The Butte inter mountain., 1902-09-01
THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUTTE.

national Mining congress have appropri-
ately met in the chief mining district Of
the world, located in state called the
Treasure state, because of its solid wealth
and varied resources. It has ever offered
to the workingmen and the capitalist ex-
ceptional advantages and has nourshed
because of the enterprise and confidence
that have existed among those who under
took the opening OF its mines. The state
is yet in its infancy Of development, its
opportunities for capital and labor are
still numerous A conception Of the pos
sbilitics of its future may be gained from
this brief sketch of its past:
Carved originally out Of the then terri.
tory of Idaho, Montana began its history
as a great mining state with the startling
discovery Of gold in Alder guch, in which
the far-famcd Virginia City, the home of
the "Viglantes," was located. Alder grlch
produced from 1862 TO 1865, inclusive
the almost inconceivablc sum Of $780,
100000 in gold dust. More or less gold
has been produced there ever since. and
several dredges built within the past FIVE
years are producing the yellow metal from
the rich sands near the mouth OF the
gulch, while the mountains to the north
are yielding still more Of the precious
stuff from the quartz mines. Following
the Alder gulch excitement in g, came
the stampedeS to Bannack, Last Chance,
Diamond City, Bear gulch, Silver Bow
al al,
mated by well-nformed pioneers, in the
absence of official knowledge, to have
produced $roo, 100000.
The quartz mining era began on an ap-
preciablc scale in 1876, at Butte, where
the great silver and copper lodges cross
ing the hill north OF the townsite in four
vast ore channels, with many of-shoots.
gave promise of the wonderful future
which history has since verified. From
the surface OF the hill high-grade silver
"hoat and some copper groupings were col
leeted and shipped by wagon to Corinne, on
the Union Pacific railroad completed in
1866. Silver was at par in those days, and
copper was quoted at a7 cents per pound.
With the beginning Of the work on the
Butte mines the Montana quartz era may
be said to have begun, and from that time
the results achieved have excited the
worlds wonder Glendale Phiipsburg,
Granite Wickcs, Marysvilc and Basin
were opened up in rapid succession, each
adding millions of dollars to the states
output, each attracting population by
creating demand for all the products Of
field, forest and farm. The growth Of
Butte, however, eclipscd that of all the
other mining districts combined and con-
tributed to the states prosperity incrcas-
ing millions annually, every year being
more prosperous than the one before.
The first mill in Butte was built in 1877
and the first smelter in 1870. In 1880 the
total base and precious metal output Of
ceeding year the figures showed large
increase, with intervening dull periods,
owing to market conditions. Every year
more mines were opened; capital came
from the East and West; more mills and
smelters were constructed; three trans
continental railroads competed for the
growing traffic; the city of Butte in
wealth and population outstripped all other
mining cities of the world. Leadvile
Colo, and Virginia City, New, were caught
and passed, both in population and wealth
production. Butte stood alone, but still i
grew, still its mines went down." still
the increasing yield was kept up. From
1880, with its output of $I,25o,ooo, Il
1901 the annual product advanced rcgu
larly till $4o,ooo,ooo per annum wa
reached. During those I'll years the tota
base and precious metal production @
Butte scored the enormous total c
$500, 900! This statement is base
largely on official figures, verified by til
reports Of mining companies and al
proved by citizens who have kept accurat
though not official accounts of the outp,
and the changing prices of copper al
silver. At present the mines of But
are yielding about 10000 tons OF ore p
day, employing directly 5000 men, al
supporting a population of 10000 in But
alone. Though the district contains 4o
patented mining locations, only about Il
mines are being actively worked. The
vary in depth OF operation from zoo
$500 feet and supply with copper-silv
ore four smelters in Butte, one at Gre
Falls and one at Anaconda. The
smelters employ total Of 5000 men, viii
probably $500 more are at work in I
forests, coal mines and quarres of Il
state, SO that, in all, the Butte mines m
be said 20 give direct employment
1890 men in the state.
The other mining districts mention
above have also been great produce,
competent authority placing their tot
combined output for the past FL wears