Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-18

vorably with the wonderful activity of
the rejuvenated Sage brush" state.
A scheme is on foot to explore the
big mountain range at the east of the
Butte district. It has been the opinion
of mining men for years that at great
depth there are copper deposits in the
mountain, but the heavy cost of sink
ing to the necessary depth has always
deferred mining men from exploring
the mountain. Now. however, the de-
mand for copper is considered to JUS
tify the venture and the owners of a
number of claims ON the mountain are
organizing a company to run a long
tunnel near the base of the noun
tain and in far enough to demonstrate
whether there are paying copper veins
there or not. If copper is found the
tunnel will make mining easy and will
also serve as a drain for the mines.
Although Davy's lamp is the model
miners lamp, it has been the subject
of numerous notifications. The best
known systems are divided into two
classes, according to the principles on
which based. In some the flame is sur
rounded by thin metallic gauze.
Should any quantity Of explosive gas
enter the lamp through this gauze the
explosion will only take place inside
the metallic gauze envelope and ex-
tinguish the light without outwardly
fire. In others the light
is produced by an electric current in
side tube or small bulb filled with
extremely rarified gas. The breakage
of the bulb instantly causes the ex-
tinction of the light.
AT the present time Amalgamated
Copper is producing from it's consti1-
uent mines and smelters net refined
tonnage at the rate of more than 3OO,-
100000 pounds of copper a year, ac-
cor1ing to the estimated figures of the
April production, 25,OOO,OOO pounds, .
says the Boston Financial News.
"Of this amount $4,000, 900 came from
the Washoe smelter and 100000 lbs.
from the Boston & Montana smelter
at Great Falls, Mont.
IF this rate of production continues
during the entire IL months of the
present year, the result would be 90
100000 pounds from the Boston & Mon
tana smelter and 216,OOO,O0O pounds
from the Washoe. The increase dur
ing the present year, however, is ex-
pected to be larger than this.
From these figures, however, must
be deducted the ore treated for outside
plants, which goes chiefly to the Wa
shoe smelter. During April. which
may be considered an average month
the company received about 2S,OO(
,ons of custom ore besides that Of the
North Butte, which is sending in the
neighborhood of 900 tons daily.
'In considering the production of the
Amalgamated company, however, from
the standpoint of earnings little &C
count need be taken of these custom
ores, as the profits returning to The
company are quite as high as those re
ceived from the treatment of it's own
ores, being 25 per cent net of ths
mineral return.
THE most conservative in consider
ing the profits of the company admit
that it is making copper at 10 cent!
the pound. Therefore. on a produc
ton which cannot be much short o
100. 100000 pounds of copper for thu
| first four months of this year, ant
which has certainly returned not les
than 8 cents pound net on a marke
that has constantly been better thai
10 cents, the earnings for the frs
four months have been $S,OOO,OOO, O
on 100000 shares $3.50 1-3 a share
or at the rate of SIG per annum.