The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-09-16
Letter from Monntaineer C,tv
MoUNrAINEER ClrY, FRENCH Gu1cs
DEER LODGE CO- M n a,

L Aop0n w., NJ l., Aug. 81. (
| ED. posT This newly established mining cam,
never having, to my knowledge been mentsoned I
cerning it. r'-'I-0 : . ie" i'ems con
Mountaineer City is located on branch of Ri.
noie, some twelve or fifteen miles west of GermaT
uuiGn. Although situated on the eastern slope ot
ene Rocky Mountains, the water runs from tba o.S,
the westward till it joins one of the chief
1t .ne big Hole, which, as yet is without a name
Sne way, II there is more crooked stream in tbs
Worid than the said Big Hole, would like 10 know
name. Ihe city already contains twenty or THIRTY
Iouses, Two or three stores, two blacksmlths and
shoemakers shop, the usual proportion of wb;sIa
lus, faro bank, and soon will have burdv O-nrdy
In operation, which latter will be Considered by
PRACTICAL miners as sufficient evidence of the ricbn
of the gulch. HI - WIG e's
The length of the gulch is about two and n b.,,
miles,. About twenty claims have besn and 90 nai
ing wen. Some of them have yielded as much as
S5oo In ten hours run. The gulch is shallow. not
oelng more than seven eight feet to the bedrock
In the best paying claims, which said claims oro
ioeatee above discovery. I have heard of good paw
being found but In two places above No 26. viz Il
and eo. The nearer the head of the gulcb. the fur
ther 1t IS to the bedrock, making the dficnltv Of
prospecting much greater than in the lower mart
Inc streak is narrow, which increases the dcultv of
nnding It. Some anticipate big thing in the upper
pSs OIL tne guIcn but gold is where you find it."
- several other gulches containing gold have been
alscevered In this vicinity but they have not vet
been prospected enough to yield gold in paving ousn.
.itles; In fact, In every creek and canon Won can
nno tne color; but color diggings are, you know,
''no account" "'
The names of the gulches discovered and claimed
are First Chance Moose Creek, Lincoln, Oregon Cal
ifornia and American 0"i
volcanic action Is perceptible throughout this
region, large lodges of lava being visible in MANY
places. have heard of quartz lodges being dis.
covered. o''
Many parties are actively engaged in prospecting
III the Big Hole basin and everybody is on the Ioo
out for stampede, or two of which occur eysry
week. 'e'' every
subject which should engage attention of the
next Legislature, is the practice of parties ow,;r
and holding large quantities of mining ground for
speculative purposes, or until their more liberal and
energetic neghbors partially or wholly deveIon II
for them. Now this in the writer's estimatiop Is
all wrong. Every claim should be represented bv
iaoor 1t the owner will not work it. let il he snk
Ject to pre-empton, and be taken possession of bv
some one who will bring its hidden treasure to Iiebt
Ihls Is great and growing evil, and know of no
way OF mitigating 1t except by legislation.
MAJOR Upson paid us visit on Tuesday last. and
oy his urbanlty and courtesy, created decidedly
favorable impression the minds of our people He
exhl6lted thorough knowledge of the wants and
requirements of our Territory and if elected (which
ne ought to be will be the right man in the right
place. ''' SUI
have read the opening chapter of the "Vigilantes
Oh Montana Should the succeeding chapters eoual
In style and ability that of the first one land no one
VINO knows Professor Dimsdale can doubt but tbev
WHY the work will be read with avidity by the mn,
nerous readers OF your valuable journal The SUBJ
ect one OF much interest to our people, and can
not tali to attract great attention abroad.
In another paper L may perhaps give YOU a more
region. Yours. etc. '' - VIE
BIG MEDICINE.