The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-19
PRESIDENT HILL WILL INSTALL
INDUSTRY THERE.
BETTER THAN RAILROADS
Buys Halt Interest in the Conrad Iron
Mines Of coteau County
for $500

Hill did not promise any railroads to
the city Of Great Falls during his
brief visit here, but he did take steps
which may mean more to the city
than would several railroads and
which will bring here more working.
men to make their homes than would
half a dozen railroads.
The visit Of Mr.. Hill, from the time
he left Havre until his return through
Great Falls last evening, was one
about which chung an air of mystery,
and it was particularly noticeable that
those who were in closest conference
with the great railway man were the
most smiling over the things which
Mr.. Hill promised not to do for the
city. This is explained when it is
stated that Mr.. Hill has again TAX
en- up the subject Of the location of
a steel mill at Great Falls, and has
not only taken it up, but it has his
immediate attention and is no longer
a question of doubt, but n of as
sured fact.
The trip which Mr.. Hill made to
this city and from this city to Wickes
was for the sole purpose of attending
to some of the details, and instead of
visiting Wickes for the purpose of
examining the lining of the Wickes
tunnel the object was to look into
and order development work rushed
Apon the enormous manganese mines
which Mr.. Hill has secured lear that
place for the auxing of the other iron
ores to be treated in Great Falls.
Before leaving Great Falls last ev-
ening Mr.. Hill purchased a half-in-
terest in the Conrad iron mines of
Choteau county of w. G. Conrad, the
price being $4,000.
81 shall bring an industry to Great
Falls which will employ more work
ingmen here than any number of rail-
roads, said Mr. Hill yesterday after
noon.
The iron mines belonging to Mr..
Conrad lie north of the Sweet Grass
hills and have been tested to run go
per cent iron; the ore is of the mag
netic iron variety, and in the eight
claims there is a mountain of Aore
which would seem inexhaustible. The
mines have been known for a number
of years and nave belonged to Mr..
Conrad for the past 16 years.
1T is true that Mr.. Hill has this
afternoon purchased a half interest
in the Mines" said Mr.. Conrad, 'and
he has had them thoroughly tested.
believe there is iron ore enough in
those mines alone to keep a mill at
this point going for a hundred years.
From my w investigation l am con-
WINGED that a steel mill at this point
would be a practical business indus
try, but I am not speaking for any
one but myself in saying so. MI. Hill
did not make me a c%onfidante as to
MS lntentlOnS.
Mr.. Hill left Great Falls Wednes-
day evening for Wickes, remaining
there all night, and yesterday morning
at 6 O'Clock left that place for the big
Manganese mines which he purchased
a short time ago west of Corbin on
Clancy creek in the Colorado mining
district. Charles Kagle and Duncan
Mcdonald took Mr.. Hill and party tc
the mines, and the inspection lasted
several hours, the party expressing
themselves well pleased with the won
derful showing made.
The deeds for the mines near Cor
bin We're filed at Boulder March 81
last, and show that James J. Hill Of
st. Paul and Paris Gibson Of Great
Falls We're the purchasers from Ira
Myers of this city. The purchase
price named is said to be $17,O O. anG
the number of claims is seven. The
present development shows enormous
bodies of manganese, and it is ex
pected that extensive development:
will at once be made on them to ge
the ore in shape for shipment.
The ore which has heretofore beer
lacking for the treatment of the mag
netic iron deposits has been mangan
csc and the heavy deposits discovered
in Jefferson county are said to hav,
solved the iron smelling problem fo:
this section. The bodies were discov
cred there and near Basin about /;
months ago and a few days ago on,
OF the smelling companies of Butte
which had been given samples, order
ed a large quantity of the ore shippe,
to Butte monthly; but the ore was no
shipped for the reason that some on
had secured all of the mines maxim
- I--f--E>- x6nk -