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Newspaper
Daily Inter Mountain
Location
Butte, Montana, United States of America
Date
Dec 15, 1899
Page
4
The article outlines how mining equipment has advanced in step with rapid mine development. It details new machinery, power systems, and processes that boost efficiency, productivity, and safety as mines expand their operations and face evolving technical demands.
A detailed history from Deputy State Mine Inspector Hunter summarizes 1899 mine activity in Silver Bow county. Employment rose to a record high across districts due to copper demand and high metal prices, with major totals at Anaconda Copper Company 3677, Boston and Montana 1092, Butte and Boston 644, Montana Ore Purchasing 465, W A Clarks mines 437, Parrot Mines 290, Colorado Company Alice properties 109, and Miscellaneous mines 1500, totaling the district work force and incidents.
The report notes that 1899 saw far less shaft development than 1898, which had extraordinary activity. Much of 1899 focused on opening up already developed ground, while substantial shaft work is planned for the coming year. Major companies listed include LawrenCo, Diamond, Geen Mountain, Leonard, East Gray Rock, Speculator, Tycoon, Deadman, Adirondack, and Amy SilverSmith, with varied development figures.
Readable sections list depths for mines such as Green Mountain Mountain Con No 2 Anaconda West Gray Rock East Modoc Silver Bow and others, with figures ranging from about 200 to 2859 feet. The compilation appears to inventory mine depths, with several entries following names like Buffalo Mountain View Moulton Berkeley Sliver Bow Moose Little Nipper and more, reflecting a fragmented survey of ore shafts and claims.
A tally lists 26 fatal mining accidents in the county for 1899 with dates and mine names. Names include Pascoe, Tobin, Johns, Cartier, Weigenstein, Smitherly, McGuire, Sweitzer, Tucker, McCoy, Thomas, Bennett, Combeliack, McLeod, Pasenda, Hughtama, Thomas, Fox, Vieberg, Connelly, McNealls, Tobin, Fitzgerald, Made, Johnson, Judge and others across Diamond, Barus, Moonlight, Leonard, Parrot, Anaconda and related mines.
Over the past year Butte mines expanded with heavier machinery and 4000 foot capable engines. New steel gallows frames were erected at High Ore Diamond and Stewart as Lig mines plan to remove shaft houses for fire protection. A combined skip and cage, used with eight ton capacity, improves hauling while ventilation prompts new surface fans and separate air shafts. Horses remain underground while the fuse of light systems spreads across the district.
Marcus Daly heads Amalgamated Co. mines including Anaconda Never Sweat St. Lawrence High Ore Bell and others employing 4677 workers. Copper ore with silver and gold byproducts. John ONeill supervisor and David Whelan foreman list underground crews. Main shaft depths 1700 1800 feet with electric bells skip systems and Union Iron Works engines. St. Lawrence Parrot Colusa Parrot Nipper Moonlight connections and two air compressors noted. ventilation described as good to poor in fire area. pumps include a 1000-foot level Rexler pump 800 gallons per minute and a Dixon pump.
The document lists several mines including HIGH ORE, BELL, DIAMOND, MOUNTAIN CON Nos 1 and 2, BUFFALO, and GREEN MOUNTAIN. It details superintendents, foremen, workforce totals, shaft depths up to about 2200 feet, equipment like engines from Chicago Tron Works and Webster Camp Lane, rope sizes, air drills, cage setups, pump capacities, exits, and tunnel connections among mines. James Higgins and Jas Keegan are named superintendents, with various foremen including John Quilty.
The Boston and Montana Company lists six mines Pennsylvania West Colusa East Colusa Leonard Mountain View and Moose. It notes 1002 workers with Mountain View foreman R H Dawe and 245 underground workers 40 topmen and 3 engineers. Details include shaft depths up to 1600 feet 14 extra air shaft two ledges 500 feet apart and multiple connections to neighboring mines.
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