The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-07
DRUMLUMMON REPORT
Operations for the First Half of
the Year 1890.
WORK OF CYANIDE PLANT
Good Returns FromTailings-NotE En- ough
Pay Ore to Run Both Mills-Da-
velopment Proceeds-Div-
idend Passed.

On the oath of October the directors
OF the Montana Mining company, lin
1ted, made their sem-annual report
for the six months ending the 30th day
of last June.
The property of this company, as is
generally known, is the famous Drum
lummon group of mines at Marysville.
together with the mills and cyanide
plant connected with the mines. The
report is Of a highly interesting char
acter, although less favorable than the
friends of the company and Marys-
Vile mining interests might wish. Still
it is by no means entirely discourag-
ing, and it is to be earnestly hoped
that further developments will restore
the mine to it's old-time FORM
This company has two stamp mills,
one of so and the other of so stamps,
both located just at the mouth if the
tunnel, through which the ore is ex-
tracted. The report shows that the
5O-stamp mill was in operation during
the entire half year, reducing 21,S22
tons Of ore, while the 60-stamp mill
1880 tons of ore, making total of
1852 tons. If both mills were run at
about the same ratio to their full ca
pacity this indicates much greater eff
fectiveness in the 50-stamp mill than
in the one with 60.
The 1852 tons of ore crushed repre-
sents the total output of the mine, the
value of which, as shown by the re-
turns, is given at $239, 9S7.35, an aver
age of s6.37 per ton. The total expense
of reduction is shown to have been
1921, 1861. equivalent to $3.50 per ton,
and leaving a net profit of $1s,030.44.
The most suggestive figures, though,
are those relating to the operations of
the cyanide plant, which is located
some four or five miles down the can
yon. At this plant from the 18th of
April to the Goth of June 2s,459 tons Of
tailings We're treated, the average real
ization being $3.41 ton, and the total
footing up $97,14417. The expense of
treatment was $40, 1895, an average
of $1.75 per ton, giving net profit of
SAL, 40022 on a run of two months and
- days. r
These figures are both significant
and instructive as showing the wonder
full cheapness with which tailings can
be treated by the cyanide process At
the rate given the profit on a years
run would be nearly quarter of
MILAN dollars from tailings alone.
When the enormous quantities of tall
ings owned by the company are con-
sidered, it is obvious that it's affairs
are in reasonably good condition, re-
CARELESS of the outlook in the NINE
OF the returns from the ore crushed.
$500 per cent. was gold and 11.40 per
cent. silver, while from the tailings
the bullion showed SASS per cent. gold
and 1919 per cent. silver. This indi-
Gated either that the ore now carries
a smaller relative percentage of silver
hoy nr11 %Ln+
a closer relative saving of silver than
there was when the tailings were de-
posted.
With reference to the condition of
the mine the report must be regarded
as unfavorable The pay ore has al
ways occurred in somewhat irregular
bodies, with barren ground between.
The bodies of pay ore that have been
uncovered have been so far exhausted
that the 60-stamp' mill has been idle
since the last of May. and it has been
hard work to keep the 50-stamp mill
going.
The milling ore struck on the 700
level extended up to the 600, and down
to the 500, where it gave out On the
900 level the vein shows wide and
strong, but the ore Is not of a paying
quality. Development work on the va
rious levels has failed to uncover any
considerable quantity of ore that will
pay for milling, but superintendent
Burrell strongly urges the continuance
of exploration work in the No. shaft
part of the mine.
It seems quite probab BILE that this will
be done, for the directors have advis-
ed the passing of the dividend, al
though there is about 100000 in the
treasury. which it is thought should
be held to meet possible contingencies.
AS the cyanide plant is paying hand
somely the only object in holding this
money would seem to be the prose-
cution Of development work. 1t is to
be hoped that the best expectations
of the company may be fully realized.
incidentally it may be remarked by
way Of conclusion that toward the
close of the half year the company pur-
chased the Ben Mahon fraction which
adjoins the Drumlummon, for $1,000.
This ground. it is believed. contains
ore that will M tariallv aid In keen-