The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-09-07

operating the series of reverberatory fur
naces they built dam at Basin creek
about five miles south of Butte, and es
tablished a flume line in which to float thu
logs to the works This was very effective
Three reverberatory furnaces were frs
established. Ores were purchased from diff
ferent mines in order to get the proper
fluxing mixture. This operation provided
market for many refractory ores, which
was very advantageous to the mine owners
and encouraged development. This plant
continued in successful operation for Q
number of years.
Concentration Built
Prior to this had for several years own
ed 200 feet on the Colusa mine, which is
situated near where Meaderville is now To-
Gated This mine contained body of ore
from - to 10 feet wide, a portion Of which
was first-class and the remainder had to
be concentrated. l also in the same neigh
borhood had obtained a part of the Gam
beta mine, which likewise contained ore
partly high grade, but a portion of which
required concentration. Soon after 1 pro-
ceeded TO construct a concentrating plant
Il
Silver Bow creek, with view of treating
the ore of those mining interests which
had secured. In connection with this !
also constructed a smelling plant con-
sisting of two small furnaces, in which
the concentrates were converted into a
high grade matte for which a market was
easily obtained in Utah or Colorado.
In 1885 there occurred at New Orleans
the worlds exposition, at which I had the
honor to serve as one of the commissioners
from ontana. In performing this service l
observed in the display of the mineral de-
partment of Arizona some ores from the
United Verde copper mine. This was one
of the most attractive collections of min
erals to be found at the exposition. This
caused me to make some inquiry as to the
mine which furnished these fine specimens.
found that it had been operated for sew
eral years, but when they got into the
base ores, about 100 feet below the surface,
they were unable to make it profitable.
From this resulted further inquiry and
soon after a personal visit. While the de-
yelopments were not very extensive yet
they were exceedingly interesting as show
ing considerable quantities of high grade
ore, although the deepest workings were
only then 100 feet, at which point they en-
water and ores of a baser char
acter.
Property Developed
I then proceeded to purchase the out
lying shares of the stock in this company
in which 1 was very successful and secured
practically all. then proceeded to open
up the mine, and upon being assured as
to a large extent of valuable ore 1 con-
structed a narrow gauge railroad from
the mine to a station on the Santa Fe sys-
tenn, a distance of about % miles. A few
years later a constructed a broad gauge
road and made extensive improvements, so
that at the present time the plant is of
such magnitude and equipped with cal
ching, reverberatory and blast furnaces,
to insure a minimum production of about
100000 pounds of fine copper per month.
This is shipped in the form of bars to the
refining plant in New Jersey, where the
electrolytic process is used to separate the
precious metals from the copper.
My mining operations in Montana have
likewise been materially increased, as
here is now a market for zinc and other
base ores, for which formerly there was
lone available. But now by reason of the
arge plants which have been created for
heir reduction and refinement, and the
arge demand for the metal, the mining of
inc ores has been made very remunerative |
At Centennial Exposition
Previous to the celebration of our ma
ional independence, which was held in
in 1876, had the honor to
'e appointed by our distinguished COVER
Tor, Benjamin F. Potts, as state orator to
epresent Montana, which 1 accepted with
leasure, and my address on that occasion
vas officially published.
In 1879 the charter of the First National
ank at Deer Lodge was surrendered and
he business conducted under the name Of
Clark & Larabie until May, 1884.
bout that time Mr.. Donnell died. and
Ir. Larabie and myself continued the
BUSINESS until September 80, 1889, under
he firm name of Clark G. Larabie, at
rhich time Mr.. Larabie's interest in the
lutte business was purchased by w. A.
lark & Brother, l selling to him at the
anne time my interest in the Deer Lodge
usiness.
In 1888 1 was elected a delegate to the
rst constitutional convention which was
ED at Helena in January 1884. At the
rganization 1 had the honor to be made
resident. The state, however, was not
Omitted into the Union under the con-
-itution framed by that convention on
count of some political contention.
In the recital of the foregoing personal