Mohave County miner., 1912-06-01
Silver Stimulates
 Montana Mines.

or little better the owners of silver properties about the state are begin- ming to feel that there is a chance to operate claims at a profit, and should the price remain steady for a time there is no doubt there will be quite a revival in silver mining. Throughout the state there are a very large num- Der of silver properties which are in at Ndvanced state of development, but which had to be closed down at the time of the panic; and there are thou sands of tons of ore in sight in every camp, which, although large portion of it may be of low grade, could be treated to advantage with the price of silver at 50 cents and over.
 There is strong feeling in the West that the East is endeavoring to keep down the white metal produc- tion by curtailing the use of silver and the issuance of large quantities of cur rency. In this city the merchants and banks are complaining that silver is exceedingly scarce and the represen- tation made some time ago to those in authority does not seem to have had any effect.
 The Tuolumne company will double it's output this month and next month do even better than that. For several months past the company has been shipping l50 tons day, but during the first week of thls month the out put was increased and is now aver aging 3OJ tons day. One days rec ord was established, and for the first time in the history of the mine eight cars containing 50 tons each were ship. ped to the Washoe smelter. The ore being shipped averages l-2 per cent copper with good silver values. Some second-class ore is being shipped and the company expects in a short time to be in position to ship consider able quantity of that grade as the con- pany has assurances from General Superintendent Gillie of the Anaconda company that if long term contract was entered into arrangements of a very satisfactory character for treat ment would be made. The Tuolumne has large amount of second. class ore and is in position to shi D from 400 to 300 tons day. Development work is being prosecuted on all levels from the 1000 down to the 300 but it is on the latter level that the large body of ore is now being mined. The miners are now in l60 feet on the sill floor and the ore is running from to 10 per cent copper and is eight feet wide in places. Possibly about $50 feet more is to be drifled before the east end of the boundary line is encountered. The l.. SOOfoot level is proving richer and better than any level yet opened up. A few days ago big body of ore was opened up on the 800.foot level, but it is of low grade and not what was ex- pected in view of the fact that the North Butte company had cut the same ore body on the 7OO-foot level which showed width of l5 feet and of good shipping quality.
 Shaft sinking in the Pilot Butte is going on at the rate of 85 feet month and depth of l,OSO feet has now been reached. It is intended to keep sink ing until depth of l,6OO feet and pos. sibly l,8OO feet is reached. Stations will be cut at the various levels as the sinking work proceeds. No effort will be maoe to mine the body of zinc ore encountered on the 90O-foot level, the object being to make depth as quickly as possible and open up the copper ore bodies in the locality.
 During the past year, according to the annual report of the Anaconda company, the development work car ried on has not been as extensive as usual, due to the fact that some of the mines were closed down for repairs and various improvements and to the fact that some shafts were put out of commission, but notwithstanding this there were 30.7 miles of drifts. cross- cuts, upraises, winzes and shafts added to the work of the year. In spite of the fact. however. that the develop ment was not as extensive as in pre-. vious years, the ore reserves were