Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-03-28

such surface values that extremely
rich bodies of ore will yet be dscov-
cred. Further down the gulch, is the
site OF the Burgess ditch and the old
placer ground below Bear Gulch which
was worked with hydraulics though
with Indifferent success. Consider
able free gold is encountered on bed
rock but owing to the depth placer
operations are somewhat difficult.
Color can be found almost anywhere
in the gulch
Below the Tollgatc canyon is the
ground of the Burke q Sweeney Saph-
Ire Mining Co., where Pat Sweeney is
now actively operating fourteen foot
lead Of sapphire bearing ground with
| unprecedented success. The HISTORY
OF the working of this property is one
OF hard work and tenacity of purpose
on the part Of Mr.. Sweeney which
was at last rewarded by the finding Of
II foot lead which carries the finest
gems in the district. John Burke
gave an option on his interests to Mr..
Sweeney about fifteen months ago
while in turn Mr. Sweeney bonded
the property to Mr.. Chowen Of Great
Falls who has interested eastern capi-
tai in the project and will in all prob
ability take up the bond at the expir-
alton Of the time condition. The
lead has also been encountered in Kel-
ley coulee at the bottom Of a small
shaft and the indications are, that
the property is an extensive one and
fully as rich as any in the state. A
force OF men are working the ground
and the washing of the dirt for the
gems has been carried on all winter.
On the top Of the hill to the east and
on a continuation Of this lead is stu
ated the plant run by the New Syndi-
cate SAPPHIRE Mining Go. At consid-
cradle expense the most compile plant
in the west has been put in operation
and the results attained from the
working of the ground are far above
the first expectations.
The work Is now being done at
either end Of 1900 foot crosscut at a
depth In some places Of 300 feet. In
i the neighborhood Of $4,000 tons Of pay
dirt Is now on the various dumps
though when washing operations COM
mence this dirt will vanish like snow
under summer sun and it will keep
: a large force of miners busy keeping
the gang at the sluice boxes busy
| se.
the outfit while Thomas Moore is
mine foreman.
The sapphire bearing dirt is hoisted
to the surface by IA IS horse power plat
, form hoist. The car itself is used to
, hoist the dirt in and is run down an
, inclined track to the end of the dump.
) One OF the most noticeable features
connected with the formation in which
, the gems are found is its tendency to
rapidly slack and soften ON reaching
the surface and being subjected to the
weather. 1t is by nature, a disinte-
grated granite and on first reaching
the surface Is very hard and brittle
, The dirt is stopped out in the same
/
is somewhat shaky and necesstates
plentiful timbering. While there is
connection with the surface on the
west side OF the crosscut, what air is
necessary on the eastern extension is
obtained by way Of an air compressor
stationed in the shaft house. A lime
break has been worked through and
when suitable ground is encountered
in all probability an upraise will be
made in order to connect that end OF
the crosscut with good air. AS far as
can be learned the working of this
ground is being conducted with profit
to the English company who are work
ing it, thought seems to be their pol
icy to be extremely conservative in
the matter of furnishing information
for publication. The bulk of the
gems obtained are shipped direct to
Europe while ready market is found
for even the smallest stones. The
work of washing out the gems by rum
ming the dirt over the rifles is now
conducted under direct hydraulic pres
sure and though this runs some OF the
stones to the dams below the sluice
boxes yet the dirt is treated in more
rapid manner than formerly. The
plant now in operation is a mile to
, the east of the site of the first work.
ings and is much more complete than
the system which was first used
Work is being pushed this spring and
about thirty-iye men are employed by
the company while more will be used
when sluicing operations commence.
1t is but short distance from the
mines to the Judith river where are
located some of the prettiest and most
fertile farms in this section of the