Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-25

ed the San Martin copper mines in
the state Of Oaxaca. The San Martin
mines were worked by Spaniards cen
turtles ago and prior to the conquest
OF Mexico. the native Indians operat
ed them. In modern times the mines
have always been a large and pro
fitable producer of copper.
The Gold Reef Mining company
owning and operating the Drake prop
critics at Gilt Edge, has reincorporated
under the laws of Montana. The com.
pany formerly operated under the laws
of New Jersey. The company is cap
1talized at one million dollars, and
John A. Drake is the chief owner. He,
with Henry M. Rae, A. 8. Wright,
Charles A. Hallam and w. W. Badger
are named as the directors. H. M. Rae
is designated as the companys agent
There is at present great activity
In the region roundabout Pony and
a good future is predicted for the var
ious properties Whereabouts. In the
Pony and South Boulder districts
about so stamps are now dropping con-
stantly and several cars of concen-
trates and shipping ore are sent to the
smelter at East Helena every month.
At a conservative estimate it is as
serted that the monthly yield of each
stamp is 5000 worth of bullion and
concentrates, according to the smell.
ter returns.
The Hedges Gold Mining company
owning a group of seven claims at
Kendall adjacent to the Barnes-King
is preparing to do a lot of diamond
drill work for the purpose of determin
ing the extent of the ore bodies en-
countered in it's Mary claim, on which
shaft was sunk some time ago. This
is now on ledge Of ore at depth
of Is feet, and on the surface this
ledge has been prospected for more
than 500 feet, the showing being a
very satisfactory one. Assays run
ming from $12 to $50 have been re-
turned, and with more work the com
pany feels that it will be able to de-
velop a paying mine. It's tract com.
prises 40 acres. The officers are M
M. Hedges, president, G. M. Goodell
vice-president; R. s. Hedges, second
vice-president, and J. w. Hedges sec.
retary-treasurer.
The Libby Placer Mining Company
intends spending some $4,000 in get.
ting more water for it's placer opera.
lions on Libby creek. This informa.
ton comes from N. e. Jenkins, who
Is at this time making the necessary
surveys to get the water of an ad
Joining stream into Libby creek fol-
the purpose. This company owns a
large amount of placer ground on Lib
by creek and has been at work for
several years getting this in shape
to work 1t on large scale. Careful
examinations made in various parts
of the camp have demonstrated thai
with the necessary expenditure oil
money in developments and in the in
stallatiOn of up-to-date machinery
there is every reason to apprehend
a big yield for many decades, and
when these are completed the produc.
ton of the yellow metal from Libby
creek will be very large factor in
the production of the worlds gold
supply in the years to come
Diamond drilling is more extensive
~ adopted in the Transvaal than in
any other part of the world, and un
usual interest attaches to the results
owing to the large number of deer
bores which are being put down to
prove the existence and position OF
the ore bodies at increasing distances
from the Outcrop, says the Australian
Mining Standard. For this work larg
or and larger drills have been used
and within the past year or two mum
erOus bore holes have been bottomed
in ore at depths of from $500 to s..
600 feet. Upward of 300 diamond
drills are now in use in South Afri
ca, many of the deep holes being
sunk by an improved class P drill
with a rated capacity of 1000 feet
The mining companies, as rule, let
the work to contractors, who furnish
all the equipment and expert operat.
Ors and deliver the core into the
hands of the company American con.
tractors have recently broken all rec.
ords for depth. James Tobin com.
pleted bore hole last December at