The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-11
STATE MINE INSPECTOR
The Annual Report Has Been
Made.
A THRIVING INDUSTRY
It Gives Employment to l2316 Miners.
Forty Nine Fatal Accidents,
More Mines in Op-
Grafton.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Helena. Dec. 10.-The greatest of
Montana's industries, mining, fur
nished employment to 1886 miners
during the year ending Nov. 80, accord
ing to the report of State Mine Inspec-
tor John Byrne. made public to-day, of
the mines that come under the provis-
ions of the inspection. In this vast
army there We're 49 fatal accidents, an
increase of one over 1885, The report
shows that more mines are in opera
ton than when Mr.. Byrne last re-
ported to the governor. The state mine
inspector says the per cent of fatal
accidents was 3.e7 in every LOCO miners
employed, as compared with i.32 last
year. The inspector deplores the fact
that the laws of the state in relation
to mining are deficient, and in order to
have defects relnedied he recommends
the appointment by the governor of
commission to prepare a set of regu-
lations that shall define the response
bi1ities of the mine owner to his en-
ployes, and vice versa, thereby protect
ing the miner without placing an oner-
GUS burden upon the employer. The
report furnishes a vast amount Of in
teresting and instructive information
concerning the industry in general The
inspector refrains from reviewing the
mines inspected in detail, because of
the law passed by the last legislature
providing for printing the reports of
state officers but once in two years. He
refers, however, in a. general way brief
ly to the development work in the diff
ferent counties.
"A comparison Of the mining indus
try during the year 1899 with previous
years exhibits a marked improvement"
says the inspector More mines are
In operation; a greater number of men
employed; better methods and results
In the mining, smelling, milling, cyan
iding, and the combination of those
and other processes which are being
applied to the recovery of values con-
tanned in the ores of this state. The
results Of the improvements in this
direction are of incalulable benefit to
the chief industry of our state, for not
only is the productive area of the reg
ular producing lodes increased in con-
sequence. but several old mines, after
long period Of inactivity, have again
resumed operations and are yielding
handsome profits from a class of ores
that were worthless to their early
operators.
Plenty of Exploiting.
The copper, silver and gold lodges
We're actively exploited during the year.
The further explorations carried on in
Butte district have developed no change
In either the quality of the ores or
the size of the lodes. On the con-
trary. they have been added to largely
by discoveries made in developing new
ground. The silver mines of Granite
and Cascade counties are confronted
with a condition which has demanded
from the officials entrusted with their
affairs n thorough knowledge of the re-
spective local situations as Well as the
most intelligent economy in manage
ment to keep them in operation. The
price received for their product is SO
low that in order to realize a profit
they are obliged to extract only the
best grade of ores, except in instances
where the medium grades can be OBJ
tanned in large quantities. On this ac-
count prospecting for silver, and in
fact the development of the lodes of
that mineral which are known to ex-
ist has nearly ceased.
Lewis and Clarke County.
Lewis and Clarke county shows some
improvement over last year. While no
large discoveries can be recorded, some
small strikes were made in the gold