Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-28
DEEP DOWN IN MINE
Taft Descends 1,200-Foot
Shaft in Montana.
SHAKES HANDS WITH MEN
Learns a Lot About Copper He
Didn't Know Before.
RISKY AUTO RIDE DOWN HILL
Butte's Eighty Thousand Inhabit-
ants Give President q Genuine
Western Reception.
SHAKES HANDS WITH MEN
RISKY AUTO RIDE DOWN HILL

HELENA, Mon. September 2s.-The
knowledge of the presidential party 0eav-
ing out John Hays Hammond) on the sub
ject of mining is something wonderful.
The President wanted to know If the
dust from the rock thrown by drill was
powdered ore.
Yesterday, after the party had been
shown through the enormous Washoe
smeIter and all the processes had been ex-
planned, Capt. Archibald Butt, military aid
to the President, who had listened atten-
lively, stepped up to the manager and
asked: lis this what you call a placer
mine?''
Even the President laughed, and what
he doesn't know about mining would fill
a book.
yesterday President Taft entered Butte,
the town of mine owner wars. of recent
labor trouble. and of Bryan, and got the
most cordial reception of the present trip.
He was taken through Dublin gulch, noted
in the old days for violence; Anaconda
Hill dts 1000 feet above the city, but they
call them hills out here), and down the
hill to the Leonard mine. And when he
got TO the mine the President put on an
old grease soaked hat and a ''slicker' and
went nearly a quarter of a mile straight
down into the interior of the earth.
Inat was unusual, Out IL OlQH COHlpdTe
in danger to the automobile ride up and
down the hill" The trail winds upward
with sheer uprising wall on one side and
a sheer fall of from 200 to 700 feet on the
other. Going up. the hil-climbing autos
necessarily moved slowly; but going down
on the other side, to Meaderville and the
mine, there was a scant foot between the
edge Of the road and the valley below. and
the speed limit wasn't working that far
out of town. The President was asked re-
I'd nreSSiOn
descent and the precpitancy with which
he descended He said with apparent sur
prise that he hadn't noticed that it was
dangerous.
A "Dress Affair.""
When the President arrived without
accident at the bottom of the mountain
in 1.-The nat he entered the superin-
tendent's Office and put on a SLOUGH hat
that had been often before in the mine,
and a long coat, which had been a con-
slant companion Of the hat With him,
dressed in a similar manner, were Gov.
Brady of Idaho, Senator Carter of Mon
tana, Senator Dixon and Postmaster
General Hitchcock and Secretary Bal
ltnger.
There was also John Hays Hammond
who drew half million from the Gug-
senheims as a mining engineer. opened
many of the western mining properties,
and narrowly escaped hanging in South
Africa by the Beers when he was open
ing the gold regions Of that country.
to be polite, asked Mr.. Hammond on
the l. 200-foot level of the Leonard mine
if he had ever seen mine before.
well, I've heard good deal about
them, and I've seen pictures Of them,"
the great mining engineer replied.
The President. who was just ahead on
the narrow mule track, carrying a lamp
the others carried candles), heard the
q
Jack Hammond" he shoute-. don't
get funny this far under ground"
"Oh. is this Mr.. Hammond" asked
the committeeman. hurriedly. I've often
That's all right Mr.. Hammond said.
laughing 81 don't blame you for not
recognizing me I'm this costume.
The costume was principally notable
Into the Darkness.
The President and his party were led
to the mine mouth. where they were
loaded into cages. three of them. one
below another. The President was in
the top one, which meant, as it de-
veIoped. that when the 1000 foot level
was reached the two lower compart-
ments were below the opening, with all
the air, light and southern exposure of
a tomb. When the President had
alighted he peered down through the
grating of the floor of his compartment
at the newspaper correspondents who
accompanied him and said: Hello, fell
lows: I've got you where 1 want you
now
1t wasn't funny. at all. The cage was
Ave feet by four. bounded by living
rock and complete darkness, with
cable extending a quarter of mile up
ward and drop Of 600 feet below.
However. this is story about the
President of the United States, though
il must be remembered he went
through the same experience.
descent left the sunlight with an
abruptness that brought a simulta.
neous gasp from all the tenderfoot pas
sengers 1t sank slowly. but with
clankings and swayings, in complete
darkness. Occasionally some one call
self entered into the pleasantries, but
the executives voice did not have the
confident ring that characterized 1t
from stands and rear end platforms.
"Do These Cables Ever Breake"
A light appeared at the 5OO-foot level
and an exclamation of relief came from
the cages. but the light disappeared and
the car still sank.
DO these cables ever break" asked
some one in the darkness OF the superin-
tendent.
Not often he said
Again deep silence, while the tender
feet pondered the reply.
How deep IL the shaft?" another voice
in the darkness asked.
Eighteen hundred feet" came back
from the unseen official.
And We are going?
Twelve hundred"
On arriving at their destination the pas