Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-05-16
Samuel W. GebO, Formerly of Carbon
County, Buys Property Of Spring
Greek Coal Company.
PLAN EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
Close to One Hundred Thousand Dol
lars Will Be Spent for In
proved Equipment.

One OF the most important mining
deals ever consummated in this coun-
ty, was made last week when the
mine Of the Spring Creek Coal COM
pany passed out of the hands of To-
cal men into the possession of Sam
uel w. Gebo, one of the best known
coal mining men of the northwest.
The negotiations have been in pro-
gress for several weeks and Mr. Gebo
made two trips to this city in order
to get the deal closed
About 800 acres Of coal bearing land
was involved in the transaction and
the purchase price was $4,000. A. W,
Stoddard, John Borgh and Andrew
Green are the gentlemen whose in
terests were purchased by Mr.. Gebo.
They have owned the mine for sev.
eral years and have been operating
It as extensively as conditions war
ranted 1t is considered by mining
men as one of the best coal proper
Ties IN the state and the new owner
IS prepared to develop it extensively.
The transfer of the property includ.
cd right of way from the track of the
Montana railway to the mine, about a
mile and half from this city. Mr..
Gebo had previously entered into an
arrangement with the Montana rail
road company whereby they are to
Immediately begin upon the construc-
tion of spur up to the mine. This
Will obviate all hauling, which, in the
past, has been big expense to the
owners. 1t will take but a short while
for this track to be built and d por-
ton OF the heavy machinery, which
is to be installed in the mines, will
be taken up on the cars.
The first thing that will be done by
the new owner will be the installa-
tion of at least 100000 worth of the
latest coal mining machinery in and
about the mine. No particular effort
will be made to extend the develop
ment work on the mine until every
thing is in readiness and then the
work will be pushed with all possible
rapidity. The working force will be
increased as the workings of the mine
will permit and it is the intention of
Mr.. Gebo to have not less than $50
men at work within a few months.
He wishes to develop the mine so
that the daily output will be not less
than 400 tons and when this stage
is reached, the working force will be
between two hundred and three hun
dred.
1t is undoubtedly the intention of
Mr. Gebo to place this coal on the
Helena and Butte markets. It is par
ticularly fine steam coal and is most
satisfactory as fuel to be used in any
manner
Just what the contemplated devel-
opment of the Spring Creek mines by
Mr.. Gebo will mean to this city can
hardly be estimated. 1t will undoubt-
edly have most stimulating effect on
business in every branch. 1t will also
assuredly result in the extensive de-
velopment of other coal properties
which are in the Lewistown territory.
Mr.. Gebo is miner who knows the
business from many years of prac-
tical experience. He began at the
bottom and by hard work and perse-
verance worked to the top. The town
of Gebo in Carbon county was named
for him and he has been prominently
identified with the development of the
coal interests of that county. More
recently, he has been associated With
H. L. Frank, of Butte, in the develop
ment of the imemnse mines in Frank,
Alberta. He is wealthy man him.
self and his connections with Mr..
Frank, who is making his millions out
of coal mining in the northwest, is
an assurance of the financial stability
of the new management of the Spring
Creek property.
Charles Lochray, of Sand Coulee,
the new manager of the mine. gave
the following interview to the Great
Falls Tribune last Saturday:
1T is we'll to say at this time. how
ever" said Mr.. Lochray, that there
is not any oportunity for employment