The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-09-06

operating the series of reverberatory fur
naces they built a dam at Basin creek.
about five miles south of Butte, and es-
tablished a flume line in which to float the
logs to the works. This was very effective.
Three reverberatory furnaces were first
established. Ores were purchased from diff
ferent mines in order to get the proper
fluxing mixture. This operation provided
a market for many refractory ores, which
was very advantageous to the mine owners
and encouraged development. This plant
continued in successful operation for a
number of years.
Concentrator 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 a body of ore
from - to 10 feet wide, a portion of which
was first-class, and the remainder had to
be concentrated. / 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 I pro-
ceeded to construct a concentrating plant
- NV 1oa1LN lt1G O1tOf tAS 14AiO ~
Silver Bow creek, with a view of treating
the ore of those mining interests which
1 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
H. ID TT - --1.1l T 10 A.
honor to serve as one of the commissioners
from %ontana. In performing this service
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.
I 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-
velopments 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-
countered 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 l was very successful and secured
practically all. 1 then proceeded to open
up the mine, and upon being assured as
to a large extent of valuable ore l 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
there is now a market for zinc and other
base ores, for which formerly there was
none available. But now by reason of the
large plants which have been created for
their reduction and refinement, and the
demand for the metal, the mining of
zinc ores has been made very remunerative.
AT Centennial Exposition
Previous to the celebration of our ma
independence, which was held in
Philadelphia in 1876, had the honor to
be appointed by our distinguished COVER
nor, Benjamin f. Potts, as state orator to
Montana, which / accepted with
pleasure, and my address on that occasion
officially published.
In 1879 the charter of the First National
bank at Deer Lodge was surrendered and :
he business conducted under the name of !
.onnell, Clark & Larabie until May, 1884. :
About that time Mr.. Donnell died, and :
Larabie and myself continued the
until September 80, 1889, under :
he firm name of Clark & Larabie, at =
which time Mr.. Larabie's interest in the !
Butte business was purchased by w. A.
Clark & Brother, I selling to him at the :
anne time my interest in the Deer Lodge
In 1888 I was elected a delegate to the
constitutional convention which was
at Helena in January, 1884. At the
rganization / had the honor to be made
resident. The state. however, was not
Omitted into the Union under the con-
t~itution framed by that convention on
ccount of some political contention.
In the recital of the foregoing personal