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Show MONTANA MINES. Goins B-low the Water LveL Speaking of the investment at Butte of tbe Walker Bros., and tbe tast of th? permnuency of the mines in that district, the Miner says: The heavy and continuous ship menls of silver from the Alice and other tniues of this ntighborbood have made Butte a household word iu all parts of tb country; bat so long as the water level question remains in doubt the outside capitalists will be deterred trora taking risks in even our most promising lodes. Some , time ago the pnjsci was mentioned ot putting tbe Alice on the Block market ol Ban Francisco; but the proposition wis coolly received by the bulls and bears there presiding. "Go down below water, gentlemen, and prove that your mine does not give out at that level, as Montana mines have the reputation of doing. We shall then take pleasure iu lisliug your stock." This advice ii nowbemg followed. At an expense of over $100,000 iu machinery and labor the shalt will be sunk, other levels opened, and a thorough test made of tbe great Rainbow Rain-bow lode. This being the case we may as well recognise the fact that the ladt great crisis in tbe growth not only of our town, but alao ot silver mining generally in Montana is at hand. Tne question will soon be decided when it will be known whether Butte ia to expand at once into a large city or shrink into a little mining hamlet of much less than its present population; whether capitalists capital-ists who are now waiting and watching watch-ing are to give their millions a chance in tbis territory, or are to ture towards Arizona or eUe abandon mining altogether. |