sea-
son to see 215 pound baking powder
can full OF gold dust standing on the
window sill Of mlner's cabin in the
gulch.
The first digRings near the mouth OF
Basin gulch, and adjoining those of the
Eureka Mining company, are owned by
J. t. Pardee of this city. From six to
eight men are employed here durng the
mining season, and with the aid of a
hydraulic three to four thousand dollars
are taken out every spricg.
Sam Watson, an old-time Granite
miner is working the ADJOINING pronnd
above Mr.. Pardee. He also has by
draulic and several men employed. What
Mr.. Watson takes out of his claim is
only known to himself. but from the ma
ture and location OF his ground the out
put cannot be less than that of ms close
neighbor
NJ Messrs. H. G. Allen and G. w. Specs
own the ground above Mr.. Watson and
during the brief mining season take out
a respectable little pile OF the yellow