Names listed on photo back: John Buskett; Will Williams; Ed Smigaj; Chas. Lutin

On July 18, 1921, The Great Falls Tribune predicted that metal mining output would be the lowest in the last decade “if present conditions continue”.

Montana produced gold valued at $1,851,165 in 1920, a decrease from $2,229,588 in 1919. In 1921 the output of gold will be much further reduced as a result of the idleness of many of the mines at Butte . . . The output made by the Barnes-King Mining company was principally that of the Shannon mine as the Piegan-Gloster mine was idle.[2. Great Falls tribune. (Great Falls, Mont.), 18 July 1921. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045217/1921-07-18/ed-1/seq-2/>]

And then on January 9, 1922, The Great Falls Tribune reported . . .

The Barnes King Mining company, produced much gold from the Shannon mine in Lewis and Clark county, but less than in 1920.[1. Great Falls tribune. (Great Falls, Mont.), 09 Jan. 1922. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045217/1922-01-09/ed-1/seq-14/>]

SOURCES