The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-07
THE TWO COLUSA MINES
The Meaderville Group Of Boston
& Montana Company.
THE WEST CoLUsA SHAFT
Horses Regularly Carried Through 1t fol
Work in the Depths-Some Won't
Work-Fine Engine-At tho
East Colusa.

In the last issue of the Standards
mining department somewhat detailed
mention was made of the noted Leon
ard shaft, the main seat of steam, air
and electrical power for the Boston &
Montana company's mines, as we'll as
the Butte & Boston reduction works.
But the Leonard is one of group
of three mines the shafts of which are
within few hundred feet of each 9TH
er and the underground workings about
as closely connected as If they were
all one mine. The other two are the
Colusas, EAST and West"
The East Colusa lies just a little
north Of east from the Leonard shaft,
and almost within the settled portion
of Meaderville. This is the smallest
mines. The shaft is sunk to a depth
of 300 feet. and Is covered with a secure
and comfortable building. The shaft
Is divided into two compartments, only
one of which is utilized for regular
hosting purposes, the other being used
Tor repairing the shaft and other works
below ground
AT this mine a total Of about so men
are employed, and about 800 cars of
ore per day is now being extracted,
which is a remarkably good showing
for the number of men and the small
hoist. The ore is taken from the 800,
400 and 500-foot levels.
The engine is a small LidgerWood
with a 12x12 cylinder, and said to be
capable of developing from 100 to 1876
horse power. The hosting is done with
single deck cages, the ore being raised
to a platform about 20 feet above the
collar of the shaft whence it is run by
hand to the ore dump, which is but a
few feet distant. This dump has just
been about doubled in capacity, hav-
ing been heightened out some 40 feet.
The mine, gets its steam and COM
pressed air from the Leonard, but it
has pump on the 900-root level. This
raises the water to the 900 level, whence
it runs by gravity to the Leonard and
is pumped to the surface. The East
amount of water flowing from the lev
els above to the 600, and thence over
TO the Leonard. The water contains a
large amount of copper, which is pre-
cipitated and saved in the tanks at the
Leonard.
AS the East Colusa is one of the Bos-
ton & Montanas small mines, so the
West Colusa is one of it's very great
est. This mine is noted for its i'm
mense shaft, the largest by far in the
Butte district. There are two regular
working compartments, each feet by 5
feet inches, and two smaller ones.
the two being just the size of one of
the larger compartments. The larger
ones are for the regular hoisting work
of the NINE while the smaller ones are
used for repair purposes. M
It is at this mine that the horses are
regularly lowered into the depths each
morning, and after performing their
days labor are brought to the surface
each evening. Altogether some five or
six horses are worked, being used in
CT IN ha
shaft. AS rule the horses are per-
fectly unconcerned in making these
trips, it being unnecessary to blindfold
them, and when below they perform
their work just as readily as if they
were upon the surface. In a few cases,
however, trouble has been had with
horses; it being found impossible to
make them work after getting them
down the shaft.
The cages used here are also single
deckers, but their great size enables
them to take two cars at a time, the
cars being run on end to end. The
mine is hosting fully the usual guam
tity OF ore, probably 400 to 450 tons a
day.
The West Colusa is equipped with
the most powerful hosting engine OF
any of this company's mines. It is a
Nordberg, double counterbalance. with
cylinders 20X60, and capable of devel-
oping about 1000 horse power. The en-
gine and everything connected with il
are kept in beautiful order and one
almost feels diffidence about entering
the engine room lest he may take somt
of the shine off.
This mine is we'll provided with al
necessary buildings and appurtenances
including carpenter shop, blacksmith,
shop, etc. The work of preparing tim
bers goes merrily on, and everything
pertaining to the work seems to be con-
veniently arranged. The saws are in q
single set of four, two perpendicular
and two horizontal. These finish one