THE MINES 179 



The larg-est increase Avas made in Silver Bow county, which is credited 

 with a production of 11,352,106 ounces, or 89 per cent of the total silver 

 output for the year. Of this quantity the copper ores contained 10,555,306 

 ounces and important quantities of silver also came from siliceous ores 

 and zinc ores, each kind of ore in this county containing miore silver than 

 in any other county. At gold and silver mills the largest quantity of silver 

 recovered by amalgamation was from ores mined in Lewis and Clark 

 county, and by cyanidation from ores produced from Blaine and Lewis 

 and Clark counties. 



Many of Montana's silver ])roperties that were producing at a profit 

 up to 1893 were closed after that and only the higher grade properties 

 have been worked of recent years, though where low grade lead-silver ore 

 is found in quantity it is mined extensively. Some of Montana's steadiest 

 producers rely on such ores. Amiong the counties of the state recognized 

 as good silver and lead, as well as gold, districts, are Blaine, Broadwater, 

 Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Powell, Deer Lodge, Madison, Silver Bow, 

 Cascade, Missoula, and Lincoln. 



This state does not stand in the front ranks as a producer of lead, 

 though the Coeur d'Alene district, of Idaho, adjoining ]\Jontana on the 

 west, is one of the largest lead producing districts of the continent. The 

 production of lead last year aggregated 7,446,749 pounds, 

 Lead Takes valued at $335,104. This was an increase over the 1911 record, 

 Its Place as which was 6,431,575 pounds, valued at $289,421. 

 a Producer The greatest increase Avas in Cascade county, followed by 



of Wealth. Lincoln. Silver Bow and Sanders counties. The decrease was 

 greatest in Beaverhead and Jefferson counties. The largest 

 production was in Cascade county, credited with 2.259,494 pounds, followed 

 by Jefferson county with 1.589.588 pounds. Silver Bow with 1.296,823 

 pounds and Lincoln county wdth 1,109.907 pounds. Crude ore sent to 

 smelters contained nearly half of the total output, or 3,412.852 pounds, of 

 which 2,178,145 pounds were contained in crude lead ores averaging 14.25 

 per cent of lead. Concentrates produced 4,033,891 pounds, of whtch the 

 lead concentrates contained 2,681.854 pounds, averaging slightlv better than 

 39 per cent of lead. 



Montana is, and has been, a pretty good producer of coal. During the 

 year the Anaconda company closed its coal mines at Belt, but the coal 

 mines of the southern part of the state, notably in Carbon county, are as 

 active as ever. Also the coal companies of Musselshell county 

 Many Other are producing right along, and it is known there are extensive 

 Sources of coal beds in this state yet untouched. 



Great Riches. The mining of precious stones gives promise of assuming 

 important proportions, also. Near Yogo, ^Montana, sapphires 

 and other stones are mined in large quantities and the operators are making 

 big money. There is also mining of this nature in Granite and ]\Iadison 

 counties. 



Montana's granite and sandstone are popular for building purposes 

 and in this state are large phosphate beds, which will no doubt furnish the 

 basis for a new industry in future. 



There is large capital now invested in ^.lontana mining, but this is 

 centered in Silver Bow county. There are vast mineralized districts in the 

 state outside of Silver Bow county that offer much for the capitalist, and 

 when the state's wonderful resources are more generally known in the 

 financial centers Montana v.'ill doubtless invite many millions of dollars of 

 eastern money for mining development. 



■"See Venice and die" if you want to, but it is better to see Montana and live. 



