P a g e 4 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 Photo Courtesy of the Thomas B. Brook Collection, https://arc.lib.montana.edu/brook-0771/item/709 The Elgin mine, owned by T.M. Hodgens of Butte and others, embraces a 4,500 foot section of the Watseka ledge. It has produced high grade ore from a strong vein. The shaft is 400 feet deep, but the water temporarily stopped operations. Larger pumps will at once be supplied and development will continue. The Longfellow lies south and east of the mother ledge and has been a good producer. The shaft has a depth of 300 feet. The Company mine is east of the Longfellow and has a good record. It is owned by W.R Kenyon et al and is now under bond for a large sum to eastern capitalists. The sale is reported a “go.” East of the Elgin is a very rich property, the Buffalo, owned by Edward Mueller, formerly of the Boston & Montana. It needs capital and would pay regular dividends from a fine body of gold bearing ore now in sight. The Rochester Mining Company of which E.M. Hand is superintendent and part owner, is a Boston corporation owning two claims; on one a shaft is sunk 200 feet, with north and south drifts aggregating 275 feet in length. A two-foot shoot of $50 to $80 ore has been opened which at one end is within 30 feet of the Watseka ground. Sinking on the main shaft continues, the intention being to explore the ledge 300 feet deep. Eighteen men are employed. Little is known of the Rochester district on the outside because the mine owners are operating on private account, but the future of the district beyond is very bright. The town contains about 1,000 souls, a good hotel and the usual complement of business houses. The place is growing rapidly and confidence in the future is unbounded. Outside of Butte no mining camp in the state is developing with such certainty of long continued success. McCune’s luck, pluck and enterprise will keep the old camp to the forefront. Much Butte capital is also invested there and that always means success. -Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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