THE HELENA INDEPENDENT — FEBRUARY 29, 1892
COL. JOHN DOYLE’S FIND ◇ He Has Struck a Big Flow of Vinegar In Beaverhead County.
“Yes, it is true,” said he, “that I have struck a big flow of vinegar in one of the prospect holes, and I consider it the greatest find ever made in the state. Some are inclined to regard such a discovery as remarkable but it really is not when it is remembered that in Colorado a spring of delicious vegetable soup has been found, and in Iowa a mine of a fair quality of soap. Nothing is remarkable for Montana. The Indians have known the existence of the vinegar stream for years, and have used it as a beverage, and it has often been spoken of by them but never believed until I accidentally discovered it about a week ago. An soon as the facts were demonstrated I had no trouble in organizing the “Beaverhead Vinegar Mining company” and stock the claim for $1,000,000. The stock was all subscribed for at the first meeting, and there is none of it for sale. The well is at present down thirty-five feet and flows four inches of vinegar, equal in quality and flavor to the best product from apples. All of it in at present going to waste, but the company in making active preparations to put it up in barrels. If the flow continues it is our intention to put, in a bottling and pickling plant in the spring. The entire surrounding country has been taken up and will be turned into cucumber ranches next summer, and the vinegar will be used for irrigating purposes. You will readily see A strange but actual fact connected with the merits of our discovery is that it is a remarkable hair invigorator, and I believe it wold grow a crop of hair on a billiard ball. We intend to bottle wine and put it on the market for that purpose. Work on the mine is still going on, and if our least expectations are realized, pipe lines will be built to the leading cities of the state to supply the demand. It has been suggested that the product could be used for drinking and domestic purposes in Butte, and be a great improvement on the water supplied us in summer. The vinegar mining industry is yet in its infancy, and the possibilities that will grow out of it are yet beyond imagination.”
The officers of the Beaverhead Vinegar Mining company are: President, Col. John Doyle; vice-president, Angus Mcqueen; treasurer, Tom Butterfield; directors, Tom Gilechrist, of Helena, Hugh J. Muldoon and Ernest Lange, of Butte.
From— The Democratic Press. (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]), 12 Feb. 1880. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.