The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-22
PRESIDENT TAFT
 DESCENDS MINE He Drops Eleven Hundred
 Feet Into Earth WATCHES THE WORK All Work in Mine Suspended to Give Men Opportunity to Hear Him
 Speak and as a Precau-
 tionary Measure
WATCHES THE WORK

Deadwood, S. D., October e1-Presi- dent Taft further qualified as a miner today when he was dropped HOO feet down into the Come Stake gold mine at Lead. Two years ago A1r. Taft was taken down to the 1900 foot level in the Leonard copper mine at Butte, Mont, and spent fully an hour groning about the drifts and tunnels and watch l ing the men at work.
 His experiences then and now were much the same, the principal differ ence being in the more precious quality of the quartz veins among which Mr. Taft was shown with guide rescue station safety lamps.
 The President began his trip 10 the mine by learning the pronunciation Of the town which is named after the min ing term dicating lead into body of ore. He climbed d flight of stairs and crossed long treste leading to the mouth of one of the shafts.
 The altitude of the entrance to the mine is just milo above sea level and the President stopped to rest several minutes before allowing himself to be  party into one of the steel cages used in hoisting men and metal from the bowels of the earth.
 It was as long and dark ride down the shaft, the depth being twice the height of the Washington monument. Eleya- tors in the Washington monument creep to the top of that granite shaft in from ID 10 15 minutes. MT. Taft went down fast in the darkness at a speed which carried him to the HOO foot level in less than two minutes.
 Eorty-fve minutes later he was hosted to the surface at even a faster speed
 All work in the mine was suspended this afternoon to give the men an oport unity to hear the President speak in the city and also partly as a precaution for the Presidetnts safety in visiting the mine, i: being deemed inadvisable to have any blasting by eleetrolysis while he was n tho tunnel.
 The entire procession of mining the ore and Of smelting it was explained to the President as he walked through the damp drifts Outside snow was on the ground and there were flurries of falling flakes Down in the mine the temperature rose to between 70 and 80. One of the drifts followed by the President led to an enor- nous cave like opening where most of the ore now is being taken out. The dome of the cave was fully 15 feet high Miners stationed at different levels in the enormous cut burned calcium paper to Illuminate the cavern.
 "How are you, Bill?" yelled one of the miners from far above.
 Pretty good laughed the President, How are you, away up there?'
 ''Fine old boy. Glad to see you.'
 AIr. Taft also spent some time in the government assay office at Lead and watched the casting of d real gold brick Later the President was shown a room full of the precious bricks, each of which weighed 125 pounds worth about s30.0oo a. piece. Some one stumped the President to lift a brick. He picked up one of the precious bars with the greatest exercise. Senator Gamble tried to do likewise. but was not successful. In this city where he spoke shortly after noon on the 'arff vetoes the president was presented with a small brick worth over $500.
 ''It is a great pleasure to gold brick the President" said Representative r. W. Martin in making the presentation.
 '1t is 9 great pleasure to be gold brick ed in this way" replied the President.
 MT. Taft received a noisy welcome both in Lead and Deadwood. Practically the entire population of two communities turned out to greet him. The President lunched with Representative Martin. At Lead he was presented with a replica of miners candlestick done in pure gold.
 Earlier in the day the President spoke at Edgemont and Custer. After leaving here he spoke at Sturgis and Rapid City. leaving the latter place at 10 D, m. Cor Pierre, where he will spend all day Sun day and Sunday night.