Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-04

The Transvaal gold mines bought
nearly $15,OOO,OOO worth of new ma.
chinery during the year ending June
80. 1905, and produced $1O4,OOO,OOO of
the yellow metal for the calendar year
of 1905. The increased importance
of the Transvaal as a machinery and
merchandise market is manifest. The
mining methods are changing. Tube
mills and their complementary plant
are being ordered and erected, about
a dozen being now in operation. In
winding plants, the steamdriven wind
er for main haulage holds it's own. an
1t is likely to continue to do so, not
withstanding the utilization of electric
ity for secondary haulage. Recipro-
eating ore breakers are being favored
more and more by Rand engineers
to the disadvantage of the gyratory
type. While the tendency in design
ing new stamp mills is to increase
the weight of the stamps, and to set
the mortar boxes on iron and con-
crete in place of the old style wood
piles. The cam stamp still holds it's
own for main ore crushing operations,
other forms of stamps, rolls, ETC., hav-
ing proved unsatisfactory under more
or less extended trials. More atten-
ton to the scientific workings of boil
ers has been given by mining engi-
neers of late, but troubles due to in
ternal erosion are frequent, and the
manufacturer who turns out a boiler
which is easily examined and cleaned
has an enormous preference The use
OF steam super-heaters for high speed
engines is now largely resorted to.
Belt conveyors have also come large
ly into use, concludes the South Afri-
can Gazette.-Mining World.
The demand for copper is creating
considerable interest in the old camp
OF Yogo, Montana. This camp, though
having the name of being gold camp,
is rich in copper sulphides carrying
heavy per cent of copper and val
ues in gold and silver. The closing
down of the camp was caused by the
fact that the free milling ores found
on the surface attracted small capital
lists, who, on encountering the refrac-
tory ores, had not the means of treat
ing them.
In the early SOS there was a gen
uine gold excitement in this district.
and considerable gold was taken from
the placer ground in Yogo and Skunk
gulch. On Skunk creek, Mr.. Wealth
erwaX located several claims which
appeared to carry large quantities of
free milling ore. This was at first
treated with an arastra and later
company was formed, which erected a
five-stamp mill. On further develop
ment, sulphide ore was encountered,
which carried values in copper. gold
and silver, and as this kind of ore pre-
dominated, free milling had to be
abandoned
Some ten years ago a gentleman by
the name of Gibson erected a small
Mexican smelter, which he ran with
success for awhile, until lax mining
methods and lack of capital put him
out OF business. For several years
this property was abandoned and the
1000 feet of workings left to degen-
crate. Two years ago the old Wealth
erwax property was relocated by Matt
Dunn and others of Great Falls, and
an incorporation, called the Happy Boy
Gold Mining company, was formed.
for the purpose of further developing
the property. The company ran new
working tunnel 200 feet and cross-cut
to the old workings. with the result
that considerable body of pay ore
was encountered. The old workings
are in the contact of the lime and por-
phyry, and the ore encountered is very
desirable for smelling purposes, and
carries iron and sulphur in quantities
which makes it a ready flux. There
is every indication of the presence of
a large body of copper ore, and if
the property were easier of access, it
is certainty that it would be worked
to the limit years ago.-Chicago Min
ing World
The gold mined in Brazil carries