The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1899-01-13
Mining Operations Will Begin on an Exten.
sive Scale EARLY Next Spring.
PROSPECTS OF MOOSE GULCH
Splendid Results Are Expected From That
SectiOn-PrOspectOrs Are AnxiOusIy
Awaiting the Approach of
Spring quartz Gulch.


operations in the well known placer
district of Rock creek The claims
owned by the Eureka Mining COM
pany comprise, perhaps, the greater
portion of the placer ground in the
gulch. and they have for several years
past been successfully operated during
the placer mining season. Everything
is now in readiness, and washing will
begin as early as possible in the
spring. The bitches, fumes and hy-
draulic machinery are in perfect re-
pair and no time will be lost when
the season opens.
Since the discovery of the Quartz
gulch placers considerable attention
has been given to other gulches in
that district and encouraging results
have been obtained Ill several in
stances. w. T. Hull, prominent
Rock creek resident, expects to do con-
siderable placer mining in "a gulch not
very far from his ranch. The gulch
heads IN the same mountain range as
Quartz gulch, and good prospects have
been found in several places. A num-
ber of claims We're located several
years ago by Philipsburg parties and
considerable prospecting was done,
but the pay-streak was not discovered.
During the past summer Mr. Hull did
some prospecting in this gulch, and
the gravel panned sufficiently we'll to
convince him of the value of the
ground, and he subsequently purchased
the rights and claims from the orig
inal locators. Additional develop
ments last fall assured him that the
pay streak was there and that he had
found it; at least he feels positive that
the gravel will pay to work. Fumes
and other appurtenances for placer
mining will be put on the ground and
working test will be made as soon as
the snow disappears in the spring.
Another gulch that is attracting
considerable attention is Moose gulch,
a tributary to Stony creek. This
gnlch heads in the same vicinity as
the famous Quartz gulch and it gives
promise of developing into another
placer bonanza. The waters of Moose
and Quartz gulches have practically
the same source. as the gulches head
very closely together, Quartz gulch tax
ing northerly course while Moose gulch
turns westward and forms tributary
OF Stony creek. Perhaps the best
placer ground in the gulch is owned
by Stingle brothers aud Rodgers, who
are also among the largest stockholders
OF the Eureka company. The posses
slons OF these gentlemen consist of
three claims, and considerable deve.- |
opment work has been done on these |
claims during last summer and fall. |
The value of the ground has for some
time been determined, and bedrock |
was reached at a depth of % feet. The |
gulch was rather difficult to prospect.
owing to the water and swampy condi-
ton, and the sinking Of shaft was
out OF the question. An open cut
abont l3O feet long, however, proved |
that bedrock was about % feet deep |
and that gold existed in paying guam
titles. The fortunate owners com
the construction of reservoir |
at once, which was completed last
fall, and active mining operations will |
be carried on this summer. The gulch
sufficient water for hydraulic |
mining. and with the aid of the res.
ervolr operations can be carried Oh all |
This will prove great ad-
over Quartz gulch. where the
season for washing is limited to sew
eral weeks. and as the gravel is be-
lieved to be equally as rich, the gold
extracted during the summer will be
Messrs. Stingle and Rod
gers feel that they have a good mine
in Moose gulch. and confidently expect
much larger returns from this property
than from their interests in the we'll
known Eureka placers.
The efforts Of prospectors in the
Mountains west Of Rock creek have
oeen amply rewarded by nature, and
he coming summer will find more men
N this promising mining section than
'ver before. Several parties from this
'ity have already declared that they
expect to depart for the mountains
vest OF Rock creek as soon as the
now disappears, and no doubt other
miners will be added to Gran
to county's producers of wealth.
The LadrOne Islands.