A rich lead of copper ore was uncovered this morning on the site of the projected Hirbour building, on the corner of Main street and Broadway, the busiest thoroughfares of the city.
The find was made by the workmen who are engaged in the work of excavating for the foundation for the big structure that is to be built on that corner. The lead was uncovered in the southwest corner of the excavation, and within 10 feet of the surface.
The discovery created intense excitement among the workmen, and work was practically suspended for an hour after the find was made. The lead is three feet in width, and experts who examined it say that it is very rich in copper values.
The find, of course, is of no consequence to the heirs of the Hirbour estate, as their title is confined to the surface rights. It is of immense importance, however, to the owners of the Smokehouse property, who are sinking for the same lead a block away to the westward.
The same lead was encountered in the same manner in the excavation for the Thornton hotel more than a year ago. The Thornton discovery was the cause of the organization of the Smokehouse company. The lead was also uncovered in the excavation for the Reed stables, two blocks west from the Hirbour site.
From the Butte Inter Mountain