Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-25
THE SILVER BELT,

Neihart Herald: A deal of consider
able magnitude and of most favorable
bearing upon the welfare of the camp
was that effected last week wherein
David L. S. Barker bought from Jona-
than McAssey and wife a one-half inter-
est in the Silver Belt Mining company.
This interest consisted of II, 500 shares
of stock, and the consideration Of the
transaction is said to be $40, 900.
The Silver Belt Mining company's
stock was all held by David l.. S. Barker
and Jonathan McAssey, until this tram
saction placed Mr.. Barker in entire pos
session. 1t is the owners intention to
work the property on an extensive scale
and arrangements have been made to
open up the vein to a considerable depth.
Mr.. Barker reposes great faith in the
property and intends to make a mine
of it if-money and brains can effect this
result: AS far as present indications go
his judgment is admirably borne out by
what is in sight. and he feels perfectly
justified in putting a few thousand dol
lars into development. He says he will
make the Silver Belt a min If 1t is in
Sic powers to do SO, and it really looks
as if he has struck the most profitable
piece of mining property in the district.
Present indications point to the Silver
Belt as being the biggest mine yet opened
up in the Neihart district.
This rich claim lies near the head of
Rock creek, Joining the Commonwealth
Ol us east Sluc, dlu liz vi II L 1lAC oA
it's west with the Broadwater group ad-
jacent on the south. For many years it
was the property of Jonathan McAssey
and J. L. Neihart. The latter sold his
portion to Mr.. Barker last spring. and
Immediately was organized the Silver
Belt Mining company. Previously the
vein had been opened up by a series of
open cuts running the entire length of
the claim land showing a vein six to
eight feet wide. heavily mineralized.
There was much rich float on the
ground and in many places pay ore at
the grass roots.
The new mpan started a shaft
which was sunk a depth of SO feet when
Mr.. Barker, the most ~enterprising min
ing man of this camp, made overtures to
buy out the,whole concern, with results
as stated bOv
There is in the shaft pay ore all the
way down. The ore runs from 600 to
2, 800 ounces in silver and carries some
gold. The silver IS in sulphuret and
chloride forms. In the bottom of the
shaft is a foot of ore which assays 1900
ounces to the ton in silver. There is no
other bonanza here like it. For years the
facts regarding the Silver Belts richness
lay been known. and the wonder Is
appalling that nobody has previously
attempted to mine-it in a proper way.
Two cars of ore. and that amount IS al
| ready in sight, will net the cost of the
| half interest which Mr.. Barker has just
bought.
Work was begun yesterday to drift
| north and south in the shaft. prepara-
tory to opening up slopes. The ground
is soft, and operations comparatively in
expensive.
In addition to this work a contract
has been let TO drive a crosscut tunnel
1926 feet to the vein, by which a main
adit will be opened to the ore at a depth
Of 300 feet. This contract has been lei
to Michael SteIla. one of the best hard
rock men on earth. The tunnel will be
started on the Grand Prize. permits hav.
ing been granted by the owners Messrs
Neihart and Crandall for dumping waste
and erecting buildings OH this claim.
The new developments =: fine Silver
Belt are watched with interest as beint
a great boon to Neihart, n he our
ageous energy Of Mr.. Barker are worth.