The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-09-29
DOWN A COPPER MINE
President Taft Dropped 1,20(
Feet Through Darkness.

II Was the Presidents First Visit n
the Montana Copper Region and Be
tween the SmeIters at Anaconda anc
the Mines at Butte He Had SOME
Interesting Experiences - President
Was Accompanied by Two Cabinet
officers In Trip Below Ground.
Helena Mont, Sept. 2S.-Attired in
q linen duster, an old black slouch
hat and swinging an electric lantern
at his side, President Taft was locked
in narrow iron cage and dropped
l,200 feet through darkness into the
depths of the famous old Leonard cop
per mine at Butte. He had the rare
experience of seeing the miners al
work with giant drill in a vein OF
high grade ore that sparkled green
with its wealth of mineral.
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. lie declared enthusias.
tically:
81 would not have missed it for the
world"
Thrilling Auto Ride over Mountains.
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 q thrilling automobile
ride over the mountains 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 at any stage of the
| trip, there was 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 portion of the exhibits he
made an open-air address and wit
messed a race of cowboys. Returning
to the city Mr.. Taft reviewed parade
of school children.
Leaving Helena in the evening, he
headed direct for Spokane, where he
expects to deliver his formal speech
on the conservation of the natural re-
sources and the reclamation Of arid
lands.
The president made a flying trip
through the Washoe smelter of the
| Amalgamated Copper company at An
| acOnda, then proceeded into the city
and after a brief address took the
train for Butte. The crowds which
greeted him on the streets there were
the largest he had seen since leaving
Chicago. The police had their hands
full in opening way for the automo-
bile procession and after the presi-
dents car had passed the crowd
swarmed in its wake. Speaking at
the court house the president looked
out upon 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
impression the country was making
upon him, and ending by saying:
81 am like the old Dutchman who
said The more you live the more you
1nd, by golly, out"
When the president disappeared
down the shaft of the Leonard mine
with hearty good bye shouted to the
waving group at the entrance he car
| ried with him into the depths OF the
earth two of his cabinet officers and
won the presidential record for the
furtherest underground.
President Roosevelt entered some OF
the Butte mines during his term but
did not get down to 1000 foot level.
Postmaster General Hitchcock who
| Joined the president at Anaconda, 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.
Drop Of 800 Feet to First Level.
The elevator used by the president
and his party consisted of a small
steel doored square cage in three
decks. The president got into the
topmost one, accompanied by John
Hays Hammond and others. There
was sheer drop of 500 feet to the first
level
After this the levels came at inter
walls of 100 feet Despite the assurance
Of the mine officers that they made
from 20 to 80 trips day down the
shaft, at speed which relegated the
presidents drop to a snaiPs race In
comparison, the descent through the
first 500 feet of inky darkness was
nerve-shaking to the nervous ones In
the party.
The descent occupied two and one
half minutes and during the journey
there was nothing but blackness and
silence.
At the 1900 foct level, the two low
er cages dropped by the opening to
allow the president to step out first
| It was still inky dark and gruesome
| to those below when at last there
came the CHEEKY voice Of the president
from the level, calling to some of the
newspaper men who were accompany
! ing him on the trip.
"How are you fellows down there?'
ha manfred