The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-10-01
TAFT DOE1 4 NINE
President DeSCendS 1900
Feet In an Iron Cage.
SEES MEN WORK GAM DRILL
After Half an Hour Underground,
Says He Would Not Have
Missed It For the
World.
SEES MEN WORK GAM DRILL

in a linen duster, an old black, SLOUGH
hat and swinging an electric lantern
at his side, President Taft was locked
in narrow iron cage and dropped
1,200 feet through darkness into the
depths of the famous old Leonard cop
per mine at Butte. He had the rare
experience of seeing miners at work
with giant drill in vein Of high
grade ore that sparkled green with its
wealth of mineral.
When the president disappeared
down the shaft of the mine he won
the presidential record for the farthest
under ground. President Roosevelt
entered some Of the Butte mines dur
ing his term, but did not get down to
the 1,200 foot level.
Postmaster General Hitchcock and
Secretary Ballinger accompanied the
president in the picturesque trip down
the dark chute and through the cross
cuts and drifts of the deep level.
The opening of the 1,2OO foot level
had been decorated with bunting, and
along the gallery the ordinary incan-
descent 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
quarter of mile. Through the
darker places the president helped to
light the way with his electric Ian
tern, while the other members of the
party carried candles.
Past the powerful pumps, where he
shook hands with the men in charge
! the president was taken at last into n
drift where drill was at work. The
whole method of copper mining was
explained to the president.
After half an hour underground the
president was brought to the surface,
blinking in the glare Of the MONDAY
sun. He was cheered to the echo by
the crowd of curious people gathered
at the hoist. He declared enthusias-
tically:
II would not have missed it for the
world"
1t was the presidents first visit to
the Montana copper region, and 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 mountain from Butte to
the mouth of the Leonard mine. The
| grades were steep and winding, but
the chauffeurs were experienced men.
and, while there was apparently no
threat of danger mt any stage Of the
trip, there was a sigh of relief when
Mr.. Taft had once more been placed
safely aboard the Mayflower for the
| run to Helena.
Arriving at Helena, he went directly
| to the state fair grounds, where, after
viewing a portion Of the exhibits, he
made an open air address and wit
messed race of cowboys. Returning
to the city, Mr.. Taft reviewed a pa
rade of school children.
Leaving Helena he came to Spokane,
where he spoke on the conservation of
the natural resources and the reclama-
tion of arid lands.
| President Taft walked with a limp
when he got off the train, the result
of sprained tendon in his right foot.
The sprain occurred at Beverly, but he
suffered little inconvenience from it
until today, when his foot was consid-
erably swollen. There is nothing Sc
rious about the sprain, and Mr.. Taft
did not let it interfere in any way
with his plans.
The president made a flying trip
through the Washoe smelter Of the
Amalgamated Copper company at Ana
conda, then proceeded into the city,
and the crowds which greeted him on
the streets were the largest he had
seen since leaving Chicago. Speaking
at the courthouse, the president looked
out upon a mass of humanity that
blocked the square and spread far
down the converging streets. He made
decided hit with the great throng
when he told of the wonderful i'm
preston the country was making upon
him and ended by saying:
81 am like the old Dutchman who
said, The more you live the more you
| aaI l. v1Il.