Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-12-26
SILVER MINERS
SAW HARD TIMES
IN THE NINETIES
SMALL WONDER MONTANANS
LOOKED. ON BRYAN AS
THEIR CHAMPION
AEONTANANS

The late Williams Jennings Bryan
was the hero and savior Of the silver
miner. Bryan's place in the history Of
this republic win be among the
mortals who had a hand in shaping
the nations destiny.
In the early nineties nearly every
operating mine in Montana was a
producer Of silver The white metal
was the livelihood Of a large proper
ton Of the population and the very
existence Of many mining camps, and
it was naturally with uneasiness that
the workers especially, watched the
quotations steadily fail from the high
peak Of $40 an ounce to 81 and less.
It was a time for apprehension
And then the young meteor from
Nebraska flashed across the political
zenith. delivered his famous Gross OF
Gold" speech and raised the hopes OF
the silver miner to a high pitch OF
enthusiasm. The democrats OF the
Rocky mountain region we're with him
to a man, while so many republicans
were DETECTED that it was found
necessary to formulate a new party
which became known as the silver
republican" party It was q losing
fight as everyone now knows and the
consequences were extremely I'M
pleasant for many in the busted"
silver camps.
The Trend Was Downward
In the summer Of 1893 whenever a
mail arrived in the more or less $50
lated mining camps, the financial
columns of the newspapers were the
center of intense interest. BY the first
of May silver had dropped to about
80. Once in a while it would go up
half a point or so and there was
great rejoicing only TO give way TO
sombre gloom when the next mail
would show a sag of a point or more.
When it reached the low point Of IS,
hope fled and at SO the world dropped
from under, for the mines began to
close down and there was no place to
90. It's a mighty serious thing to
yank ones livelihood away and who
can blame US for a vociferous support
of our only spokesman during that
period of blank despair
Other sections Of the country SUI
fered from the effects OF the panic
of 1893, but the silver miners were on
the rocks "for fair" Cash and creoiC
were practically wiped out in a day.
The copper, lead and gold mines were
operating, it is true, but they could
not begin to absorb the workmen
thrown out of employment In the
smaller camps. 1t was a cataclysm OF
disaster, and it required the passage
of many years before the participants
could discern any humor connected
with the situation.
In a silver producing camp OF the
Little Belt mountains q prominent
businessman of unimpeachable m
teorfty found himself in a temporary
hole. The one bank of the town re-
coUnized nothing but cold cash in all
transactions. Paper not bearing Uncle
Sans endorsement had no value dur
ing this period of stress. Our friend
had sound eastern connections, puC
he had two pressing bills which must
he settled In order to preserve ms
credit. one from firm on the west
coast and another from an eastern
CITY. A brilliant idea was evolved. He
merely drew checks for the amounts,
attached the checks to the bills, but
transposed them in the envelopes ana
sent them on their way. 1t was only
a few days' time he sought for pend
ing arrival Of funds from his eastern
connections. and it worked. BY the
time the checks were in the hands OF
the rightful parties the funds were IN
the bank to honor them. 1t was the
only trick of his long and unblemished
career.
Neihart was and is, primarily
silver camp. The proof is ample when
It is stated that the election In the
fan of 1893, out Of several hundred
ballots cast. the straight republicans
scored eight votes. The mines OF Mel
hart closed down In June Of that year
Miners who had saved few dollars
ont of their wages, and they were
few drew their bank deposits and
drifted out, the rest with no place TO
90 did the best they could; prospected
some. used their credit to the utmost
limit or sponged on friends II any
could be found with substance. There
was gloom in large chunks cast over
tine community and apparently 1u-
ture of no promise.
Breezy Stranger Appears
A couple of months dragged by unW
one dav q breezy stranger dr1fted IN.
Prosperity fairly oozed from his per-
sonality and things began to brighten
up He was a promoter and at once put
a few men to work on the BroadWater,
q mining property that had lain Idle
for many years. There was some ore
in sight and the work was rushed py
Mr. clark. the prosperous individual
mon whom hopes now conferred, ana
who had seemingly gotten a hold OF, on
the property in ssome manner winch
none took the trouble to question.
More men were added as the old
workings were cleaned out and IN
few months Neihart was showing
some of her old form, with over lOO
miners in steady employment. The ore
was shipped as fast as mined; the
navdavs were regular and welcome.
The price OF silver, which continued
Ia decline. seemed to worry Clark not
az All people wondered how he could
nav q royalty on the ore and realize
a profit, but he evidently did 1t and
Ia addition lived like a prince ana
spent like a fuddled sailor. He estaD-
lished q home in Helena, made re
ouent trips to Neihart, mostly by spe-