P a g e 3 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r and richness. The 450-foot level is 1,800 feet long. It has already penetrated three of the shoots described and is approaching another shoot at both the north and south ends. The ore at this depth has the same characteristics, except that it has changed to base without change in value and the ore bodies are wider, the width being doubled in places. Drifting north and south continues with assured results. The shaft now has a vertical depth of 571 feet, having crossed the ledge and now being on the hanging wall side. A crosscut to the east is now being extended through the vein, giving additional backs of 200 feet below the 450-foot level. Superintendent Hand is confident that the ore bodies will be found greatly strengthened by the union with the Cleopatra vein, which shows so strong and rich above. The future of the property is beyond the pale of doubt, and the same is true of the district. The sulphide ores are easily concentrated three into one, an unusual percentage of values being recovered. The concentrates carry enough fluxes to make them very desirable for smelting at low rates. A gratifying feature of the ore is the uniformity of value from top to bottom and the steady increase in the richness and the width of the ore bodies. It is a great mine even now. The water bugaboo has been exorcised. The flow is now about 800 gallons per minute, while the pumpage capacity Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz is 1,500 gallons. There is no increase in the flow of water with depth so far as explored and it does not reservoir as in the upper levels. The number of shoots seems to be increasing with depth, while the Cleopatra and Alameda ledge are important feeders, promising increased productiveness. In bullion and crude ores the Watseka has produced under the ownership of Mr. McCune upward of $1,000,000 in the course of development, while the output of oxidized ore under various leases and prospectors of the early days is estimated at $750,000. The daily product will keep both mills supplied. The new mill which started last week is a substantial structure designed by L.F. Sicka of the Amalgamated company and built by Julian Smith of Butte. It is 100 by 135 feet in dimensions and cost $65,000. It is fitted with a Blake crusher, four sets of Gates rollers, two six-foot Huntington mills, 14 Wilfley tables, and an original device for sacking concentrates invented by Mr. Hand. The power is supplied by a Corliss engine 18 x36, having 150 horsepower. The daily capacity of the mill is 150 tons, while that of the old mill, with seven Wilfley tables and six cyanide tanks, is 50 tons daily. The latter will do some custom work. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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