Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-02-28
The Democrat Correspondent Finds
Everything Flonrshino Around
the Judith Camp.
WORK AT the GOLD REEF MINE
New Machinery Being lnstalled---
Plenty of Ore at the Whiskey
GuICh--MCCormiCk RESIGNS.


What is known as the Warm Spring
Mining district embraces some Of the
best known mining properties in Fer
gus county, and within its confines
are some Of the most promising pros
poets in this section of the state.
The ore encountered is almost uni
versally cyanide in character and runs
in values from $500 to s34.0O and
higher to the ton. Valuable discov-
cries are being made with the pro-
gress of development work and in the
natural sequence Of events, the dis
trict will be undoubtedly amongst the
richest in the state.
The mining properties in the vicin-
ity OF Gilt Edge are the most import
ant in the district, and though at
present, development has been some-
what retarded by the winter season,
every indication points to busy sea-
son for the property owners Of the dis
trict.
The Gold Reef Mining Co., which
is working the property purchased by
John A. Drake three years ago, are
the largest operators and have val
liable property in the group of claims
formerly owned and worked by the
Great Northern Minirc and Develop
ment Company under. supervision
Of E. w. King.
The work on the property at the
present is being somewhat retarded
by lack of water which occurs at
this season of the year, though val
liable cleanup is being made each
month, and considerable amount of
ore is being treated with success.
Mr.. c. T. Durell acts in the capacity
OF general manager where the position
of superintendent has been ably filled
by J. H, Mccormick.
In order to remedy the shortage of
water surface condenser is being in
stalled which will furnish consider
able additional amount of water by
condensing the steam already used in
operating the plant and returning it
in liquid form to be utilized again.
This will be the only condenser of it's
kind used in the entire west with the
exception of the Black Hills district.
The steam is condensed by the ex-
posure OF a large pipe suaface to the
action OF water spray and only re-
quires tenth portion of the water
usually required to obtain the de-
sired results.
a timber framing plant is also being
put in operation and when completed
will be one of the most efficient in
the state. Twenty-four foot logs will
be handled with ease and in the nec-
cessary work to put the timbers in
shape for use, wedge, cutoff and rip
saw will be used. For finer work
table saw will be installed and this
with the fitting machinery for the
purpose Of putting the shoulders on
the timbers, will make a very COM
plete and efficient plant.
The ore which is now being treated
is from the black ore from stope No.
and is brought through the main
working tunnel to the ore bins at the
mill. The ordinary oxidized ore is
not being treated at the present ow-
ing to the lack of water and the pro-
duct of stope, No. 3 is the black ore
which has to be roasted in order to
make the cyanide treatment a sue
cess. The ore is subjected to fur
mace roast after going through the
crushers. Some slight difficulty has
been experienced in the treatment of
these ores owing to the fact that
they contain certain amount of lime
which, if over roasted creates lime
deposit in the tanks through which
the gold cannot be passed in solution
with any success. This ore is now
being subjected to series of chemical
tests by Mr.. W. H. Nance who will
remain at the plant this summer.
AS soon as the water supply is in
better shape the oxidized ores will
again be treated. In connection with
this matter it is we'll to mention that
the company IS developing coal
property to the southeast of the
mines in Breed Gulch where they
will also endeavor to locate sufic-