The Philipsburg mail., 1899-01-20

New Interest Being Taken in Their Develop
ment-A Promising Future,
RICH STRIKE ON GOLD CREEK
\ Large Body of Gold-Bearing Quartz
Has Been Uncovered Several Miles
North of the Royal-Samples
Literally Full of Gold.

A rich strike is reported on the head
of Gold Creek, several miles north of
the Royal mine and in the vicinity of
the claims of the Potosi Mining COM
pany, which have just been patented.
The fortunate owners of the new bo-
nanza are Messrs. Smoke and May
nard, who have for some time past
been developing some promising gold
claims. The lead is large one-prob-
able the largest ever struck in that
district-and while it is not all like
some samples exhibited, it is said to
assay we'll above 500 in gold to the
ton and to be sufficiently rich to in
sure a profit above all expenses of ship
ping without sorting, even from that
remote locality. Chunks Of the ore are
literally covered with gold, and would
no doubt assay away up i'll the thous-
ands, while the entire lead, which has
beCn found in places over six feet in
width, would pay to ship. A tunnel
to crosscnt the lead has been driven,
and the ore body discovered a few days
ago exceeded even the confident eXpec-
tatiOnS of the fortunate owners. 1t is
pretty generally known that all leads
of any value ever discovered at the
head of Gold creek are small. Often
several parallel veins are found in
closs proximity, and all of the small
veins contain considerable gold but
| 40 RI ! c n i,,i
this gold bearing rock (Which is most
ly of a decomposed nature) from the
waste, and large per cent is lost.
large veins have been found to be bar
rem or of low grade, and little atten-
tion has been paid to their develop
ment.
Since the discovery made by Messrs.
Smoke and Maynard more attention
will perhaps be directed to the dcvel-
opment of the larger leads, and perhaps
the ore will be found of a higher grade
as depth is attained.
The ore recently uncovered by
Messrs. Smoke and Maynard in their
crosscut tunnel was of comparatively
low grade on the surface, and the
strike made will no doubt encourage
others to develop their prospects.
Numerous other valuable properties
are located in the immediate vicinity.
The claims of the Potosi Mining com
pany of Butte are directly adjoining,
and another promising group of claims
owned by Messrs. Sullivan and Boyer,
is also among the contiguous proper
ties. The Gold Ore Mining company
of Tacoma, and other parties, own
claims on the west.
Another valuable property is being
developed by VIM. Gilmore, on Pike S
Peak, and some very rich ore has been
found at this place. Messrs. Sullivan
and Boyer are working OH the Glad
stone this winter: George A. May
wood is developing his claims Oh
Lookout mountain, and good many
men are scattered among the hills de-
veloping their mining interests.
All attention at present is centered
on the claim of Messrs. Smoke and
Maynard, and a general revival of in.
terest in mines on the head of Gold
creek is sure to follow. The exceed
ingly rich placers short distance be-
| low have been the subject for much
speculation. and the general belief of
mining men familiar with that sec
tiOn is that the ore bodies which have
contributed the gold found in these
placers have as yet not been found.
The many parallel leads, all of which
are gold bearing, is additional indica-
tion of the generally accepted theory
that large lead, rich in gold, exists
in this section and that the leads
found so far are only feeders or string
ers from the mother lode. The great
est drawback to this promising min
ing section seems to be an over -abund-
ance of water, and it requires machin-
cry to develop mines to any depth. A
future most promising is before the
district, and once a company is sue
cessfully operating to any extent with
machinery. and depth is attained, the
Gold creek mines will be known every
where.