Fergus County Democrat. [volume], February 14, 1905, Image 1

About Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919

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Fergus County Democrat.
Vol. I. No. 27
LEWISTOWN, FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, TUESDAY, FEB. 14, 1905.
Price 5 Cents.
MINING NEWS FROM THE BUSY
AND GROWING CAMP OE KENDALL
Special Correspondent for the Democrat Visits the Prosperous North
Moccasin Camp—Gold Mills Grinding Steadily and the Future
of Fergus County's Great Gold Camp Looks Bright.
The steady growth of Kendall dur
ing the past two years is the most
conclusive proof of the stability and
enduring prosperity of the little min
ing town which has spring up in the
shadows of one of the richest moun
tain ranges in the west.
) The boom period has passed and a
steady growth has taken the place of
the spasmodic efforts of "the first two
years. The surrounding hills are rich
with an almost inexhaustible supply
of easily treated ores, and even to the
most conservative mind the future of
Kendall is an assured success.
Some steps have been taken by
Lewistown business men to put an
electric road in operation between the
capital of Fergus county and Kendall.
The immense advantages and bene
fits to both towns from such an en
terprise is very apparent.
Timber, lumber and coal is used in
large quantities, both in the town
and mines, and is extremely hard to
obtain, especially during the winter
season. In fact, were lumber not so
scarce much building would be in
progress during the present time.
One of the larger mines will use
from two to three thousand dollars'
worth of square timbers each month,
not counting thousands of feet of
lumber used in repairing ore bins and
for shaft lining.
Some of the most practical mining
men in the Moccasins on being inter
viewed by the Democrat representa
tive admitted that considerable more
development work could be accom
plished were timber not so hard to
obtain. Coal has\ been liaviled f v om
Lewistown all winter and the supply
is short.
These are only three commodities,
without taking into consideration the
'immense amount of merchandise and
mining supplies which are required in
order to carry on the work in prog
ress in the Kendall mining district.
It is the general opinion that dur
ing the coming summer much outside
capital will find its way into the Ken
dall district. The belief seems to be
well founded, as several very promis
ing strikes have been made during the
progress of development work this
winter.
D. M. Heizer, Moore and others
have encountered very satisfactory
bodies of cyanide ore as the result of
sinking on their property south and
west of the Kendall mines. As these
gentlemen represent a large amount
of Colorado capital, it is more than
possible that steps will be taken dur
ing the early summer months to erect
a plant and work the ore.
A company with a $1,500,000 capi
talization has already been organized
for the purpose of further developing
this property and acquiring other
prospects.
This syndicate consists of D. N.
Heizer, Willis Moore, J. H. House, J.
R McKenzie and A. L. Emerson. D.
R. Beatty, a Texas capitalist, is also
heavily interested in this venture.
W. G. Norman and J. C. Bebb of Lew
istown and C. M. Goodell of Philbrook
hold shares in this organization.
As stated above, while there is no
positive assurance as to the erection
of a plant on this property, yet it is
very probable that, as the ores carry
values as high as $4.50 as a result of
assays by the cyanide process, steps
will be taken to work the property as
soon as possible.
The property owned by Helsing,
Sloan and Foster in Bedrock gulch
has been developed wiVli success
this winter and the work is still
.progressing.
Smelting ores have been encount
ered which contain 60 to 70 per cent
copper, as well as values in gold, and
containing enough lead so as to be
subject to treatment without concen
tration. These ores run as high as
$105 to the ton in values. Were the
e'ectric road in operation they could
be shipped with profit.
Development work i? in progress all
the time on the Barnts-King proper
ty and at the present time a shaft is
being sunk on the Discovery, from
where a tunnel will be run to the mill
in order to facilitate the removal of
ore to the works, as well its for the
purpose of exploitation. )
A force of men is now employed ex
ploiting the northern end of the prop
erty with very satisfactory results.
Owing to a break in the pipe line
the mill was shut down for a few days
last week. The possibility of this oc
curring again is removed by putting
in a reservoir above the mill, to where
the water is forced by means of an
electric pump. A little over 400 feet
of drop to the mill ensures plenty of
pressure to Hush the tanks.
The work on this property is being
conducted with the usual satisfactory
results and proves that it is one of
the best-paying propositions in the
Moccasins.
John A. Drake has purchased stock
enough in the property owned by
Waite, Wright and others to control
a half interest. Some work is now
being done, but owing to the fact
that a meeting of the directors has
not been held since the change little
can be said in regard to spring opera
tions. It is very probable, however,
that definite steps will be taken as to
the working of the property in the
immediate future.
McCormick and Hilliard are open
ing up a promising coal prospect on
lower Dog creek, and, though but lit
tle work has been completed up to
date, a very good sample of fuel has
been obtained.
No work is being done at present on
the John II. Cook holdings north of
the Barnes-King. Mr. Cook is at
present at Goldfields, in the Tonopah
district, and will return to Fergus
county about the first of April.
Mr. Cook will probably conduct a
series of diamond drill experiments on
his property when he returns, and has
expressed his intention of thoroughly
prospecting the district embraced in
his property in the Kendall townsite.
At the Kendall mines the principal
development work being accomplished
is the upraise from the 400 foot level
on the Klondike claim. When com
pleted a 150 horse power electric hoist
will be placed in operation at the
mouth of the shaft for the purpose of
raising the ore.
A two skip balance system will be
used, and a belt conveyor will trans
port the ore a distance os 600 feet to
the mill for treatment. The old 50
horsepower hoist will be used with a
cage for the purpose of taking the
men to and from their work on the
different levels.
This upraise is being made as the
result of extensive diamond drill op
erations which blocked out a large
body of ore and penetrated to a depth
of 900 seet.
The ore now being treated is being
taken from the 260 foot level and the
extraction and treatment of ores is
progressing with satisfactory results.
Mr. Lang, the superintendent,
states that as far as power and water
are concerned, that the entire district
could be supplied from the Kendall
plant. It is possible if neccessary to
duplicate the present power if the oc
casion arises. At present it takes 120
volts to run the entire system. The
King-Barnes people have utilized the
power from the Kendall plant since
last November.
Large bodies of ore have been
blocked out before the cessation of
diamond drill operations and the fall
ing through of the negotiations for
the purchase of the property were
greeted by the present owners with
pleasure owing to the fact that recent
discoveries haue increased the value
of the property greatly.
A seven drill air compresser has
been ordered and is expected to ar
rive early in the spring when a few
minor improvements will be made in
the mill to facilitate the seasons'
work which is expected to be a heavy
one.
It can be said that the work at the
Kendall mines is proceeding without
a hitch, except for such minor
troubles that are bound tp happen
owing to the late severe cold snap.
In connection with the proposed
electric road, Mr. Lang is of the
opinion that it would greatly benefit
the mining district by facilitat
ing the importation of timbers and
supplies.
The ore now being treated in the
Barnes-King mill is being taken from
the 100 and 200 foot level. Some sink
ing is being accomplished in the 200
foot level and a winze is being put
down which will be connected with
the main shaft by drifting. The Rush
tunnel is being filled in with waste.
The assay office at the Barnes-King
which is under the charge of Mr.
Kelley, is the most complete in the
mountains and those of natures secrets
that gentlemen cannot wrest from
the rock brought to him for treat
ment are unsolvable.
A disc crusher has been lately added
to the outfit and a crusher for the pur
pose of breaking up hard rock has
also been installed. Mill tests are
made by the use of miniature tanks
and a small agitator which give tha
same results a tif the ore were run
through the mill.
Some work is being done on the
Mason Group of prospects which are
located in Mason Gulch in a north
westerly direction from the Kendall
property. This group is owned by a
pool consisting of W. T. Bishop, Gay
lord McCoy, Chas. Banke and John
Richards.
Some surface prospecting has been
been in progress with the result that
cyanide ore has been encountered
which assays $3.50 and ore of the free
milling variety which goes as high as
$20. No regular ore bodies have been
been located, but the owners of these
prospects are trying to make arrange
ments to have some drill work done
on the ground in the spring in order to
define the ore and ascertain exactly
what they have.
The owners of this property own
the Mason water right which was or
iginally the source from whence water
was brought to the Kendall mines.
Armstrong, Stauton, Conrad and
others are working on a valuable
group of prospects on Dog Creek and
in spring a considerable amount of
exploitation work will be accom
plished.
W. Wocasek is opening up a new
coal property about half a mile from
the forks of the main road to Maiden
and New Year. A four foot lead has
been uncovered close to the surface
and trie samples of fuel obtained are
first-class considering the proximity
to grass roots. Mr. Wocasek is sink
ing on the lead and says that the coal
improves as the work progresses.
Pay day on the tenth of the month
is a lively time in the town of Ken
dall, and a jolly crowd of miners come
in from the mines in order to swap
notes with their friends and generally
enjoy themselves. One good thing
about the "boys" working in that
section is that they have a habit of
paying their debts and as a fair pro
portion of their trade goes "on the
books" it means considerable to the
merchants with whom they do busi
ness. The monthly payroll is in the
neighborhood of $30,000 and a goodly
portion of this money goes to the
local merchants.
A wild and woolly rancher from the
regions in the vicinity of Bedrock,
armed with a six-shooter of large di
mensions, landed in Kendall last week
full of a mistaken ambition to con
sume all the whisky in town. The
ambition was gratified beyond his
wildest expectations, and the incident
would have passed unnoticed if he
had not shot the atmosphere full of
holes as he left camp and expressed
his defiance of all law and order by
regulation and blood-curdling war
whoops. Deputy Dennis went out
after him and brought him before the
justice, who dampened his war-like
aspirations by the application of a
$10 fine with costs. Mr. Dennis says
that the "gun man" must leave his
arsenal at home.
Kendall is well fixed for hotels
and eating houses and the traveling
public are able to obtain all modern
accomodations. Indeed with the good
grub and the invigorating mountain
air, the part of Kendalls population
who patronize the eating houses liaye
no excuse for not looking prosperous.
The Historical society of Kendall of
which W. A. Shaules is president,
cite the case of a "human skeleton
who escaped from one of the dime
museums in the far east and landed
in Kendall some months ago. He was
so thin that lie had to look several
times in a looking glass while adjust
ing his clothes to find out exactly
where he was at. Driven to the point
of desperation by his extreme thin
ness ee made arrangements to board
at the Shaules Hotel. He gained
fiesh so rapidly that he had to go to
work in the mines owing to the fact
that he was in danger of sudden death
from surperfious fiesh and fatty de
generation of the heart.
New Land Office.
Washington, Feb. 10.—Represen
tative Dixon today introduced a bill
in the house, creating a new land
district in Montana, to includeCarbon
and Yellowstone counties, with the
land office located at Billings.
A CLOSE LEGAL POINT.
Attorneys Argue Right of City to
Enforce Bond Ordinance.
A tine legal point has been raised
over the refusal of the city to issue
to George Corneill a liquor license
because of his refusal to furnish a
$2,000 bond in accordance with an or
dinance recently passed by the city
council.
All of the other saloons in the city
complied with the provisions by tiling
bonds which were approved by Ihe
council but Corneill. believing the
bond to be unjust, refused to file one
and as a consequence, was refused a
license by the city treasurer. His at
torneys, Huntoou, Worden & Smith,
petitioned the court for a writ of
mandamus directed at t he city clerk
and city treasurer and compelling
them to issue the license.
The cause came up before Judge
Cheadle for argument Friday morn
ing. Attorneys Huntoon and Smith
appeared for Corneill while city attor
ney II. L. DeKalb and attorney R.
von Tobel argued against t he issu
ance of the writ.
The argument developed that there
is hardly an analogous ease among all
of the decisions although several cases
were cited by each side bearing more
or less directly upon the issue at court.
Corneill's attorneys argued that the
ordinance transcends the police powers
of the city council while the attorneys
for the city contend that the statute
which gives the council the power to
"license and regulate" the liquor
selling business covers the ordinance
and it is therefore valid. The argu
ments were concluded at noon and in
the afternoon the court took up the
authorities which were cited. The
question being rather a new one in
this state and one of the utmost im
portance to our city, Judge Cheadle
did not at once announce his decision
but will Vi, e > thorough investigation
of all of **the authorities. He will
probably announc^ his decision as soon
as he returns front Helena to which
city he was called on business yester
day morning.
MEETING OF DIRECTORS.
Lewistown and Billings Mutual Tel
ephone Company Choose
Officers.
A meeting of the directors of the
Lewistown & Billings Mutual Tele
phone company was heid in the office
of Hilger & Busenburg last Thursday
evening and officers for the first three
montlis were chosen. The directors
present were F. W. Handel, of Mus
selshell, George M. Stone, George J.
Bach, David Hilger and E. O. Busen
burg of this city.
The following officers were chosen:
David Hilger, president; F. W. Han
del, vice-president; George J. Bach,
treasurer and E. O. Busenburg, secre
tary. All of the officers are .active
business men and the affairs of the
new company will be well looked after
by them.
Contracts are now being let for the
cutting of i>000 poles which will be
neccessary in the building of the
main line. It is proposed to begin
work on the line just as soon as the
poles are out and the other material
can be placed on the ground. It is es
timated that the cost of building the
line will be $100 per mile. The com
pany are planning to connect all of
the principal points of Fergus and
northern Yellowstone counties and
before the summer is gone expect to
have one of the most complete inde
pendent companies in the state.
WANT ADDITIONAL PROOF.
Important Ruling Concerning Land
Entries.
Register Brassey and Receiver Eld
ridge of the U. S. land office last week
received notice from the general land
office in Washington of a new ruling
concerning final proofs on desert land
entries. The ruling is one of the
most important that has been received
in the local office for many months,
and will call for a new affidavit,
not only from those who intend to
prove up in the future but also from
many who have already submitted
final proofs.
Guilder the rule which has been in
effect up to the present time, a final
proof had to show that the neccesary
water had been placed on the land,
and that a crop of hay had been
raised thereon. Actual tillage of the
soil was not neccessary so long as the
FERGUS COUNTY GETS A TOUCH
OE REAL WINTER WEATHER
The Most Prolonged Spell of Cold Weather Experienced in This Section in
Many Years—One Man Is Frozen to Death. Another Narrowly
Escapes—The Loss of Stock Comparatively Small.
One man frozen to death and an
other so badly frozen that he will be
marred for life is the record of the
terrifically cold weather which has
prevailed for about two weeks. There
have been few times in the history of
this city when the mercury has gone
so low as it did last Saturday night
when it registered 38 degrees. Many
thermometers showed a temperat ure
as low as 40 degrees but 38 degrees is
probably about right. Old timers
say that for a continuous spell of bit
terly cold weather, this has been
about the worst that they can re
member. That more, fatalities have
not resulted is surprising.
The only death thus far reported
is that of Jack White, a rancher who
lived near Utica. He was found dead
in a cold cabin on the ranch of J. 1).
Waite, about five miles west of Utica
on the Judith river. Isaac McCary, a
sheep herder who is bunking in the
cabin, discovered the frozen body
about 9 o'clock in the evening.
White had evidently tried to make a
fire, but was too cold and lieing over
come, quickly succumbed to the ter
rible cold.
His tracks showed that he was com
ing from his ranch but left the road
as soon as hq, came in sight of the
cabin. Jt was evidently a difficult
task for him to reach the cabin as he
made a very straggling path from the
road to the cabin. When McCary
discovered the body lie did not at
tempt to get away that night as it
was storming and the cold was intense,
but as soon as possible next morning,
he informed the neighbors and author
ities and Sheriff Slater ot this city
was informed. Justice P. W. Korell
held an inquest over the remains yes
terday morning, the verdict being the
usual one for such cases. Undertaker
George Creel sent out a coffin and the
burial was made sometime today.
Little is known of the past life of
White as he seldom spoke of his past
career. He has been around Utica
for several years. He at first followed
the business of mining, but about five
years ago he was leadpoisoued and has
since been more or less of a cripple.
Not long ago he took up asmall ranch
near Utica and was eeking out an
existence as best he could.
That Warren Draper is alive today
is due to a piece of exceptional luck.
He had about as close a call from
freezing as a man ever got through
with. About 11 o'clock last Saturday
morning, he left the Kendall mine for
the Horse Shoe Bar ranch, it being
his intention to follow the pipe line
over the hills. He lost his way and
wandered around the snow for ten
hay could lie raised without cultiva
tion. The new ruling requires that
the final proof must show that at
least one-eight of the desert land has
been plowed and seeded. In other
words, actual tillage must be shown.
Daily letters are being received by
the local office from the general office
asking for additional proof In cases
where final proofs where submitted
during the last year. Many who
thought their title was completed are
thus brought before the land office
again, either to tile additional affida
vits or to prepare for an appeal to the
secretary of the interior. It is sur
mised that there will be several such
appeals.
Mining Activity in Maiden District.
Joseph Beilis of Maiden was a vis
itor to t his city Friday evening. To
the Democrat Mr. Beilis told some
thing of his operations in the Judith
mountains near Maiden. He has sev
eral men at work on the Collar gulch
tunnel, which was begun over a year
ago by the Townsend Mining com
pany. That company died a natural
death and the property passed into the
hands ol the Marshall Tunnel and
Mining Company, formed by New
York parties. J. A. Simmons and
George A. Spencer, two prominent
New York city business men, are the
financial backers of the company, and
Mr. Beilis will continue to direct the
mining operations. The tunnel has
been driven into Crystal mountain for
400 feet and it is the intention of the
promoters of the company to send it
in at least 1,000 feet farther. The end
hours before he was luckily found by
some men who were attracted to him
by the harking of a dog. In the ten
hours, he must have walked at least
fifteen miles. The Democrat reporter
visited Draper in his room, the second
story of t he Land) building, Sunday
evening and was given the full par
ticulars of his hard tight against the
awful odds of zero weather and driv
ing snow.
"When 1 left the Kendall mill",
said 1 lie sick man, "1 thought that it
would take but a few hours to walk
over to the Horse Shoe Bar ranch.
It was my intent ion to stop there un
til 1 could strike a conveyance to
Lewistown. I was warmly clad and
it did not occur to me that I should
have any difficulty to keep warm
while i was walking. After being out
for a short while, 1 commenced to get
snow blind and finally, after walking
for five or six hours, realized that 1
was lost.
"1 think that I headed above the
ranch for which i was bound. Along
in the afternoon, 1 came to a cabin.
There was all sorts of fuel in the cab
in and I thought that I would light
afire, warm myself and, if necessary,
stay there until the next, day. I
pulled off my gloves but my fingers
were frozen st iff and, try as I would,
I could not ignite a match. I finally
gave it up and then found that I.
could not get my gloves on. 1 knew
that 1 should quickly freeze to death
if I remained there so 1 struck out
again.
"1 hardly knew what 1 did for the
last few hours. 1 had only sufficient
will power and consciousness to keep
walking. At times, J think that 1.
walked in circles. At last i came to
a fence and thought that 1 would
lean up against if and rest. To save
my life I could not move from that
spot. Present ly 1 heard the barking
of a dog and took some courage, the
dog rushed out to where I was lean
ing and, thinking that someone must
be near by, 1 halood as loudly as
possible and managed to attraot the
attention of Otto Vannest and Ed.
Crowley. I had walked from Kendall
to the Vannest ranch which is but
five miles from Lewistown.
"The two men carried me into the
house and did all they possibly could
for me. They telephoned to this city
for a rig and 1 was brought in about
12 o'clock."
The feet, hands and ears of Draper
are badly frozen and it may be nec
cessary to amputate at least a portion
of the left foot, although Dr. Foley
who is attending him believes that
his patient will get through in pretty
good shape.
of the tunnel is now 400 feet from the
surface and the depth increases a foot
for every foot the tunnel is driven
into the hill. *One good vein of cyan,
ide ore has been encountered add the
men liehind the tunnel will persist
until they strike something good or
become convinced that it is not in the
hill. ___
Ranchers Indignant.
The ranchers of the Rock creek
bench country are up in arms over the
filing of contests against their desert
lands which they have taken up and,
in many cases, tiled their final proofs
on. A meeting was called at Moore
last Saturday afternoon and about
fifty men from that part of the
country were present. They passed
some ringing resolutions and de
nounced those who are contesting the
lands. Most of the parties whose
lands are being contesed are old citi
zens of that community and say that
they have strictly complied with all
of the regulations relating to the
proving up on the desert lands. An
nother meeting was called for next
Thursday evening at which time it is
expected that there will be from 100
to 150 ranchers and stockgrowers pres
ent and further action will be taken
for t he protection of what they con
sider ther just rights.
Taken Ip.
At my ranch, near Maiden, a two
year-old cow with fall calf, branded
111 on right ribs, crop off left ear, un
derbit in right. Owner can get samj
by paying expenses.
J. W. Dougherty.