Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-01
CONE BUTTE
GOLD FIELD
A Comprehensive Write.up Of This
Rich District by a Representa-.
tive Of the Argus.
A LIST OF GOOD PROPERTIES
A Half Dozen Which Have Every
Prospect Of Developing Into
Great Gold Mines.

vi luS Juulln mountains lying nOftl
and east Of Collar gulch and extending
toward the northern limits of the
range as far as Black Butte on the
east and Cone Butte on the west.
This region. while not regularly or
ganized as a mining district. has long
been known as the Cone Butte dis
trict, taking its name from the one
shaped butte marking its northwest
ern boundary.
When the camp of Maiden was first
discovered prospectors entered the
Cone Butte country. and in the early
days of mining in the Judith noun
tains Cone Butte was looked upon us
one of the coming sections of the
range, hut until the past two years
but little attention has been given to
the district and the only men working
there were a few such men as Charles
Stevens, James Murphy. Vince Giles,
Charles and Daniel Edwards. and one
or two others who are confident that
the district will eventually become a
busy center OF mining and a promi-
nent ore producer. An Argus man
visited Cone Butte this week and was
not only most Hospitality entertained
by the ~prOspectors and miners, but
also saw several mining properties,
that in sections better know, would
be looked upon as bonanzas.
Just where east Maginnins creek
~debouches onto the prairie. scarcely
two miles above the site of old Fort
Maginnis, Daniel and Charles Ed
wards, have a pleasant camp conven-
iently located for the working of their
properties. On the north slope of Ma
ginnis peak the Messrs. Edwards have
a group OF three claims. known as the
Fort group. On the Bernice claim of
this group a twelve foot shaft shows
a vein of ore IA feet in width. car-
rying gold values of a little more than
So per ton. A tunnel Is now being
driven TO tap this vein at a depth If
$50 feet. The tunnel will reach the
vein at 2G0 feet; il is now in 2l3 feet.
The three claims of the Fort group
are all located on the same vein.
which is a true tlssure between sven
lite walls. A 65-foot tunnel on the
Fort claim shows ) feet of ore aver
aging $3.50 per ton. Gold is the only
value contained in the ores. no silver
or other minerals being present.
Pat Ponder and John Johnson have
three claims ON the north slope of the
same mountain upon which they are
doing development work. Their lOcI-
tfOns were made last year.
A mile further up east Maginnis
creek is the Golden Eagle group of five
claims. belonging To James Murphy.
This group is developed by a 300.foot
tunnel on the Golden Eagle and a 15n-
foot tunnel ON the Park claim.
Beside these. numerous open cuts
and smaller drifts expose the ore at
different points. Mr.. Murphy informs
MS that the Golden Eagle ore is absO-
lutely free milling. its values ranging
in the vicinity OF S25 per ton. The
vein on the Golden Eagle is nine feet
in width and In one place has been
exposed by open cuts for 100 feet. The
Northern Belle group of five claims is
also owned by James Murphy. This
group adjoins the Giles properties on
Silver Reel gulch further up the
creek. and its ores are refractory In
character, but particularly on the Nor
thern Belle claim, a fine showing has
been made. The formations on this
group are lime and porphyry. with
phonolite along the ore bodies.
A quarter of a mile further up the
creek Vince Giles has the Bertha
group. This group consists of five
claims and lays almost in the center
of the district. The group is develop.
ed by about i.40O feet OF tunnels and
shafts. the greater part OF the work
being on the Bertha claim. A 800
foot tunnel on the vein on the Bertha
shows II to have a width varying from
two to twenty feet. Assays from this
vein range from 81 to $3.50 per ton,
but the average value OF the vein,
which all assays. is about Sl2. The
formation here is a granite porphyry,
and the ores may be treated by cy-
anidation. but better results are OBJ
tanned by roasting.
Ed. Fields and Vince Gies OWL four
claims adjoining the Bertha group on
the north. on which they have done
some work and have shown ore at the
surface.
The Voltaire. one of the oldest an
best known properties of the district
Joins the Bertha group on the wes-,
An attempt was made TO cyanide the
ores of this mine in 1894. but failed
on account of the inadequate and IN.
satisfactory facilities for crushing the
ore. A large amount OF development
has been done on this property. The
Voltaire belongs TO the estate OF the
late James Fergus.
Charles Stevens and Oscar Stevens
own the Cabin group. which lays neal
the Voltaire. This group has severa
hundred feet Of development AM
shows the same ores as the othel
properties in that region. Charles
Stevens is one of the pioneers of Cone
Butte and has worked in the distric'
for more than twenty years. On th'
Cabin group ores are shown that vary
in value from 81 to $34 per ton, ant
besides this group the Messrs. Stey
tbs nave blutG Hbuu SHONlhHo IN ="
district. On the west Maginnis creek
about three miles above the mouth y
the gulch, is the Chicago mine. nov
under bond TO the Case-Wilson Cyan
ide company. This mine lays on TIL
east slope Of Red Mountain and
force of six men Is employed in its dc
velopment. The work is in charge }
G. w. Case. Ore has been uncovere'
at several points on the surface an,
two tunnels are being driven to dc
termine the extent Of the bodies. On
of these tunnels Is in the hill $50 fee
and the other fifty feet. Both sho'
ore. Last year White & Mclntyr
erected a small cyaniding plant o.
the Chicago and worked the ores SUE
~cessfully. The ores average IS pc
ton in value. The Case-Wilson CO
has erected buildings for the conve