The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-12-18


shipping and concentrating ore and
the formation is porphyretic shale and
slate AT present the Silver Gable
mine is making a trial run with graf
flying results and some nice con"en
trates is being made by the Seton
stamp mill. The scene of operations
is about 400 feet lower than the old
workings and the prospects are most
pleasing. The famous Snow Shoe
group comprises three full patented
claims, known as the Porcupine
Rustler and Snow Shoe; also the I'M
patented Chicago. Minnehaha and
Eureka Fraction, and the water rights
of Cherry, Leigh and Snow Shoe
creeks. In addition to .Aese are sew
eral large acquisitions which were
made by the Pacific Northwest Min
ing company. These claims are i'll
what is called the Cabinet contact
and are all of full dimensions, 600 feet
wide and 1900 feet long. The Rustler
claim is the central location and upon
it most of the development work has
been done. on what is known as tun-
mel NO. l. in the center of the claim.
YM YMYonIls' '...') oLAJrqoNupuelu
At the present time this tunnel is
over 1900 feet in leugth and is about
500 feet under the surface of the
ground. At one place on the claim
there is an ore body marked out
which amounts to 10000 tons of ore.
In tunnel No. winze has been sunk
to a depth of 100 feet and a tunnel
from the surface made to connect.
By this work enough ore has been
developed to insure an output Of 200
tons per day for several years. 1t
is estimated that at the present time
there is over 100000 worth of ore
in sight.
The mill is a 2O0-ton per day con
centrator, and is equipped with all
the modern devices for saving the
various values in the ores. which are,
in the main, lead, silver and gold.
The mine was at first worked by
the Chicago & Montana Mining com
pany, who spent $4,000 on the
After the above named company had
ceased to do business, the property
passed into the possession of u. P.
Bowers, who realized "a handsome pro-
fit from it.
The Pacific Northwest Mining COM
pany afterward secured the property
for $150,O00 and spent 100000 for adj
ditional equipments. During the
short time they were running it they
shipped concentrates to the amount
of 100000 and ceased operations on
account of the extravaganza of the
men in charge.
After a lapse of several years the
Rustler Mining and Milling COM
pany of Spokane took possession and
are now engaged in putting the prop
erty in first class condition for active
operations next year. This company
is composed of d. p. Bowers, w. d.
Wrighter, H. G. Weston and others
of Spokane, who are all mining men
of many years experience, and it is
expected that success will crown
their efforts to make the mine a Win
ner. The property is equipped with
an electric light plant and is con
nected by telephone line with
Libby, IS miles distant.
The history of how this famous
mine was discovered is a romantic
one and is a tribute to the endurance
and pluck of the first discoveries
1t was on October G, 1889, that the
mine was discovered by John G. Alb
bolt and Albert Dunlap, whose atten-
by the discovery of the Alpine claim
about two miles distant from the
present Snow Shoe group. Upon ar
irving at the Alpine they discovered
that most of the ground in the imme
date vicinity had been staked out
SO they decided that it would be OF
no use to remain there and took TIC
the hills near Leigh creek. The
weather was exceedingly stormy and
very cold and the men suffered a
great deal. On arriving at what is
now known as the Snow Shoe basin
the men separated, Abbott following
the creek and Dunlap taking the hill
side. They had not proceeded fal
| when each discovered the rich ga
lena float which covered the lower
end of the Rustler claim. Returning
to the camp with a bundle of this ore
| they compared notes and determined
in spite of the unfavorable weather
to find the lead. The next day after
some thrilling and arduous exper
| fences the lead was found and tho
| hardest part of the enterprise was de
cided upon-that of stalking out thu
claims.
The hill through which the leat
runs was covered with brush, which
had been beaten down by the snow
and sleet and to set the stakes it wa
necessary to climb the hill despit,
the almost unsurmountable Difficult
ties. During the day Abbott brok'
one of his snowshoes, from which in
cident the famous mine took it's name
/ Of no ret