Fergus County Democrat. [volume], February 28, 1905, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
Fergus County Democ ;\t.
0 29 _ LEWISTOWN, FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA, TUESDAY, FEB. 28, 1905. Price 5
MINING NEWS
OF GILT EDGE
The Democrat Correspondent Finds
Everything Flonrshing Around
the Judith Camp.
WORK AT THE GOLD REEF MINE
New Machinery Being Installed—
Plenty of Ore at the Whiskey
Gulch»McCormick Resigns.
What is known as the Warm Spring
Mining district embraces some of the
best known mining properties in Fer
gus county, and within its confines
are some of the most promising pros
pects in this section of the state.
The ore encountered is almost uni
versally cyanide in character and runs
in values from $ 3.00 to $ 34.00 and
higher to the tun. Valuable discov
eries are being made with the pro
gress of development work and in the
natural sequence of events, the dis
trict will be undoubtedly amongst the
richest in the state.
The mining properties in the vicin
ity of Gilt Edge are the most import
ant in the district, and though at
present, development has been some
what retarded by the winter season,
every indication points to a busy sea
son for the property owners of the dis
trict.
The Gold Reef Mining Co., which
is working the property purchased by
John A. Drake three years ago, are
the largest operators and have a val
uable property in the group of claims
formerly owned and worked by the
Great Northern Minir" and Develop
ment Company under. - supervision
of E. W. King. ~
The work on the property at the
present is being somewhat retarded
by a lack of water which occurs at
this season of the year, though a val
uable cleanup is being made each
month, and a considerable amount of
ore is being treated with success.
Mr. C. T. Durell acts in the capacity
of general manager where the position
of superintendent has been ably filled
by J. H, McCormick.
In order to remedy the shortage of
water a surface condensor is being in
stalled which will furnish a consider
able additional amount of water by
condensing the steam already used in
operating the plant and returning it
in liquid form to be utilized again.
This will be the only condenser of its
kind used in the entire west with the
exception of the Black Hills district.
The steam is condensed by the ex
posure of a large pipe suaface to the
action of a water spray and only re
quires a tenth portion of the water
usually required to obtain the de
sired results.
A timber framing plant is also being
put in operation and when completed
will be one of the most efficient in
the state. Twenty-four foot logs will
be handled with ease and in the nec
cessary work to put the timbers in
shape for use, a wedge, cut-off and rip
saw will be used. For finer work a
table saw will be installed and this
with the fitting machinery for the
purpose of putting the shoulders on
the timbers, will make a very com
plete and efficient plant.
The ore which is now being treated
is from the black ore from stope No.
3 and is brought through the main
working tunnel to the ore bins at the
mill. The ordinary oxidized ore is
not being treated at the present ow
ing to the lack of water and the pro
duct of stope, No. 3 is the black ore
which lias to be roasted in order to
make the cyanide treatment a suc
cess. The ore is subjected to a fur
nace roast after going through the
crushers. Some slight difficulty has
been experienced in the treatment of
these ores owing to the fact that
they contain a certain amount of lime
which, if over roasted creates a lime
deposit in the tanks through which
the gold cannot be passed in solution
with any success. This ore is now
being subjected to a series of chemical
tests by Mr. W. H. Nance who will
remain at the plant this summer.
As soon as the water supply is in
better shape the oxidized ores will
again be treated. In connection with
this matter it is well to mention that
the company ts developing a coal
property to the southeast of the
mines in Breed Gulch where they
will also endeavor to locate a suffic
ient flow of water to enable them to
pipe it to the plant. The coal out
look is very good and it is thought
that sufficient coal will be found to
supply the mill. It is an excellent
quality of fuel; much better in fact
than the usual output of the coal
mines of that section.
Mr. Durell mentioned that there
would be several minor changes made
in the mill during the spring, both in
the line of econoimics and utility. J.
H. McCormick, who has filled the
position of superintendent so thor
oughly, has sent in his resignation
having decided to take a trip to the
south; in all probability, visiting the
Goldfields and Tonopah section in
Nevada. Mr. McCormicks' action is
much regretted both by the manage
ment and the employes of the plant
where he has so ably fulfilled his
duties. Most of the late development
work on this groap of claims has been
accomplished on the Cuba* and with
very satisfactory results. With the
opening of spring considerable dia
mond drill work will be in progress
with the purpose of outlining further
ore bodies.
The Whisky Gulch mine and mill
located in Whisky Gulch, distant
about three miles from Gild Edge, is
a property which has at times given
good returns. There have been ru
mors to the effect that the present
operations are not being carried on
with financial success. The fact must
be taken into consideration that con
siderable development work has been
necessary in order to open up new ore
bodies and money has been expended
in that direction. The mill is not
running to its full capacity at present
but with the successful completion of
development work the full comple
ment of ore will be treated.
The ore that is now being treated
is giving very good returns, running
as high as $34 to the ton. C. T. Dur
ell acts in the capacity of manager of
this plant while the position of sup
erintendent is filled by E. C. Limbach.
The old stope will be tapped with an
upraise from the main tunnel In the
near future in order to increase the
output. Until a few days ago the ore
treated at the mill was obtained by
hoisting from an open cut in the Big
Six group, from whence it was
trammed on the surface to an ore bin
at the foot of the hill. From there it
is taken by horse cars to mill, a dis
tance of 3300 feet. Connection with
the lower level has been made from
the stope during the past few days
and the ore is now being dropped to
the cars in the main tunnel. A sav
ing of much expense is brought about
by the more direct handling of the
ore.
The Democrat reporter was assured
by good authority that there is no
shortage of ore on the property, though
considerable develoument work is nec
cessary. Crosscutting is now in pro
gress in the lower tunnel for the pur
pose of striking the main ore body and
as a result of this, indications are
good. Considerable drifting work is
now being done in Whiskey Gulch
proper with the idea of striking the
main contact and will be pushed all
spring. The mill used for the treat
ment of these ores is one of the most
compact and economical outfits in the
state and has given the best results
in the cost of treating cyanide ores of
any plant in the west.
This property is owned by the Chi
cogo Montana Mines company. Those
interested are Judge G. M. Nelson of
St. Paul, C. F. Wenham of Chicago,
A. S. Wrignt, F. E. Wright, Gus.
Runzler, II. C. McEvony, A1 Steph
ens and several minor shareholders.
A very good showing has been
made on the property of the Judith
Belle Mining company, a two foot
vein of ore carrying the same values
as that encountered at the Gold Reef
having been uncovered with but little
work. The ore is of the oxidized
variety and subject to the cyanide
treatment. The incorporators of this
organization are: Alf. J. Stephens,
John Kearney, I. M. Beatty, A. M.
Sloan, II. M. DeKalb, II. C. McEvony
and J. L. Westergreen. This com
pany incorporated for 500,000 shares at
a par value of $1 of which 180,000 are
now on the market. Chas. Young,
Hugh Green and others own a couple
of good looking prospects located as
the Evergreen and Gilt Edge Charlie.
This property is situated to the south
east of the Gold Reef group and as
says are good. Judge Sawyer, Etta
Sawyer and others, are interested in
some good ground on three sides of
the Big Six property while the Bos
ton group owned by Jack Flynn and
adjoining tne Whiskey Gulch claims
is well developed and contains a good
ore showing.
To the north end of the Gold Reef
(Continued on page eight.)
flRST CONTEST
CASE STARTED
Hearing of the Controversy Over
Rock Creek Bench Land in Pro
gress at the Court House.
MANY WITNESSES ARE CALLED.
Contestant Offers Testimony to
Show That the Lands are Non
Desert in Character.
The court room of the Tenth ju
dicial district was comfortably filled
last Thursday when the contest case
of A. H. Robinson vs. J. W. Moore,
involving desert land entry No. 1500
was called for hearing. Owing to the
large number of witnesses and the
general interest which the first of a
number of such cases has excited, the
register and receiver found it necces
sary to leave their crowded offices on
Fifth avenue for the court room.
Never in the history of this land
district has a contest of such far
reaching importance come before the
land officials for hearing. The decis
ion will have an effect not only upon
scores of settlers on the gteat Rock
creek bench but it may influence set
tlers in all other parts of the county
where lands have been taken up un
der the desert act. Much of the land
of the Rock creek bench has been
filed on as desert land and those who
made such filings never thought of
being disturbed in the posession of
their lands until a few months ago,
when rumors of contests became rife
all over the bench. When the con
tests were actually filed, a large num
ber of the land owners of the bench
and adjoining country met in Moore
and formed a protective organization
ddsigned to put forth a concerted op
position to the contestants.
The matter has created much feel
ing among the people of the Rock
creek bench and all of the cases will
be fought to the bitter end. The
contests are brought on the ground
that the lands taken up as a desert
will raise a crop without artificial ir
rigation and is, therfore, non-desert
in character.
Huntoon, Worden & Smitn are the
attorneys for the contestant Robin
son, and Hilger & Busenburg and R.
von Tobel are the attorneys for the
contestee. Eleven witnesses were
called upon to testify Thursday and
Friday and each was compelled to
submit to a most rigid cross exami
nation.
The first and most important wit
ness was A. M. Robinson, the con
testant. He used the utmost deliber
ation in testifying and never answered
a question until he had thoroughly
understood it. His testimony was to
the effect that he had lived near the
ranch of Moore and had a first
class opportunity to examine the land
as to its fertility and as to the am
ount of artificial irrigation done by
the entryman. He had never been on
the land, but from the road had seen
the crop and could tell as to the ir
rigation. He was unable to tell the
size of the crop raised but was so fav
orably impressed with it that he de
cided to bring.the contest. Nothing
else influenced him in bringing the
contest. Robinsoncame from Indiana
and is but 22 years of age.
Otto Wasmansdorff, county sur
veyor, was called to the stand to iden
tify a map of the land being con
tested, which was offered in testi
mony.
Clyde Grove testified that he had
raised good crops on his homestead
which adjoins Moore's desert, could
raise a good crop every two years by
following summer fallowing.
John Gaston said that he had
settled on the bench eight years ago
and could raise good crops, and had
raised two good crops in three years.
Knew nothing of Moor's desert claim.
C. L. Saylor testified that he had
raised 18 bushels of wheat per acre on
Moor's desert claim. Did not con
sider the crop a paying one, said it
would cost from $(> to $10 per acre to ■
raise a crop, the rancher's time not!
being counted.
William Cummings testified to hav
ing raised 18 bushels of wheat per
acre on his homestead without arti
ficial irrigation. In 1900 he raised 48
bushels of fall wheat per acre. Soil is
from eight inches to six feet in depth.
Did not believe that grass raised on
Moore's place would pay.
Clarence Robinson, the contestant's
brother—Das lived on the bench for
four years: Moore's land the same in
character as the surrounding land;
two ditches on Moore's desert claim:
two laterals but too short to irrigate
the claim: had seen fair crops raised
on the Moore desert; did not think
that the Moore land was irrigated.
A. W. Osborne—Lives two miles
from Moore's place; had raised as
much as 40 bushels of wheat per acre
on his (Osborne's) place which was
two miles from the Moore place; soil
on the Moore desert the same as that
on his own ranch; could see no ditches
on Moore's place in 1902 when a good
crop was raised.
J. W. Stapleton—Had ranched on
the Coffman place, two miles from
Moore's land; raised 28 bushels of
wheat without irrigation; Coffman
and Moore lands appeared to be about
the same in character; had taken up
a desert claim and afterwards re
leased it and his son homesteaded it.
Paul E. Connoyer—Lived at Moore
for a year; had seen growing crops on
Moore's desert; had seen short laterals
plowed across the claim but they con
tained no water: a carpenter by trade
and came from Nebraska; went
with Mr. Peregrine to the Moore des
ert claim to examine the land; in
tended to contest it; once found on
his door a pine board witli a crude im
itation of a skull and cross bones
under which were written a word
"beware".
County Recorder Hazen presented a
list of the Rock creek water rights
after which an adjournment until
this (Tuesday) morning was taken.
BASKET BALL IN LEWISTOWN.
The Opening Game Played Before a
Large Audience on Friday Last.
Lewistown's first game of basket
ball was played before an enthusiastic
audience in Culver's opera house last
Friday evening between the High
school and a team representing the
Y. M. C. A.
The game was called at 8.15 and the
teams lined up as follows;—High
School, Chas. Grupe, captain; Platt
Belden, Ralph Tavenner, Don Ander
son, and Harry Eldridge. Y. M. C. A.
Gus Roads, captain; Pat Hughes, Eli
Gill, Clair Acley and Dave Jones.
The first half was all in favor of the
Y. M. C. A. Acley threw three goals,
Gill two and Hughes one, while all the
High School got was one point on a
free throw by Tavenner. When the
second half commenced the score was
12 to 1 in favor of the Y. M. C. A.
Then the school team settled down to
business and the game became fast
and exciting. The High School got
the best of the last part of the game
making 13 points to their opponents
eight. They failed however to over
come the lead which the Y. M. C. A.
obtained in the first half.
For the High School in the second
half Grupe threw the field goals and
Tavenner and Holden one apiece.
Tavenner caged the ball three times
on free throws. For the Y. M. C. A.
Hughes found the basket twice, Acley
and Gill one each, to which were added
two baskets from free throws. The
guarding of Harry Eldridge and
Dave Jones were special features.
Score;—Y. M. C. A., 20. High
School, 14.
Referee, Ed Baker: Umpire, Art
Baker: Scorer, Floyd Hulfine: Time
Keeper, Herbert Silloway.
Notice.
Notice is hereby given that bids for
building a bridge across Spring creek,
on Brassey street, will be received by
the city clerk up to 5 o'clock p. m.,
Monday, March (i, 1905. Plans and
specifications may be seen at II. C.
Brown's store. The council expressly
reserves the right to reject any and
all bids.
IIAim y II. Boggs, City Clerk.
Democrats, Notice.
Notice is hereby given that there
will be a mass meeting of democrats
Saturday evening, March 11, 1905, at
I-aux's hall, for the purpose of organi
zation and for such other and further
business as may properly come before
the meeting. All democrats cordially
invited.
Feb. 28, 1905.
Democratic Central Committee.
Notice.
Any and all persons are hereby no
tified to remove all their improve
ments from the nj of the sel of sec 33,
tp 13 n, r 15 e, which is a portion of
my homestead, within 30 days or for
feit same. a. T. Goodspkkd.
First publication Feb. 28—4t
DECISION FOR
SCHOOL BOARD
Lively Contest Between Board of
Health and School Trustees
Over Vaccination Order.
CHILDREN GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
Peremptory Writ of Mandamus Is
sued by the Court Against the
Board of Health.
After waiting for over two weeks
for the county board of health to re
move the regulation which required
all school children to be vaccinated
before they could attend the public
schools of the city, the board of trus
tees yesterday filed mandamus pro
ceedings in the district court to com
pel the board of health to remove the
restriction. An alternative wilt of
mandate was issued by Judge Cheadle
pending the argument on the matter
of the peremptory writ .
The case was taken up by Judge
Cheadle yesterday afternoon. E. O.
Busenburg, chairman of the board of
education, represented by Attorney
O. W. Belden, appeared for the trus
tees and Dr. Wilson, county physician,
Samuel Phillips, chairman of the
board of county commissioners, and
County Attorney Roy E. Ayers were
in court to appear against the Issuance
of the peremptory writ. Dr. Wilson
and Mr. Husenberg were the only wit
nesses examined. While Dr. Wilson
did not say that the order is absolutely
necessary at this time, he insisted
that, as a matter of precaution, it
should be continued. Mr. Busenburg
stated that the attendance at the
public schools has fallen from over 90
per cent of the total enrollment to 52
per cent of the total enrollment a« a
result of the order and that, inasmuch
as there are no new cases of the con
tagion in the city, it was deemed un
necessary by the school I ward that the
vaccination order should be con
tinued.
The court said that he would not
render a decision upon the lim
ited testimony offered and ordered
the respective parties to submit the
testimony of other witnesses this
morning at 10 o'clock.
This morning Drs. AtchlriBon, Harry
Wilson, Sytnmes, Attix, Pleasants
and Stoll testified. They each em
phatically stated that the measure is
a wise one from a precautionary stand
point. But none but Dr. Symmes
testified that it is any longer a neces
sity under the present conditions.
Superintendent of the public schools
testified substantially as did Chair
man liusenburgof the school board at
the hearing yesterday.
The court took the matter under
advisement until this afternoon and
we learn just before going to press
that lie has rendered his decision
which makes the writ; of mandate
peremptory. There is no quest ion as
to the law governing the case and in
his statement of the facts, the court
submits that there have been but
three cases of smallpox in the city
this year: that the last of these was
discharged from quarantine two
weeks ago; that there are live casesat
Forest Grove, twenty miles from the
city and a number of cases at Flat
willow, sixty miles distant. The
court does not consider such a st ate of
facts sufficient to justify the continu
ance of the order of the board of
health and he therefore issued his de
cision making the writ mandatory.
The decision will permit allot those
children who have been out of school,
over 100 in number, to return to
school.
Presbyterian Notices.
The Home Workers and the Mis
sionary society will meet at the Pres
byterian church Friday afternoon of
this week at 3 o'clock. The society
will be entertained by Mrs. Eldridge,
Mrs. Froembling and Mrs. Quicken
den. Mrs. White will sing, Miss Wat
son will make an address on Japan,
Miss Newell will recite and Mrs.
Quickenden will outline the mission
ary program. Light refreshments will
be served. A cordial invitation is ex
tended to all the lady friends of the
church and especially to newcomers.
The pastor will preach Sunday morn
ing next and the choir will sing. In
the evening at 7:30 a musical service
wi by the choir and
oth uding some new
vole nee of tills pro
tean will fully justify
a Ube mienng. Thu choir is
gratitK.. ,aj know that their efforts to
provide good music at all services are
appreciated. G. II. Beasley, Choir
master.
Henry Quickkndkn, Pastor.
JOHN JAMES DAY
Died at the Green Home Yesterday
Morning After Short Sickness.
John James Day, a well known
young man of this vicinity, died
yesterday morning at, 10:35 o'clock at
the home of Ids sister, Mrs. Andrew
Green, on big Casino creek. He was
taken sick Sunday morning and after
undergoing much agony passed away
despite the best of medical at tendance.
His funeral was held this afternoon
at three o'clock from the Episcopal
church, the Rev. Wakefield performing
tlie ceremony. Interment was made
in the city cemetary.
Tlie deceased was borne in Mineral
Point, Wis., Jan. 27, 1871. He came
to this city about two years ago and
has since lieen employed by Mr.
Andrew Greone. He was a nephew of
Frank Day, one of Lewistown's most
respected citizens. Mr. Day was pop
ular with all who knew him and ids
death is a shock to ids relatives and
friends.
Help The Lewistown Y. M. C. A.
To tlie Editor of tlie Democrat.
Will you kindly allow mo a liitle space
in which to appeal to tlie oltizens of
Lewistown on behalf of tlie Reading
Room of the recently formed Y. M.
C. AV We are much in need of maga
zines and interesting periodicals. Sur
ely there must be many among the
reading public who would be willing
to donate the amount of a year's sul>
scription to one or two of the popular
monthly magazines, if they only knew
bow useful such a donation would be.
Or might 1 suggest another plan?
Will friends of the Y. M. C. A., sub
scribe for two or three magazines at
club rates, keeping one or more if
they desire, for themselves and do
nating the other (or others) to the
Reading Room. In this way for a
small sum, any one may help a good
cause and at the same time take ad
vantage of the club rates for them
selves. Or yet again, the secretary,
Mr. George Zang, will thankfully re
ceive donations of a dollar or more,
to form a fund from which periodicals
may be ordered by the Educational
Committee at club rates.
I would like to add that It is not
old magazines that are asked for so
much as up-to-date issues coming in
regularly every month, and that if
sent after I icing read they should be
sent to the Y. M. C. A., rooms as
soon as possible. What we would
prefer would be to have them ordered
(singly or at club rates) to be sent di
rect to the secretary.
Hoping that t his appeal may meet
with a hearty response.
Yours Faithfully,
H. G. WAKEFIELD.
Member of Educational Committe,
V. M. C. A., Lewistown, Mont.
Bids Wanted.
Bids will be received at the office of
Walter Cooper Co., Bozeman, Mont
ana, until March 15, 1905, for the de
livery of from one to two million
pounds of freight from Bozeman and
intermediate points to Eldridge in
Gallatin county, Montana, during the
year 1905. Delivery to commence
April first, 1905, ending April first,
1900. Bids to state price from Boze
man to Eldridge; intermediate points
price per mile. Satisfactory bond
will be required from the successful
bidder. The right is reserved to re
ject any and all bids. For further
information, call on or address, Walter
Cooper Co., Bozeman, Montana.
Additiinal Local.
Henry Brooks has returned from an
extended visit with relatives in St.
Paul and Minneapolis.
The*Democrat this week received a
communication relative to the Rock
creek bench and contests. The letter
was not received unti yesterday after
noon and it is therefore impossible to
publish it this week but it will appear
in the next issue.
S. W. Gebo, superintendent of the
extensive coal interests of H. L.
Frank in Frank, Alberta, spent several
days in this city last week. It is
rumored that he or Mr. Frank will
make an effort to get hold of some
coal lands adjacent to this city.
Read the Fergus County Democrat,