The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-16
IN TWIN BRIDGES.
The Old Camp of Rochester Coming to
the Front.


the Front.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Twin Bridges. April ia recent trip
to Rochester discloses the fact that that
old camp is once more coming to the
front and the chances for big mining
camp are very bright indeed. The dis
trict is one Of the Oldest in the county
and in times gone by has furnished its
share Of the filthy lucre," but of late
years not much in a mining way has
been accomplished. The mines pro-
duce good ore yet but under the pc
culiar conditions existing they are not
tions of the properties are being work
ed by lessees with good results. 1t
is only here lately that capital is get
ting interested. The last few months
the camp is appearing something like
it was in 67-'6s. when the stamp mills
were in operation.
The Watseca is probably the most
talked about mine in the district. The
Watseca group consists Of four patent
ed mining claims, the Watseca, Vienna,
Julia Holmes and the Paucippa. The
Watseca veins are found in mica
schist The main vein of the property
has been traced through the entire
length of the Watseca trio, Vienna
and Julia Holmes claims, a distance
have been expended in development
work in former years. In 1887 F. r.
Merk, the present owner, placed the
first steam machinery. including a So
horse power boiler and hoist, on the
mine. Messrs. Shoemaker and Mueller
leased the mine and attempted to sink
shaft. but could not handle the water,
so they discontinued operations. Dave
Bricker of Butte took a lease on the
entire Watseca property two years la
ter and placed a 60-horse power boiler
on the mine. After sinking the shaft
about seven feet and starting two
drifts on the vein, an accident to his
pumps compelled him to give up, and
the lease was transferred to Colorado
parties, who worked it for some time,
but for some unknown caus" gave it
up, claiming the water could not be
handled, but mining experts say this
Is all bosh. Of course the flow Of water
was considerable, is it required three
pumps to handle it-about 800 gallons
per minute.
Butte and Anaconda parties are now
handling the property and work has
been in progress some six weeks. get
ting adequate machinery in shape to
begin operations on a large scale.
Among the recent improvements are
two S0-horse power boilers, to be used
in sinking the double compartment
shaft. which is in size 41ax7-412X41a, and
is provided with q manWay and fire eS-
cape to be used in case of the top build
ings getting on fire. Sinking on the
400 foot shaft will commence in a few
weeks and two sets of Burlcigh drills
will be used in the work. Development
work is to be thoroughly done, as seV-
eral thousand dollars has been set aside
for that purpose. The work is ucder
the supervision Of Mir. Merritt.
The Mueller mill, which usually treats
ore from the Buffalo mine. owned by +.
Mueller. will resume operations and Will
be prepared to treat custom ore.
The Joe Clark MILL it is understood,
will be ready to handle ore about May
l. Mr.. Clark built this mill some two
years ago as an experiment, is the pro-
cess (rollers) was an entirely new one,
but as far as can be learned, has proven