The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-09-30
TAFT VISITS
COPPER MINE
Dropped 1900 Feet in Darkness
Locked in Iron Cage.
SAW MINERS At WORK

bH'te, mont, ana was NheeTeu
Wnsa Brought to the surfaee-Visits
State Fair and Reviews Parade Of
School Children.
Helena Mont. Sept 2S-Attired in
a linen duster an old black slouch hat
ana swinging an electric lantern at
his side. President TAFT was locked in
a narrow iron cage and dropped 1900
feet through darkness into the depths
Of the famous old Leonard copper mine
al Butte lie had the rare experience
of seeing miners at work with a giant
drill in a vein Of high grade ore that
sparkled green with its wealth OF min
eral.
After half an hour underground the
president was brought to the surface.
blinking in the glare OF the sun He
was cheered 20 the echo by the crowd
Of curious people gathered at the
hoist He declared enthusiastically.
Il would not have missed # for the
world"
Il was the presidents first visit to
The Montana copper region. aud be.
tween the smelters at Anaconda and
the mines at Butte he had a series Of
interesting experiences Not the least
OF these was a thrilling automobile
ride over the mountains from Butte to
the mouth OF the Leonard mine The
grades were steep and winding. but
the chauneurs were experienced men.
and while there was apparently no
threat OF danger az any stage OF the
trip there was a sigh OF relief when
Mr Tan had once more been placed
safely aboard the Mayhower for the
run 10 Helena.
Arriving al Helena. he went directly
TO the state fair grounds. where. after
viewing a portion OF the exhibits. he
made an open air address and witness
Cd a race Of cowboys Returning to
the city. Mr. TAFT reviewed a parade
Of high school children.
Leaving Helena he headed direct
Tor Spokane. where he IS expected to
deliver his formal speech on the con
ser.ation OF the natural resources and
the reclamation OF arid lands
Trip Into 4 Mine.
When the president disappeared
down the shaft .og the mine he was
accompanied by Postmaster General
Hitchcock. Secretary Ballinger and
John Hays Hammond.
The descent occupied two and one
half minutes. and during the journey
there was nothing but blackness and
silence
At the l2O0-foot Lowell the two lower
cages dropped by the opening to al
low the president to step out first. II
was still inky dark
The opening OF the level had been
decorated with bunting, and along the
gallery the ordinary incandescent
bulbs lighting the passage had given
place TO more bulbs of red. white and
blue. The walk through the crosscut
to the ore vein was about a quarter OF
a mile. Through the darker places the
president helped to light the way with
his electric lantern, while the other
members Of the party carried candles.
The president was amazed to en-
counter two sleek looking horses in
comfortable stalls at one point OF the
trip. and his inquiries brought out the
information that every two or three
years the animals are taken to the sur
face for a years vacation on a ranch
that Is called "the horses heaven"
Precautions are taken to protect the
horses from blindness when they are
brought to the surface after long SER
vice below.
Past the powerful pumps. where he
shook hands with the men in charge.
the president was taken at last into
drift. where a drill was at work The
shutdown owing to the internal trou-
bles in the Western Federation Of
Miners was adjusted and the men were
preparing TO return to work on full
time.
The whole method OF copper mining
was explained to the president.
President Taft walked with limp
when he first got off the train at Ana
conda. :he result Of a sprained tendon
in his right foot. The sprain occurred
at Beverly. but he suffered little In
convenience from It until his foot was
considerably swollen. There Is nothing
serious about the sprain. and Mr.. Tart
aid not let II interfere in any way with
his plans