Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-07-20

Empire is a little bit Of a town out /
in Montana, located about rs 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
lit takes its name, 1t would have been
one Of the most important cities in
Montana.
The Empire vein is q splendid piece
Of property IN itself It was the mine
from which the old English company
took out nearly $4,000, 600, but with
out much more than scratching the
surface.
The vein on this property was inter-
Ssected by the croscut tunnel at a
depth OF 100 feet under the surface,
and at q distance of 100 feet from the
mouth of the tunnel. A level, or tun-s3
mel. was then driven east on the
course of the vein for the full distance
OF 300 feet.
The greatest depth attained In the
course OF this work was something
over 400 feet, but the average depth
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.
r Perhaps rs per cent Of the ground
or, TO be more correct, the vein, was
4 worked out to the surface, leaving
about rs 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. i
tunnel level.
When the Empire vein was inter-
sected BY the crosscut tunnel 1t was.
supposed that another 1900 foot prop
erty, known as the Smithyille, was an
extension Of the former, but this was
equently proven to be an error,
as IT developed that they were sepa-
rate and distinct veins, crossing each
other at such slight angle as to de.
q ceive the engineers in charge Of the
work at that time.
5;.s a level, or tunnel, was driven on
the Smithville to the west to a dis.
tance of about 1,oOo feet, but very lit.
Tie depth was secured, although some
high grade ore was taken out The
"a average value OF the ore, however
was several dollars per ton less thar
mat taken out Of the Empire. AS 81
the Empire, not to exceed rs per CEN
rof the vein matter, or ore. was taker
out between this level and the sur SUI,
race, and the average depth for The
dis lance worked was something less
than 200 feet.
AFTER the property passed from The
control Of the Englishmen, engineer;
ssf We're put to work to ascertain the val
- =, eis nine and report on thu
best Methods for recovering the same
. f'or prosecuting this work II shapet
q trenches were dug across the floor Il
me level at intervals Of 10 feet Of /;
total OF $50 such trenches ia the 5tt
TOOL stretch. From the bottom 81 eact
trench four samples were taken !,
goo In all, and each one not only 6
sayed and PANIED. but subsequent,
caecked and rechecked to i N poin,
where there was no chance for ery,o,
he great big assays, that Is, thos.
~ \ I.inning away In the Thousands. were
thrown Out, and vet the average q,
me full 800 feet, 1,5oo feet 81 nm
pire and 1000 feet Of smithville "a,
better than 1880 per ton. As a Il
sointe matter Of fact, some Of thast
assays ran as high as $50, 900 bar IN
Nov, herein Hes the significance &
wnat We have been telling YOU Il
ne 1,soo feet Of Empire, The "a !,
shs aoor of the level averages sis pe,