The Building of West Fork Sapphire Mines Flumes

Anaconda Gulch is listed as the richest gulch by the Mt. Gov. DEQ site, but local knowledge and archive documentation show Sapphire Gulch, producing the most gems. The Web site, goes on to describe a sixteen mile wooden flume from Stony Lake being constructed to serve the McLure Placer, Aurora and twenty-two other claims in 1901 and credits these statements to “Expert Miner” McElroy in 1911. The cost was stated as $75,000.00. The article states the McElroy article is on file at DLNF. E-mail requests for the document have went unanswered. Staff at the Montana Historical Society Library interpret DLNF as Deer Lodge National Forest and contact with that office is unable to reveal any such document in their files. The following is what I have been able to research about the flume. 

A letter from J.R. Lucas to Paul Fusz of August 17, 1904 raised the question whether the flume was built in 1901. Lucas had a discussion in August 1904 with Joe Sorenson regarding the feasibility of an 18 inch wooden pipe being built, instead of a wooden flume. This would run from Stony Lake and Lucas discussed a wooden gate as a dam at Fusz Lake instead of a cement dam, because of the slide rock in that area. Foreman Sorenson also stated he was widening the road up Basin Gulch that fall. Then on September 4, 1904 the conversation continued “…In regard to flume from Stony Creek: he [Sorenson] suggests and I think his suggestion is right, that a “V” shaped flume from Stony Creek to Cralle Ditch would be the proper kind of a flume put in, having same properly braced.” As evidenced by the flume that still remains the “V” shaped plan was never carried out. The letter continued: “He also suggests that if it is possible for us to get a small saw mill up in there it would be much cheaper than hauling lumber. That is one of the things we have got to consider in building a flume. He states we can get a small saw mill up in that country at a very small expense, as there is plenty of timber sufficiently large to cut flume lumber out of it. However will take the matter up when you arrive.” Their conversation when Fusz arrived is not documented in files available. 

The Mail, August 31, 1906 stated: “The American Gem Mining Company which operates the Sapphire mines on the West Fork of Rock Creek has filed an application with the forestry department for a million feet of timber along the headwaters of the West Fork. The company proposes to build a ditch and flume eighteen miles in length and the timber is to be cut along the proposed line of the ditch, clearing a strip 100 feet wide. A portable sawmill is to be used to saw the lumber for the flume.” 

Rasmussen was foreman of Camp #1 which started the flume from Gem Creek with intake from Gem Creek and Little Gem Creek. Rhudy was foreman of Camp #2 which was the Main Flume on the West Fork of Rock Creek with intake at Spruce Creek and Dunshee Creek. 

On March 30, 1912 J.R. Lucas writes a request to P.C. Miller in Stevensville, Montana to submit a bid to AGMS for building a flume. Miller responded on April 1, 1912 and asked to be notified when “snow leaves so we can make definite estimates and bid.” The next correspondence I found was from J.R. Lucas to Blakeslee and Cheatham on June 3, 1912 which details that their company was “going to construct 8 miles of flume and dig 2 miles of ditch on the West Fork of Rock Creek….can either your Mr. Blakeslee or Cheatham come to Philipsburg and…run this survey line over and check it up?” 

The response on June 8 was a telegram stating someone would be in Philipsburg from the company either Sunday or Monday. Another hand written document from C.W. Cheatham recommends his brother J.N. Cheatham to be hired as the engineer of the flume and ditch digging and that he would work for $100.00 per month and expenses. Then, on July 30, 1912 J.N. Cheatham wrote to J.R. Lucas that “E.E. Rhudy started work on the 11th; G.E. Rasmussen started work on the 12th.”

J.R. Lucas requested on July 30, 1912 that Cheatham send weekly reports of the crews work so they can withhold 15% of the estimated wages as per original contract. Cheatham wrote Lucas on the same date “We need lumber delivered by the 31st as sawmill has not started.” Two documents sent to Lucas that were not signed, state the motor sent for the saw mill was the wrong size. 

Also on file are eight pages of “Monthly estimates of flume construction” for July 1912 through October 1912. The estimates describe the work in number of “bents” completed and itemized the costs: July: Main Flume starting at West Fork $ 425.05; E.E. Rhudy Foreman Main Flume starting at Gem Creek $ 620.50; G.E. Rasmussen Foreman - Intake from Gem Creek $ 9.50; Intake from Little Gem Creek $ 21.72 August: Camp #1 Rasmussen $1102.93; Camp #2 Rhudy $884.11 September: Camp #1 Rasmussen $1129.31; Camp #2 Rhudy $ 635.68 October: Main Flume $1,548.15; Intake at Spruce Creek $9.32; Intake at Dunshee Creek $37.23 Camp #1- 100% completed and Camp #2- 95% completed by November 1. 

On July 25, 1912 J.R. Lucas sent a request to Missoula Employment Agency requesting a sawyer capable of cutting 100,000 feet of lumber and a sawmill engineer. Then, on August 23 Cheatham wrote to Lucas in regard to the need for road work and that no one had authority to order supplies. Because of these problems the men were ready to leave if the situation was not resolved. He also requested another six or seven men. The situation must have been resolved, because in 1913 a request from Cheatham to Lucas for references, was responded to. Lucas gave Cheatham a positive reference for the period he worked for American Gem with the date being from April 1912 through December 1912. 

The amount of pay received by the flume crew is evidenced in a letter from J.R. Lucas to J.N. Cheatham the Supt. Of Construction dated September 19th, 1912: “Dear Sir: Calling your attention to time sheet covering Flume Camp No.2, E.E. Rhudy, we note that in three instances you have shown the total deductions to exceed the gross amount due the employe [sic].We refer to L. O’Brian, Martin McNulty and A. Miller…We have therefore altered your August time sheet to show as follows: L. O’Brian, wages due $4.87, Board deducted $4.70, Comissary deduction 17 cents; Martin McNulty, wages due $4.87, Board deduction $4.87; A. Miller, wages due $4.87, Board deducted $4.87. This leaves their accounts as follows: L.O’Brian owes the commissary 13 cents; Martin McNulty owes the board 48 cents, commissary 40 cents; A. Miller owes board 48 cents… (What) these employes [sic] owe should be included with the deductions of the September time sheets.” 

 Whether there was only one main flume built, or if Stony Flume, Ewing Flume and West Fork of Rock Creek Flume are all different flumes and built at separate times, was not explained in the archived documents. We know water became available and as a child, I saw pictures of the placer miners working with huge pipes with nozzles knocking people over by the massive water pressure being directed at the placers. Massive earth movement and tailing dams are evident, especially in Maley Gulch and Anaconda Gulch. The drop in altitude from the beginning of the flume to the gulches, created the head of pressure. As you drive east on the Skalkaho Highway, near the Stillwater turn-off, you can still see areas of flume clinging to the steep slide rock mountainside. Building and upkeep of flumes, plus ditch digging, without considering the employment of the placer mines, provided a substantial number of jobs for the people of Philipsburg and surrounding areas, prior to 1930. 

West Fork Sapphire Mines and Conrad Wipf

 

A constant issue in mining Sapphires was a water supply and references show in 1905 water problems were becoming severe as early as June 11. By August 9 “Jamieson’s laid off most of crew in Anaconda Gulch-no water and did not get any water from Fusz Lake. Eight men left to prospect and look for source of red sapphires” wrote J. Lucas to Paul Fusz. Communication on August 22, 1905 stated water was okay in Sapphire Gulch and on August 27 Lucas told Fusz “Cralle’s survey says we should continue the Cralle ditch to the North Fork of the West Fork of Rock Creek--that would give a good supply of water to both Basin and Sapphire [Gulch].” By June 19, 1905 Wipf had worked the lower Sapphire and obtained only 100 pounds of sapphires. “Last year that would have been 600 pounds-so he is going higher up the gulch” wrote Lucas to Fusz. Obviously the move was strategic as the final shipment on November 23, 1905 totaled 3,657.25 pounds and 3,641 of these pounds came from Sapphire. 

Later that year, Conrad’s son was hired to do ranch work after graduating from high school and a letter from Lucas to Fusz, on October 9, 1905 stated “Have Sandin and young Conrad Wipf stay on ranch at $35.00 a month this winter…” Stop work by October 18. 

Conrad Wipf was born at Marthalen Canton of Zurich, Switzerland on December 4, 1843 and came to America as a carpenter in 1868. He worked in Chicago then Iowa before coming to Montana in 1871. He worked at the Kleinschmidt Brother’s lumber yard in Deer Lodge. Then moved to the saw mill at New Chicago and in 1872 moved to Philipsburg. I found where contracts bids were requested for laying sidewalk from Botschieder and Wipf’s Carpenter Shop on Sansome to the new school house. The bids were requested by John A. Spencer City clerk and Julius Hansen Assistant clerk in the January 9, 1896 Mail. 

Conrad worked at the Trout Mine and then took up Placer mining for the next fourteen summers according to the Mail, November 5 1909 (1895-1909). During the winters, Conrad continued to work in the building trade and during the mining boom at Granite formed a partnership with T.G. Botscheider. They built an extensive business as contractors and builders. Conrad was defeated for the office of City Treasurer by James H. Loomis on April 6, 1908. He served as alderman in the City Council and as School Trustee for many years, plus was president of the District Board of Education and County Commissioner at the time of his death. Con married Elise Huber of Zurich, Switzerland in 1885 and they had one son Conrad Jr. 

Conrad Senior died on October 30, 1909 at his home in Philipsburg of stomach cancer, about one month after being diagnosed. Survivors were his wife Elise and son Conrad Jr. Pallbearers were: William Dingwall, William Stahl, John H. Williams, Nicholas Noe, George Albert and Walter Kroger. He is buried in the Philipsburg Cemetery. 

Mrs. Elise Huber Wipf was born September 11, 1852. She died on June 3, 1936 and is buried next to Conrad in the Philipsburg cemetery. 

Conrad’s business partner Tom Botscheider born February 29, 1852 died February 21, 1940 just eight days short of his eighty-eighth birthday. Tom married Adelaide Durfee a native of New York in Philipsburg in 1884 two years after she moved to the area. I have been unsuccessful in finding Tom’s obituary, but Adelaide’s showed the marriage devoid of children, when she died on July 15, 1923 at the age of seventy. Tom and Adelaide are buried next to each other in the Philipsburg cemetery.

Anne Filmore was gifted a picture of Tom and Adelaide's marriage certificate when she acquired the building she made into the Silver Mill on Broadway and that picture is attached below.

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Early Lodges and Organizations and John Rains

 

 Lodge affiliation was a very important part of the early Deer Lodge/Granite County settlements, with the A.F. & A.M. Flint Creek Lodge chartered October 7, 1867. It was one of five lodges chartered at the Montana Annual Meeting held that year in Virginia City. Only Flint Creek and King Solomon of Helena were still in existence in 1951. The Flint Creek Lodge had twenty four members in 1869, according to Campbell “From the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch (1951). 

The I.O.G.T Band of Hope Lodge No. 20, was organized November 3, 1876 and Cable Lodge No. 9, was the ninth Lodge to be founded. The Order of Red Men was an early organization but I am not certain the date of inception. These male members dressed in garb that resembled Native American wear, according to their photograph history. Charter members of this Lodge arrived in the area prior to 1889. 

The Woodsmen of the World was another active organization that provided insurance to the members and is often referenced in obituaries with sums of $1,000 to $3,000 in payment to the deceased families. 

The Order of Eastern Star and Pocahontas were female organizations, with spouse participation who belonged to the Masonic Lodge. I believe the Pocahantas were the wives of the Red Men organization. 

The Churches had active organizations that provided assistance to families in need during the mining recessions. The Philipsburg Women’s Club was a very active group during WWI and The Red Cross fostered an active county association. The Sons of Herman and The Odd Fellows are other organizations spoken of through out newspaper articles. 

The Philipsburg Pioneer Association was founded in 1880 and included pioneers that had arrived in Montana on or before 1865; California on or before 1849; and Idaho on or before 1860. At the founding meeting there were nine bylaws adopted by the members of which I will quote two:

 “Sixth: we reserve the right to get decently drunk and to recognize a social game of cards, where money is not staked, as a necessary of our daily lives; 

   Ninth: we want no legal advice no long winded set of bylaws, nothing but good fellowship and lasting friendships; and as the flume is all clear, we lift the head-gate and start to work on discovery.” 

These bylaws were signed by the following pioneers: John Merrill-1848 California, John Rains-1849 California, John G. McLean-1850 California, George Plaisted-1850 California, Henry Imkamp-1856 California, M. Kaiser-1852 California, Eli D. Holland-1856 California, D.B. Anderson-1855 California, G.V. Sherman-1858 California, Daniel Session-1848 California, John Kaiser-1857 California, Angus McIntyre-1863 California, Mrs. Louisa Kaiser (I assume her date is the same as John’s), J.H. Monhart-1869 California, Wm. Hammond-1865 Montana, A.A. McDonald-1864 Montana, M.S. Caplice-1864 Montana, C.N. Freeman-1864 Montana, James McDonel-1864 Montana, Herman Kaiser -1865 Montana, David Simmons-1864 Montana, Frank D. Brown-1863 Montana, Joe Stahl-1863 Montana, Geo. E. Tyrriell-1865 Montana, Dan C. Morgan-1851 California, Sim Shively-1850 California, John W. Hall-1863 Montana.  A photograph of the document is in the Tex Crowley picture collection.

One of the above pioneer signatures John Rains, according to his obituary, was married to a sister of A.H. Porter, in 1882. I have been unable to find her first name, although her initials are listed on their children, Minnie and Johnnie’s tombstone as H.E. 

John Rains, born in Norway, died at the age of seventy seven, in Golden. He was vigorous until a few minutes before his death, when he suffered a pain in his side and in a few minutes was dead, on February 20, 1896. John immigrated to the United States in 1849; settled in California, then moved to Philipsburg in 1863 and resided in the area, working in various enterprises in which he made and spent several fortunes. The marriage produced seven children, with six of them and his wife buried in the Philipsburg cemetery, prior to his death. At the time of John’s death his only living daughter aged six was living with the George Brown family, formerly of Philipsburg, in Anaconda. The daughter had lived there since the death of her mother and was expected to inherit the estate.