The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
BIG FIRE At THE PAYNE
Ore House and Machinery Are
Totally Destroyed.
THE FEELING IN CANADA
w. l.. Hoge Talks interestingly OF His
Trip Through British Columbia-Peo-
pie There Favor the United
States In Present Struggle.

w. L. Hoge and F.. K. Sergeant re-
turned yesterday from a visit to their
mining properties at Sandon Il. c..
where they went to o after their in
terests in the Payne mine A. w. Nc
Cune was also one of the party. bu
he did not return to Anaconda with the
others, as ne was compelled to retrace
his steps to Sandon after having reach
ed Nelson.
ernoon Mr.. Hoge said that the party
found things looking well throughout
the British Columbia mining districts
which they visited, and he expressed
himself as being well satisfied with the
showing made by the Payne. An I'M
fortunate occurrence was the fire which
destroyed one of the buildings at the
Payne on the 18th. The party left San
don on their return trip on the evening
Of the 18th. When they left everything
about the mine was In a satisfactory
condition. They reached Nelson on the
18th. While there they received a tele-
gram stating that the ore house, In
which were located the engines. rock
breaker n headgear for the tramway.
was on fire, and its total
probable. Mr.. McCune left the party
at Nelson and went back to the Payne
to look after the fire.
Mr.. Hoge n Mr.. Sergeant continued
on their way homeward. Mr.. Hoge has
so far received no particulars as to the
cause. 1t may have been caused by the
o~verheating of the brakes, which con-
troll the tramway. or possibly from an
explosion of gasoline used in the engine
room. 1t will take about 60 days to re-
pair the damage n get things In shape
again. During that time the opera
tions at the Payne will be suspended.
The loss is estimated by Mr.. Hoge at
from $12. 900 to $4,000.
The Payne has been shipping large
quantities of ore to the Omaha, Pueblo
and Everett smelters. and as soon as
the burned buildings are replaced. ship
ping will be resumed. Mr.. Hoge ex-
poets the summers work to be produce
tive of satisfactory results.
Asked as to the sentiment OF the Ca
madam citizens through the sections
visited by him. with reference to the
war between the United States and
Spain. Mr.. Hoge said:
The feeling in British Columbia. as
regards the present international strug-
gle, is. l am gratified to say. strongly
in favor of the United States. 1 was
pleased to note the unanimity with
which the citizens of British Columbia
are with this country in the struggle. ]
am speaking now of the native Cana
dams, and not of the Americans who
have gone int the country. without
going into details / can simply say that
every man whom ! talked with. and
saw a number, Is as strongly In favor
OF the Americans as the people OF Ana
conda are. There Is just as much inter
est being taken In the war there. too
as there is right here at home. Crowds
stand i'm front of the bulletin boards
as anxious for fresh news from the from
as they are anywhere. The newspapers
are all taking the part of the United
States in the wal with Spain. and
can safely say that the Canadians arr
Just as earnest in their desire to see
Spain given a good drubbing as w
are"
MIR. Hoge said that the outlook for a
big year In the mining industry II
British Columbia is of a very rosy KIND
He states that Rossland is looking wei
and. in fact. all of the mining towns
of that section give indications or q
prosperous summer
II do not see,'' said Mr.. Hoge, "wh,
people should want to go to the klon
dixie when there lis such a PROMISING
field In the district l have just visited
and where there is an entire absence o
the h%ardships that attend a trip to tn
Klondike. OF course the Klondike eX
element took a good many men out o
the British Columbia territory. but tn
Klondike no longer holds out any at
traction for them, and they are nov
turning their attention to developini
the mineral belts with which their owl
country abounds."