The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-04
AFFAIRS IN BELT.
Finishing Touches Being Put to the New
Washing Plant.

Special Correspondence of the Standard
Belt, March 3.-The carpenters and
painters are putting the last finishing
touches upon the new coal washing
plant and before the end of the week
the glowing fires of the coke ovens will
herald the return of prosperity to the
little coal camp. A trial of the new
mill was made yesterday with most
satisfactory results. To-day, for the
first time since the burning of the old
washer. coking coal is being sent out
from the mine, and by this evening the
new mill will be in shape to handle
the entire output. The new mill is a
model one. complete in every detail.
Only the latest improved machinery
for that class of work has been placed
in the building, and no finer coal wash
ing plant can be found in America
The rough stock from the mine is
washed by the new hydraulic process
and the work is done in a most excellent
manner. All rock, bone and sulphur is
removed with absolutely no waste Of
coal. This part of the mill has a ca
pacity of 1000 tons per day, which is
probably more slack than will ever
come from the mine during that period
or time. In that part of the mill through
which the coking coal goes, jigs have
been put in much the same as were
those in the old building To insure a
good quality of coke, the coal must be
crushed until it is of about the fineness
of coarse ground coffee and every par
ttcle of sulphur and dirt must be re-
moved. In the handling of coal of this
fneness by the hydraulic process it
would not be possible to entirely remove
all the objectionable matter hence the
5igs. This part of the mill is especially
compact and complete and has a ca
pacity equal to or greater than the de-
mand of the 100 coke ovens. BY the
middle of next week it is expected that
the ovens will be burning full blast.
Forty or fifty men will be again en-
ployed there and the several hundred
miners who dig the coal will be receiv-'
ing on an average, perhaps, 81 per day
more for their labor
Last week Alex Houtri, a Finlander.
VINO conducts a boarding house up on
the hill near where the old No. | tip
pie used to stand, was taken to Great
Fails and examined as to his sanity.
The examining board decided he was
not dangerously insane and he was re-
turned to his home. For the past few
days he has been growing constantly
worse, and at present is in most I'M
fortunate condition. He imagines all
the great armies and nayies of the
world are after him and he has re-
Gently threatened to end his own life
Tauher than be taken by them. He has
a wife and three children who are
heartbroken over the husband and faith
er's unfortunate malady.
An epidemic of German measles is
prevailing in the camp, and in conse
quence the schools are closed until fur
Their notice. Principal Remington was
a sufferer, but is much improved Tn |
in the Kennedy addition every one is |
healthy, and through some mistake
Miss Sanford was not notified of the
closing of the schools and she and her |
pupils have missed the vacation that |
Is being enjoyed by the downtown
schools.
The dance given by the new dancing
club in /. o. o. F. hall on Monday night
was one of the most enjoyable of the
season. In the prize waltzes Miss Marie
Ingham won the ladies' prize and Gil
bert Trundell the gentlemen's.
Tuesday evening Deputy Sheriff Nc
Cloud arrested Robby Hufer and Eddie
Giles, two young Helena boys, who had
run away from their homes. The boys