The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-09-24
Many Attend
&C. Meet At
Glacier Mine
Unique Program, Unusual
Setting Entertain Members
and Guests.
GUESS ON VALUE
OF GOLD BRICK

OF- GUILD BRICK
What can truthfully be said was one
OF the best meetings ever held by the
Libby Commercial club was that of
last Thursday night, held in the mess
hall of the Glacier Silver Lead mining
company few miles south of Libby.
The meeting was held at the mine on
the invitation of Glacier officials and
they, with club officers, acted as hosts
of the evening.
The nights program was built around
the mining industry of this district and
was in charge of the mining committee,
H. c. Bolyard, chairman, Joe Ka-
java and J. L. REILLY.
After the serving Of an excellent din
ner that had been prepared by Mr.. and
Mrs. c. 7. Young, the president Of the
club, Elmer Switzer, ST., called the
meeting to order He spoke briefly on
the need Of such an organization as the
commercial club He said one thing
was necessary if the club was to be
successful and that was the fullest CO.
he had met with the very finest spirit
of helpfulness from everyone. The
committees were working hard and
willingly, he said He asked for sug-
gestions from the membership concern
ing the work to be undertaken by the
club. Information was brought out that
there are now Sc members belonging to
the club
Fast Work BY Highway Committee
President Switzer asked Walter Neils
to report on highways. Mr.. Neils said
he had heard one morning of the meet
ing at Helena, called the committee to-
gether and by early afternoon a delega-
ton was on its way to the meeting He
then asked one Of the members of the
delegation, M. D. Rowland, to report
Mr.. Rowland referred briefly to the
highway program for this district, the
details of which have been published
in the daily and weekly press and will
not be repeated at this time. The meet
ing at Helena was highly important
one and it was wise thing to have
Libby delegation present
| E. NJ Boyes said canvass of the city
for new members would be made at
once. He reported one new member,
r. w. LeDuc, and later amended this
by adding thereto the Glacier mine
Chas D. Rowe, for the publicity conf
mittee, reported that due to the new
committees just having been announced
nothing was as yet ready to be re-
ported but that something probably
would be ready for the next meeting.
/ E. M. Boyef then gave an interesting
report on fish and game. He spoke of
the cooperation that must exist be-
tween the club and the forest service.
He also said that his committee and the
forest service were planning a fine
program for the December meeting
Boyes also discussed the need for great
er development of and conserving of
fish and game resources. He cited the
building of roads into all parts of the
! forests as strong factor in reducing
the stocks Of fish and game. He said
we ought to have larger fish hatchery
here and more rearing ponds over the
district. He said 175,0O0 trout had been
released by the Libby hatchery in the
past few months and probably a very
small percentage of them would live.
w. H. Kemp stated that the enter
tainment committee would surely have
fine program for the next meeting
President Switzer then turned the
meeting over to Mr.. Bolyard, in charge
Of the program for the evening
Wood Talks On Geology
Mr.. Bolyard announced that Super
intendent Wood would discuss the
geology Of this district freHatthe min
ing standpoint. As is always the case
when Mr. Wood talks to an audience,
he held their close interest for some lit
tie time as he wove bits Of history and
geology into a discussion of the mining
industry.
Mr.. Wood said the first white men
aside from the Thompson explorers
reached this section in about 1862. A
man by the name of Allen reached
Libby creek and undoubtedly washed
for gold about that time. 1t is also said
that John Cowan was on his way to
Libby creek when he found that mar
velous deposit of placer gold in Last
Chance Gulch. Others struggled along
up to 1867 but not great deal OF de-
velopment was done until in the sos.
About that time the Occur d Alenes
were being opened and early prospect
ors drifted from there into this section,
among them being Doc Howard and
companions. Old Town was built up
and Mr.. Wood said that at the turn of
the century some 1900 to 1000 people
were employed in placer mining along
Libby creek.
In 1889 Tom Shaughnessy and W. A.
Hills discovered the Shaughnessy hill
mine, now the Glacier. Mr.. Wood also
said during his remarks that about a
/ million and half dollars had been
taken out Of the old Snowshoe mine and
four millions out Of the Snowstorm
. near Troy.
! Mr.. Wood dwelt briefly on the &C.
, ology Of this district. In that respect
I his talk was most interesting. He had
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