Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-10-22
HELLO BILL
IS GREETING
Informality of Min e r
Whom the President Met
in Homestake Shaft Fur
nishes Quite a Refresh
ing Incident.

DEADWOOD, 5. D. oct. 21.-Presi-
dent Taft further qualified as a miner
, when he was taken down LOO feet
in the famous Homestake gold mine
at Lead today Two years ago Presi-
| dent Taft was taken down To the
1,200-foot level in the Leonard copper
mine at Butte, Mont. and passed fully
half an hour cropping about the drifts
and tunnels, and watching the men
work. His experiences today were
much the same. the principal differ
ence being in the more precious quail
ity of the quartz veins through which
he was guided with miners lanterns
lighting the mine. The altitude at
the entrance of the mine is just a
mile above sea level. and the presi-
dent stopped to rest several minutes
before allowing himself to be locked
with several members Of the party in
one Of the steel cages for the long.
dark ride down the shaft. Mr. Taft
went sailing down at a speed which
carried him TO the LOO foot level in
two minutes. Three quarters Of an
hour later he was hoisted to the sur
face at a pace even faster All work
in the mine was suspended this aft
ernoon, partly to give the men an
opportunity to hear Taft speak in
Lead and partly as a precaution for
the presidents safety while visiting
the mine. The entire process Of min
ing ore and smelling il was explained
to the president. Outside snow was
on the ground, with flurries Of falling
flakes. Down in the mine the tenn
perature rose to between 30 and so.
How are YOU, Bill?" a miner yelled
from the level far above.
"Oh. pretty good" the president
answered with laugh, How are
you, away up there"
Fine. old boy; glad to see YOU.
was the answer.
The president also spent some time
in the government assay office at
Lead and watched the casting of real
gold bricks. Later he was shown a
roomful of bricks Each weighed 125
pounds and they are worth 100000
each. Someone "stumped' Taft to
lift a brick. He picked up one of
the bars with the greatest ease. In
this city, where he spoke shortly after
noon on the tariff vetoes. the presi-
dent was presented with a small gold
brick worth more than $500.
IT'S the greatest pleasure to give
a gold brick to the president" said
f W. Martin, presenting the gold
brick.
It's a great pleasure to be gold
bricked in this way" answered Mr..
Taft.
The president received noisy well |
come both in Deadwood and Lead. |
Practically the entire population of
both communities turned out to greet |
him Earlier i'm the day the president |
spoke at Edgemont and Custer. After |
leaving here he spoke in Surgis and |
Rapid City. leaving the latter city at
10 p. m. for Pierre, where he will |
pass Sunday and Sunday night. At
Rapid City delegation of Sioux |
chiefs met the president and present
ed a petition asking for the return
of the Black Hills To the Indians. |
They declared they never intended To |
give up the land to the white men |
and wanted it back right now" If |
this were not convenient, they wanted |
50 cents an acre Ito put in our pock |
cts When Mr.. Taft promised to give |
the matter due consideration, the |
chiefs grunted, "HeaD good"