The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1924-10-08
STATE MAY HAVE
STEEL INDUSTRY
Eastern Interests Seek Control
Of Iron Properties In
Meagher County

White Sulphur Springs. - What
probably means the development Of
tae Sheep Greek iron properties, and
with it the extensive operation OF a
s,ecl plant in the state, is shown by
the efforts Of a group OF eastern PEG
pie, said to be connected with the
Ford interests, to secure control OF
the iron deposits and all the allied
materials needed for the manufacture
Of steel.
a ten per cent deposit on these OPP
tons will be due shortly, and an eX-
=. N Of time was granted to allow
additional properties to be contracted
for. The price to be paid for the
Sheep Creek ron, held by Virginia
parties, is sad to be close to $780,
0G0, while a large acreage Of this iron
is held by ranchmen at Sheep Greek,
who will probably benefit in the deal.
me Sheep Creek deposits are ex-
t~ensive, said to cover more than $500
acres, and TINS alone is considered
ample for d fifty years run for =
small steel plant. The property is
n"ar coal and power, but whether the
~funaces would be in this county or
Great Falls is problematical.
The eastern parties are negotiating
through a Great Falls bank, and have
taken options on 10000 acres of coal
lands in the Catron field and on
the sand deposits near the Falls.
They have also taken options on a
large iron deposit at Stanford, in Fer
gus county. Great secrecy has sur
rounded the deal, and it appears now
That all the properties sought have
been contracted for.
It has been Of Common knowledge
that should the Pittsburgh-pIus sys-
tenn of selling iron and steel be out
iawed by the U. s.. supreme court,
bias. furnaces would be Immediately
established in the west. This has
come to pass, and the freight, which
is one Of the biggest costs in iron, is
nov a matter for competitive impor-
tance, which means that blast fur
naces will be established soon, either
IL Montana or Utah.
Indications point to this county as
the favorable location as during the
past two years extensive research
work has been done with the Catrou
Goals, to establish their value for cox
ing purposes. After much disappcint-
meut, a seam Of coal of sufficient ton.
mage was investigated, which gave
very satisfactory results in the COX
ing process. 1t is claimed that in tn
past four years 100000 has been ex
pended in the investigation of the Goa
and iron deposits of this district, an,
in compiling statistics upon the Yves
as a market for local iron.
The development of the mineral re
sources of the three counties woul
give with it rail transportation t
open up an excellent logging and ca
tie country, as we'll as some good 81
yer and gypsum deposits.
The iron deposits at Sheep Cree
are extensive enough to permit of bi
steam shovel operation, which won.
result in the building of a ~railroa
from the Springs to the Falls. tt
deposits have never been complete
rrospected, but more than fifty hol
varying from Is to 100 feet in dep
have been sunk, and none passed O
of the iron ore. The great advantal
Of the deposit is in the fact that mi
lng will be the cheapest of any di
rict in the United States, there bell
no Overlay, and it is the only depo:
~ which it is not necessa:y 10 mo
from 20 to 90 feet Of unmarketal
overlay.