Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-06-28
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Is Empire is little bitsof a town out
in Montana. located about Is miles
northwest of Helena.
It was named after one Of the 10
properties which now comprise the
group owned by the Gold Cord Mining
company.
Had the town developed along the
same lines as the property from which
it takes its name, it would have been
one Of the most important cities in
Montana. NJ
The Empire vein is a splendid piece
Of property in itself. twas the mine.
from which the old English company
took out nearly $4,000, 900, but with
out much more than scratching the
surface. &. .z 4 sf
The vein on this property was inter
sected by the croscut tunnel at a.
depth of 100 feet under the surface,
and at a distance of 100 feet from the.
mouth of the tunnel. A level, or tun-
mel. was then driven east on the
course of the vein for the full distance
of $500 feet.
The greatest depth attained in the
course Of this work was something
over 400 feet, but the average depth
I was not much over $50 feet. The
width Of the vein averaged about
eight feet, and the average value OF
the ore was close to SIS per ton.
Perhaps Is per cent OF the ground
or, to be more correct, the vein, was
worked out to the surface, leaving
about Is per cent Of the ore still in
place, and nearly all OF 1t blocked out
on four sides. This working out re-
fers only to the ore above the No. /.
tunnel Level. Il.
When the Empire vein was inter-
sected by the crosscut tunnel it was
supposed that another $500 foot prop
erty, known as the Smithville, was an
extension Of the former. but this was
bsequently proven to be an error,
as 1T developed that they were sepa-
rate and distinct veins, crossing each
other at such a slight angle as to de-
ceive the engineers in charge Of the
work at that time.
a level, or tunnel, was driven on
the Smithville to the west to- a dis
lance Of about 1000 feet, but very lit
tie depth was secured, although some
high grade ore was taken out. The
average value of the ore, however,
was several dollars per ton less than
that taken out Of the Empire. AS On
the Empire, not to exceed rs per cent
Of the vein matter, or ore, was taken
out between this level and the sur
face, and the average depth for the
distance worked was something less
than 200 feet.
After the property passed from the
control of the Englishmen, engineers
were put to work to ascertain the val.
ues in the mine and report on the
best methods for recovering the same
For prosecuting this work v shaped
trenches were dug across the floor &c
the level at intervals of 10 feet, or )
total OF $50 such trenches in the .. 800.
foot stretch. From the bottom 81 each.
trench four samples were taken. 81
600 in all, and each one not only al.
sayed and PANIED, but subsequently.
h checked and rechecked to point
where there was no chance for error.
The great big assays, that is, those,
running away in the thousands, were
thrown out, and vet the average Tor
the full $500 feet, 1900 feet 81 En-.
pire and 1000 feet OF smifhYilIe was
/. better than s12.5O per ton. AS an All.
solute matter OF fact, some Of these
assays ran as high as $4,000 Der ton
Now, herein lies the significance 81
what we have been telling you. ii
J the LOO feet Of Empire, the ore IN
the floor Of the level averages s15 nar
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