The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-14
J. J. HILLS COAL MINES.
They Are Being Operated on an Exten.
sive Scale.

In the foothills of the Little Belt noun
tains, 16 miles southeast of Great Falls.
is situated the coal mining camp of
Stockett, from the mines of which the
Great Northern Railway company gets
its supply of coal, aggregating hundreds
of thousands of tons yearly. The Great
Northern company owns the mines, and
it may be said that the vast conservatory
of nature might have remained unds-
turbcd had it not been for the far seeing
mind of James ]. Hill. who learned of
it's existence, bought the land and erect
ed thereon at a cost of many thousands
of dollars one of the most thoroughly
equipped coal mining plants in the west.
a Less, than three years old, the coal
, mining camp of Stockett has a record
of which she is not ashamed. In normal
times her output is from 1000 to 5000
tons per day. In other words. every time
the sun rises sets she has poure1
into the channels of the worlds COM
merce a train load of coal. comprising
from so to 12O cars and averag ing three
quarters of mile in length. To accom-
plish this a force of from 500 to 600 men
is required. and in addition small herd
of mules and steam and electrical plants.
The mines, four in number, are worked
by tunnel, the veins lying nearly hori-
zontal and averaging about six and one
half feet in thickness. AS far back as
the workings have been extended (and in
some instances the present terminals are
more than a mile from the surface) the
coal measures are strong ard continue
Gus, and there is abundant evidence that
mining will be extensively carried on
there for many years to come.
The town of Stockett has a population
of more than 1000 people. composed prin-
cipally Of miners and their families.
Most of the miners are married and own
their own homes. The town boasts of
electric lights. good system of water
works. five churches, good schools and
public library.
The demand for Cottonwood coal is
con stantly increasing. 1t is being used
in increasing quantities by the railway
companies. smelters and other great con-
crens of the state. and the demand for
domestic use is steadily growing. the
coal giving better satisfaction and re-
suits as development proceeds. The in
dustry is one of much Importance to the
commercial interests of the country. The
wages disbursed to the miners amour.
to S125O0O or more each month.
The head men of the Cottonwood Coal
company are all possessed OF ability,
and have a special fitness for the work
assigned them. Lewis Stockett general
manager has spent most of his life in
and about the coal mines of Pennsyl-
vania, Illinois and Missouri. Eight years
ago he was chief engineer for the Con-
solidated Coal company of st. Louis,
which owns and operates Is or so mines
in Illinois, For the past eight years he
has been employed by James j. Hill. and
at present has charge of all the latter's
extensive coal works, both in this state
and Washington. He is man of tire
less energy, excellent judgment and
splendid executive ability. 1t was in
recognition Of his many sterling qualities
that the town Of Stockett was named in
! his honor.
It would be impossible to mention the
numerous qualities of all the competent
corps of men who apply their time AMI
energy to making the Cottonwood Coal
company and the town of Stockett one
| of the most successful and thoroughly
equipped coal camps in the west.