The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-12-25
THE STORY OF MINING N MONTANA AND
WHAT It HAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE STATE
STORY GRAPHICALLY TOLD WHICH CORRESPONDS IN GENERAL
TERMS TO HISTORY PR STATUS OF THE MIN
ING INDUSTRY IN IDAHO

The growth of the mining industry
In Montana Is most Interestingly de-
scribed by John H. Mcintosh, mining
editor Of the Butte Miner, in the issue
Of that paper of December H. A lib
eral extract is made from his contrl-
button because the story is intensely
interesting to all who desire to keep
informed on mining In the west, but
particularly because the history Of
mining In Idaho follows similar lines
and the relative position Of the mining
industry in Idaho Is. identical to that
Of Butte to the mining industry In
/ Montana. While the state Of Idaho
possesses wonderful possibilities In the
way Of mining development in various
sections, the fact remains that for
many years and at the present time
when one refers to the mineral output
! Of Idaho, he necessarily means the
output from the mines Of Shoshone
county, from which upwards OF 80 per
cent comes. Mr.. Mcintosh says:
Montana's First Mining.
More than IS years ago Granville
Stuart, now custodian Of the Butte
public library, stood at. the edge of
Gold creek and panned the first gold.
That was Montana's first mining. 1t
was morning in May, 1858, that Mr..
Stuart did his prospecting Today
Montana Is the second state in the
union in the production of copper and
has produced for the world in metal
values since 1860. more than $780,
100000.
Mining deserves credit for being the
pioneer industry of the treasure state.
Miners We're the real pathfinders Of
this commonwealth. And the products
of the states mines have built cities
here and abroad, have made million
aires of energetic, sturdy mining men,
have built churches, maintained
schools and have distributed hundreds
of millions in dividends among the
people of the land.
Montana is fast growing into one
of the leading agricultural states Of
the union, but 1t was mining that
paved the way, that brought the peo-
| pie here and advertised to the world
Montana's matchless resources.
Romantic Evolution.
The evolution Of mining in Mon
tana would form the basis for an in
teresting novel 1t Is full Of romance.
Where once the rugged pioneer panned
his dust In Alder gulch now looms a
giant dredge boat-the largest IN the
world. Where once the windlass Or
whim was the means of hosting ore
from the shallow mines and prospects
In Montana's hills great electrical
equipment and machinery now stand,
a monument to the latest and most
approved industrial methods.
"The change in half a century is a
striking change.
"a generation in Montana has wit
messed the transition from the. horse
and whim to steam and from steam to
electricity, the latter being possible
through the Harvesting Of the rivers
of the treasure state No other occu-
patton has shown more rapid ad-
vancement than mining. That means
within the state Of Montana, for Mon
tana's mining has shown the way TO
the rest of the mining world in the
matter Of labor saving and economi-
cal methods
And 1t Is on the subject of more
recent activities that this article will
dwell. The history of mining in this
state is intensely, yes-thrillingly In
teresting. But, with the exception Of
an occasional reference to the produc-
ton Of metals in the past, we can not
deal much with history. Lack Of space
forbids.
"And the future Of Montana mining
Before getting back to the major trend
the writer would ask the privilege of
being allowed to record prediction
That prediction Is herewith made
without any qualification or condition
mining in Montana is but an infant
in swaddling clothes. A few decades
hence will find 1t a mighty giant of an
industry and the millions Of dollars
in ore already extracted from her
ground will seem small in comparison
with the multiplied millions still re-
naming and which will be mined by
the generations that are yet to come.
Not Overestimated.
ITO the uninitiated such prediction
might indeed seem bold. Yet it is
made only after mature thought and
careful observation. Today the output
of our mines is. being steadily In
creased. And think of the countless
mines that are yet to be opened and
worked and made producers! Through
out all Of the states system Of noun
tain ranges there are evidences of
naturalization. New prospects are
daily being located. New properties
are being opened up from time to time
II Is possible that dozen other hills
within Montana's confines will be
found to be as rich as the famous An
aconda hill of the Butte district, which
today gives the world healthy per-
centags Of its copper output. and ac-
tually brings forth one fifth Of the red
metal produced on the North Ameri-
can continent