The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-12-16
OLD WH|TLACH MINE
STILL HAS A FUTURE
FAMOUS PROPERTY AGAIN is Ac-
TlVE-FlRsT OWNER CAME
TO CoEUR D'ALENES.

The following story regarding the
Whitlatch mine near Helena, taken
from the Butte Miner, recalls the fact
that Jim Whitlatch, the discoverer of
THE famous mine and the man who
developed it and grew immensely rich
from its operation, spent one summer
in the Occur d'Alene district in the
early days OF lead mining here. His
purpose was to engage In mining here,
but before he found property that
suited him the lure Of Alaska took him
to the far north, where he died sew
eral years ago. 1t now appears that
the old mine still retains unlimited
riches In its depths and under chang
ed conditions and modern mining
methods it will probably duplicate the
early Whitlatch fortune. The Miner
says:
Roosevelt Held an Interest.
Former President Roosevelt's father
was stakeholder and Teddy" himself
was at one time interested in fam
Gus old Helena district mine-the
Whitlatch--which according to an
nouncement made yesterday by John
Simpson, has been purchased by Butte
parties.
The Whitlatch is located In the
Unionville district not far from Hell
ena and has been closed for genera
TONS The property has a great deal
of free milling ore blocked out and
will be taken by the new owners i'm
mediately and operated.
Interesting History.
An interesting history is attached to
this old property-another one of the
long closed mines to be revived now
that the metal excitement is keen
again.
The Unionvile district and the
Whitlatch are among the Oldest min
ing proposition In Montana. The gov
eminent survey was No, IA 1t was an
active mine back in the SOS and in the
few years of It's active existence 1t
produced 100000 from a shallow in
cline shaft $50 feet in depth. When
finally the contact between the lime
and the granite was encountered II
produced so much water that the
pumps we're unable to handle the flow
and the property was closed.
, For "A years the mine remained I'M
; der water. Then a rather strange
thing happened. The district which
, had been so pregnant with water. has
become dry as a bone and now the
Whitlatch can be mined without the
water handicap.
Great Montana Timber.
That the miners of those early days
used the best lumber obtainable IS
evidenced by the fact that the posts
and caps found in the workings are
still in perfect condition. Some OF
!, these are "a inches in diameter and
: require three men to move. They are
Of Montana fir.
= The old Union mine, adjoining the
Whitlatch, was a still bigger produc-
- err. In fact 1t has been spoken OF as
y the worlds richest gold mine. 1t pro-
duced from a depth Of 300 feet about
=" SO, 100000 The district was consid-
: cred a remarkable one and $25O'OOO In
y gold was taken from the. surface rocks
When finally the water left the mine
the district having been drained IN
some unaccountable manner, there
was a disagreement among the own
ers as to plans for reopening and TINS
,r was the cause of further idleness OF
the property. Finally John Simpson
y the widely known Butte mining mar
g and promoter, obtained control ane
g held the property until a short tins
r ago, when he sold it to men bacKec
Is by Butte capital.
" 1t is a free milling proposition VIII
rs mill and water rights. There Is
1t years run of ore blocked out and thi
t. ore in sight is valued at $4,000.
10 The mine will be reopened abou
r. January l.