The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-07-28

the near future undoubtedly become
one Of the leading mining districts
of the west 10 located in the area tm-
mediately south Of Black Butte, near
the Dreibelbis ranch on Sheep creek.
in Meagher county. There lies .
body Of iron ore. ranging from %
to so per cent iron in soft earth to
IS per cent In the two main out
Groupings Of iron cliffs. The miner
allied area extends from Tendertoot
through the Belt mountains for 90
miles, but the workable property =
located within . circular area OF
about $500 acres.
In the central part of this area.
where iron has been deposited by
glacial action. no accurate estimate
can be made of the amount OF ore
that can be worked, but geologistp'
reports state that there are from
100000 to 140,00O,000 tons Of
workable ore in sight. Most Of these
reports declare there are 10O, 100000
tons recoverable without development
work.
Eastern Capital Interested
Officials Of the Montana Iron and
Steel Corporation, formed by .
group Of wealthy Virginia men, a.
sert there is enough ore to operate
more than 100 years. They believe
the location is favorable as to mar
kA.c, and that the establishment Of
rolling mills will prove successful
venture.
The corporation, represented by
P. A. Conner, is now completing work
for the patenting Of 10 more claims.
which, with the fractions. will give
1t 900 acres in the center of the dis
trict. In addition, surrounding Nor
thern Pacific reservations have been
arranged for and adjoining property
owners have been seen with a view
to obtaining control Of the entire min
eralized area.
The patenting, it is said. will be
completed in few weeks, the cost
of securing title to this central por-
ton of the area being about $4,000.
While there are no extensive work.
ings. hundreds of cuts and holes have
been dug all over the field, reveal
ing a uniform deposit Of iron with
the exception Of a few acres in q
certain coulee.
Mr.. Conner and Cal Coates, a min
ing engineer of Tucson, Ariz., retain
one-fourth interest in the mines,
the corporation holding the remain
der.
Can Handle Ore Cheaply
The area came in for serious con-
sideration in 1914, when Conner be-
gan working on it. Previous to that
time it had been prospected desult-
orily, a few copper stains leading
prospectors to believe that the iron
capped deposit of that metal. Due
to the number who prospected there,
the discovery cannot be ascribed to
any one man. A peculiar feature is
that surveyors, who went over the
district. reported It non-mineral in
character and as such open to home
stead filing, and marked their cor
ners with huge boulders containing
IS per cent iron.
The deposit centers on two huge
iron cliffs, and the bulk OF the ore,
It is declared, can be handled from
the grass roots by steam shovel, 1t
having no overburden. Estimates Of
corporation engineers are that an ex-
penditure of 20 cents a ton will load
the ore on cars, making 1t as cheap
~ handled as any In the country.
The ore body has been tested by driv-
ing holes to a depth Of from 20 to
40 feet without going out of ore.
Biologists say the contour of the
field indicates that the ore in places
is almost 200 feet in depth.
Corporations Extensive Plans
The corporation plans to obtain
control Of coal mines in Cascade
county, where seven-foot vein Of
coking coal exists to an unlimited
tonnage. Lime stone deposits are not
far away, and the mine Is only few
miles from the power line of the
Montana power company out of Great
road are to be built to link up the
corporations holdings, and blast fur
naces and rolling mills are to be
erected.
That the men behind the corpora
ton can finance these extensive OPP
erations is said to be indicated by the
fact that three years ago they began
the securing, at an aggregate cost
Of more than $4,000. complete data
regarding markets, lime, water, coal
and labor, and that the survey, made
by some Of the best engineers in the
country, covers the entire west.
Tha stupendous plans of the cor
poration, officials say. will necessar-
lily have to be worked out gradually.
They estimate that the various prop
critics. trackage and rolling stock will
involve an ultimate investment Of
from @10.000,o00 to $4,000. 1000.
Farm Foxes; Breed Trout
A silver fox farm will be started
soon In the Bitter Root valley a
short distance below. Corvallis.
The Bartlett-Bolen company report
the sale Of the Bernard Oertil farm
Of 100 acres TO H. D. Simmons. Mr..
Simmons already owns a number Of
pairs Of silver foxes which he win
install in shady grove In the lower
part OF this ranch. A large dairy
herd win be operated to supply fresh
milk to the foxes. Several springs
on the property will be converted In