The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-14
GROUND is IN LITIGATION
A Possibility It Will Be Settled
Out of Court.
A MILL is TO BE BUILT
Excellent Reports From the Fisher Creek
Mining Company-Saving All the
Values-A Good Placer
Season.
Special Correspondence of the Standard.

Libby, Mont, Dec. s.-J. J. Flick, who
in connection with DR.. Rockefeller of
Anaconda, are the parties to the con-
test for the ownership of the property
on Blacktail mountain, in the West
Fisher district, claimed by Sanford &
Grub of Kalispell. came down from
the mountains yesterday and left last
night for Butte and Anaconda. The
ground in dispute has been to the
supreme court of the state and the
decision of that court was on ques-
tons which did not finally settle the
case, but on account of the value of
the property and the chance which
there now is for making producing
property of it there is every reason to
believe that the parties to the con-
troversy are making arrangements
looking to final adjudication. San
ford & Grub call the disputed ground
the Blacktail, while the other parties
call their ground the Bell, and while
there is but very small fraction of
the two overlapping it is in place
where some of the highest values
have been found. On account of the
fact that the property has been in lit
lgatlon for several years, in fact ever
since it was discovered almost. there
has been but little development work
done. Sanford & Grubb have done
about IS feet of tunnelng on their pos
session in the course of doing their
several assessments. and Messrs. Flick
& Rockefeller have done about the
same amount of work. 1t is a gold
property and some very high assays
have been received from the rock. The
vein is almost a blanket ledge, dip
ping into the mountain on about a 30
per cent. incline. There are several
parallel veins on this ground, and in
all of them they have obtained good
values. 1t can be stated authorita-
lively that the case will prob
ably be settled out of court and in
plenty of time SO that the work of de-
veloping it and building mill on it
can be carried on next summer and
completed by the time snow flies next
fall. This property has always been
considered one of the best in the entire
camp and this information will be re-
ceived with great deal of satisfac-
ton by all who are interested here.
Successfully Treating the Ore.
Reports coming down from the Fish
er Creek Mining company's mill on
the West Fisher say that the mill is
working splendidly and that nearly all
of the values are being saved on the
plates and in the concentrates. On
account of a break in some of the
machinery the company has been able
to run but five of the 10 stamps the
past two weeks, but as soon as some
arrives ana Is placed III pU-
sition the other five will be again start
ed ZIP. At present they are only run
ming one 10 hour shift on account of
one of their amalgamators leaving,
but this will be increased to two shifts
as soon as they can get another man.
The mine is reported to be looking fine
and the force there will be increased
as fast as they can make stopping
| room. They claim at the mine that
they have ore enough in sight to keep
the 10 stamps running night and day
for the next three years. The ledge
Is a blanket and they have it opened
in several places to depth of about
so feet. The company has already
made four shipments of bullion, the
total value of which is not given out,
but the management say they are more
than pleased with the result. At pres
ent about 20 men are employed in the
mine and mill.
The Best Placer Season Ever Known.
B. F. Howard came down from his
placer mine on the Upper Libby OH
Saturday and says that he has cleaned
up for the season and that he is en-
tirely satisfied with the result of his
seasons work. He also says that the
present season has been the best in the
history of the camp for placer mining,
as they have been able to work con-
tinuously for about seven months. In
connection with this long season Mr..
Howard had an exceptionally good
year on account of having brought
some water last year onto new ground
which he has owned for some time, but
which he has heretofore been unable
| to work on account of its being too
| high for the natural level of the wa
| ter. His was the last cleanup on the
creek with the exception Of one, who
is AL Howard, and he will probably
finish up this week. What the total
output of the creek is this year is hard
to get at, as the boys do not as a
rule give out the result of their work.
This gold is all shipped to Helena.
with the exception of the nuggets, and
these are all kept by the different
miners, many of whom have some fine
collections Libby creek gold is ex-
ceptionally high grade, going shout
945 to CAT fine.