The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17
A YEAR IN THE MINES
What Has Been Gained in Depth
and in Development.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR
The Number Of Men Employed in Each
Mine The Fatal Acct
dents OF the Past
Year.

The annual report of Deputy Mining
Inspector Frank Hunter for the year
ending December / was filed with Gov
ernor Smith few days ago. The re-
port deals with all mines in Silver Bow,
Deer Lodge and Beaverhead counties,
gives the number of men employed and
the fatal accidents. In introduction
the report says:
During the year 1893 more men
have been employed in the mines Of
Silver Bow county than during any
preceding year. This was partly due
to the demand and high price of copper
during the year. and partly to the fact
that the. mines are now developed on
such a large scale that a greater num-
Der Of men are required to keep the
openings in proper shape. The shaft
| development, however, was not nearly
| as great as in 1898 This was due to
| the fact that during the latter year
| there was performed an extraordinary
| amount of shaft development, and the
| present year was devoted chiefly to the
| opening Of the developed ground. A
| great amount Of shaft development is
| mapped out for next year.
/ y
| and larger machinery has been installed
at many of the larger mines. Several
| engines were also placed in position,
each Of which has the capacity of de-
! veloping to depth of 1000 or more
| feet. Several new galows frames were
| erected, one at the Diamond, one at the
| High Ore and another at the Stewart.
| The managers of the big companies
are planning to dispense entirely with
| the shaft house, in order to guard
| against fire. The Boston g. Montana
| and Parrot companies are also con-
| templating putting in position new
| steel gallows frames and skips. A
| combination of skips and cages, such
1 as has been in use in Johannesburg
1 for several years, has been introduced
| In Butte and are working very Success
fully at the larger mines. In some
cases the double-deck cages are used,
sometimes with the skip on top and
former are used in nliues where the
dump chute is above the collar Of the
shaft, and the latter where the dump
| is below the collar Of the shaft. These
skips have capacity of eight tons
each, end the cages are used only for
1 hosting and lowering men and tinlbers.
4 Horses are now used In nearly all
of the larger mines of the district. and
are stabbed underground. They are
| said to be a success.
In my opinion the depth of many Of
\ the Butte mines has reached such
4 point that the natural mode of venti
lation is entirely inadequate for their
proper ventilation. In the large mines
| one mine is ventilated through the
other and the air passing from one
mine to the other loses Its properties
4 The remedy for this is separate air
| shaft with a large fan on the surface
This method Is employed at all OF the
coal mines of the country. In the near
future some such improved system of
ventilation will be required in the Butte
| mines. While no fatal results have yet
| been recorded from this cause, mining
men are giving the matter much at
| tention.
THE f1ashlight system of call bells
is now in general use in the Butte
mines and Is giving general satisfac
ton. During the year just closing the
Anaconda company has installed the
system in many of it's mines.
Owing to the low price of silver
only few Of the silver mines were in
operation. Probably about 1000 men
have been employed in leasing oper~
ations around the Butte district"
The following table compiled by the
inspector shows the depth of the Butte
mines, the number of feet sunk in 1899
and the number of men employed: