A New Mine in the Forest. 



Gold Still Important. 



While gold placer mining has passed away almost entirely, gold is still an 

 important mineral in the mining of the state. The record of the last few years 

 shows a slight decrease, the amount declining from $4,635,000 in 1916 to $3,371,000 

 in 1917. The decrease in the output of copper ore reduced the output of both gold 

 and silver as these are taken from the mine together. 



A marked decrease was also recorded in the gold won by dredges at Alder 

 Gulch. There was an increase in gold bullion from the Barnes-King properties, 

 especially the Shannon mine at Marysville. 



State Second in Silyer. 



Silver mining produced the second mining epoch. Years before a railroad 

 reached the state successful attempts to mine and smelt silver-lead ores were made. 

 The first smelter was built at Argenta, Beaverhead county. Later two smelters were 

 built and operated at Wickes and Gregory in Jefferson county. 



Lead-silver bullion was turned out in quantities and shipped to the Union 

 Pacific railroad at Corinne, Utah, in freight wagons. The product of the Alta 

 mines, which furnished the bulk of the ores to the smelters, is estimated to be 

 $32,000,000. 



The smelting works at East Helena, which succeeded the Wickes plant, came 

 under the control of the American Smelting and Refining Company and is the only 

 plant in Montana which reduces silver-lead ores. 



Montana is next to Utah in the production of silver, with an amount of 

 $10,358,060 in 1917. The output decreased from 16,404,366 ounces in 1916 to about 

 13,128,142 ounces in 1917. Nearly all the silver is derived from copper ore, the 



