The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-13
MINES Of MONTANA
IN GOOD SHAPE
Operators of Properties Are Not
Fearful of Results for
Future.
PROSPERITY is PRESENT
In EVERY DISTRICT
officials and Mining Employees
Apparently Working in En-
tire Peace Together.

Highly enthusiastic over mining con.
ditions in Montana, Ray D. Harris, of
Armstead, Mont, purchasing agent OF
the Silver Fissure Mining company, ope-
rating at Polaris, Mont, arrived in Salt
Lake City Wednesday. TO a represent
ative of The Tribune, Mr.. Harris de-
clared that prosperity in Montana has
never been so great nor as general rs
at the present time,
Speaking of the conditions in Butte,
Mr.. Harris said;
"nThoughts Of the likelihood of the
great ore bodies of the famous camp be-
coming exhausted are as remote from
the minds of the operators and miners
as were such thoughts when the late
Marcus DAILY was active in mining cir
cles of the State. AS the development
of the lnnumerable mines continue, the
old ore bodies are proving of greater
size than was ever though: possible, and
there seems TO be no end to the proven
mineral zone, it continuing to extend
out from the original point of discov
cry as new ground is developed,
1.-The number of men employed In
the mines of Butte is naturally increas-
ing, and IN consequence the payrolls are
constantly growing. Prosperity is ap-
pie are contented, and SO far as out
ward appearances indicate, there is not
the slightest danger of labor troubles.
The fact that the Amalgamated COM
pany has corralled practically every
thing in the shape OF mine in the
Butte district has thus far shown no
bad effects. Apparently the officials of
the company and the members of the
various labor organizations are work
ing in perfect harmony, and everything
is moving along smoothly.
1! OOticea b1e featnrn abnOt the Deo-
pie of the great copper camp is that
there are but few Knockers, and the
few that reside there are entirely dis
credited, The residents of the city,
almost as a whole, appreciate that
Mayor John MacGinniss is using his ut
most endeavors to give them fair and
square administration during his term
OF Office. They are well pleased with
the manner in which Mr. MacGinniss
is handling the affairs of the munich
pality, and it is the intention of his
political friends TO enter him as a can
didate in the next gubernatorial race.
He enjoys the good will of the laboring
people of Montana, and if they vote
as they at present express themselves, it
is more than probable that Mr.. MacGin-
Mss will be the next Governor Of Mon
tana. -
Referring to mining affairs in Beav-
Is thoroughly conversant, Mr.. Harris
averred that they could not possibly.
present a more promising aspect than
they do at the present time. While he
hesitated In making such statement,
Mr.. Harris maintained that it is never,
theless a fact that tho extensive opera
tions which were began at Polaris by
the Silver Fissure Mining COMPANY. a
New York syndicate, more than year
ago, are almost wholly responsible for
the impetus IN mining in Beaverhead
county.
"The Polaris mine,' continued Mr..
Harris, Hhas been known to operators
and engineers as great silver property
for more than twenty years, Although
1T has produced in the neighborhood of
seven hundred thousand dollars, it was
only operated in desulatory manner
until the Silver Fissure Mining COM
pany, with Henry IL. Armstead, Jr.,
prominent mining engineer, as general
manager, took hold of it. Mr.. Arm
stead is probably as thoroughly con-
versant with the mines of Montana as
any engineer operating within the
borders of the State today. He made
thorough and complete study of the
Polaris mine, and solved the problem
connected with the treating of the ore,
which had always hampered the previous
operators of the property. He also con-
ceived the idea of using traction trains
for transportation purposes between the
mine and the railroad. a distance of
thirty six miles. This system Of trans
portation has been proven an unquali-
fed success, and will be used to haul
coke and coal for the hundred-ton
smelter being erected at the mine. The
smelter is now. nearing completion, and
will be blown-in in the near future.
GA great amount of ore has been
blocked out in the Polaris, and the
smelter can be operated continuously
for a good term of years, without any
further exploration work on the part
of the company. The development of
the mine, however, is being pushed as
vigorously as possible, with the graft
Tying result that new. and large ore
bodies are being constantly found''