New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-28

VISITS MONTAN4 COPPER
REGION.
Sees Miners at York 1900 Feet
Underground and Has a Peril
Gus automobile Ride.

Helena, Mont, Sept. 27.-wearing linen dus-
ter and old black slouch hat. and swinging an
electric lantern at his side. President Taft
locked in a narrow iron cage and dropped twelve
hundred feet through darkness into the depths
Of the famous old Leonard copper mine at Butte
to-day. He had the rare experience Of seeing
miners at work with giant drill in vein OF
high grade that sparkled green with its
wealth of mineral.
After half an hour underground the Presi-
dent was brought 10 the surface. blinking in
the glare OF the MONDAY He cheered
to the echo by the crowd OF curious people gath
cred at the hoist, and he declared enthusiasts
tically:
Il would not have missed II for the world
1t was the Presidents first visit 10 the Mon
tana copper region. and between the smelters at
Anaconda and the mines AT Butte he had
series Of interesting experiences. Not the least
OF these was thrilling automobile ride over the
mountains from Butte to the mouth oEsthe Leon
ard mfne.-The grades were steep and winding
but the chaufTeurs were experienced men. and
while there was apparently no threat OF danger
at any stage Of tho trip. there was a sigh OF
lief when Mr.. Taft had once more been placed
safely aboard the Mayhower for the run TO
Helena.
Arriving at Helena he went dsectly TO the State
Fair Grounds. where. after viewing a portion OF
the exhibits. he made open air address and
witnessed race of cowboys. Returning TO the
city Mr.. Taft reviewed parade OF school chill
dren.
Leaving Helena this evening he headed direct
for Spokane. where he is expected speak to-
morrow on the conservation Of the resources and
the reclamation of arid lands.
SUFFERS FROM sPRAINED FOOT
r,.o.t1on, Taf. ,,ail,ad ,,.,b a IIr,,, ,r,,,r !.
first got off the train this morning at Anaconda
the result Of a sprained tendon in his right foot
The tendon sprained at Beverly. but he
suffered little inconvenience from II until to-
day. when his foot was considerably swollen
There is nothing serious about the sprain. and
Mr. Taft did not let 1t interfere in any way with
his plans
| The President made a flying trip through the
Washoe shelter of the Amalgamated Copper
| Company. at Anaconda, then proceeded into the
cit. and. after brief address. took the train for
Butte The crowds which greeted him in the
streets there were the largest he had since
leaving Chicago. The police had their hands
full in opening a way for the automobile pro-
cession and after the Presidents car had passed
the crowd swarmed in It's wake Speaking at the
Court House 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 eat thrOng when
he told of the wonderful impression the country
was making on him. and ended by saying:
Il am like the old Dutchman who said. The
more you live the more you find. by gOlly, out! "
TWO CABINET MEMBERS WITH HIM
When the President disappeared down the
| shaft Of the Leonard mine with hearty goodoy
shouted to the waving group at the entrance ne
| carried with him into the depths of the earth
| two of his Cabinet officers. and won the Fresi-
| Dental record for the furthest underground
| President Roosevelt entered some of the Butte
mines but did not get down to the l'-Oo-ioot
| level Postmaster General Hitchcock VINO
ioned the Presidents party to-day at Anaconda
and Secretary Ballinger accompanied the fresi-
dent in the picturesque trip down the DARK
| cbu+a and through the crosscuts and drifts of
| the deep level
| The elevator used by the President and his
| Uarty consisted OF small square cage. In three
| decks, with steel doors. The lowest OF THESE
was loaded first, then the second, and lastly the
| President got into the tOpmOst one, accompanied
| by John Hays Hammond and others There was
a sheer drop of eight hundred feet to the hrst
| level.
The electric lights at this gallery. leading
| away from the shaft. were only blur. After
this the levels came at intervals of one hundred
| feet DESPITE the assurance of the mine officers
| that they made from twenty to thirty trips a
day down the shaft at speed which relegated
the Presidents drop to a snails pace in compari-
son. the descent through the first five hundred
feet of inlSy darkness was alarming to the ner-
| yous ones IN the party. The descent occupied
| two and one-half minutes and during the jour
new there @as nothing but biackness and silence
DOWN IN THE COPPER MINE.
At the 1900 foot level the two lower cages
dropped by the opening TO allow the President
10 step out first II still inky dark and
grewsome TO those below. when at last there
came the CHEEKY voice OF the President from the
| level calling TO some of the newspaper men whJ