The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-03-25
From Grizzly Gulch.
MARCH Is, 1865.

EDITOR Posr:-It appears that this sec.
tion of country is fast becoming theme of
lively interest to the people Of the Terrific
ry and whether it merits the consideration
that is now being bestowed ON it, of course
depends upon the Intrinsic value of its
mines; for whatever may be said to the
contrary, this last named consideration, ii.
e. the mines) is the only one sufficient to
induce an Intelligent people, who have been
accustomed to the comforts OF life, to en-
dure the privations of mountain life.
NO better index of the interest with
which this section is regarded by the peo.
pie OF the mountains can be had, than the
numerous communications which appear in
your paper from week to week, containing
as many and as various opinions as there
are correspondents. 1t is certainly unfor-
tunate not only for this section, but for the
whole Territory, that this is the case, and
were it within the province and power of an
editor to discriminate between the real and
the visionary, his discrim;native powers
wyuld be of inealculable benefit to all.
1t is not my intention to enter into a
lengthy controversy with any of your cor.
respondents, but, miner as am, and not a
citizen of any town, speculator in any town
| :
whatever, | cannot forego noticing para
graph that appeared in a correspondence in
your paper, dated a, the town (Helena) sit
uated at the mouth of this gulch. 1t is as
follows:
"The city will be sickly during the coming sum-
mer, account of the scircity of water, there be-
ing but about sluice head in the sulch and when
mining commences in earnest, it will be unfit for
use, and if used, the result will be sickness"
Now your correspondent takes it for
granted, that as soon as "mining COM
menccs in earnest" the people will not
only be compelled to drink and eat dirt, but
so far as water privileges are concerned,
they will have access to nothing but cess
pool. AN this is to be practiced, and, as an
inevitable consequence, the people must
endure the inaiction of which your cor
respondent speaks, Notwithstanding the fact
that there is one spring certainly (and am
Informed that there are several) within half
4 mile of the centre Of town. Of course
the people will not follow the example of
your city and resort TO the hauling of water
until system Of waterworks Is introduced.
| believe no one has directly ussailcd
this region as to its gulch mines, notwith-
dsbeioFs as 10 fthaa99ssss tas au 0e.eis and
mines. / shall state what know to be
facts. In this gulch, nine miles in length,
the greater part Of which has been worked,
during the past winter, do not know,
neither have heard of single claim that
yielded less than three dollars to the tub of
| pay dirt. So far, all the mining has been
done by drifting, but from the summit down,
for three miles, it is surface diggings, which
as yet, have not been worked. 1t is by no
means an uncommon occurrence for claims
10 yield an average from eight to ten dollars
TO the tub of pay dirt. Much more has
been obtained. There is, and will be, dur
| ing the summer, at least one sluice head of
water from the summit to within two miles
of the mouth of the gulch, at which point
the water sinks. 1t will be attempted, and
no one doubts tho success of the under
| taking, to conduct the water in Il wooden
channel, from thence 10 the mouth Of the
gulch.
will not intrude upon your space BY
giving lengthy description of any of the
other numerous gulches in this region, but
will beg your attention while | casually
notice few of them. The first is Nelson's
gulch, which, to Judge of the attention that
It is now attracting, is of no mean impor-
tanc.. Mining in Nelson's gulch, is very
similar to that of this gulch. 1t nearly all
will have to be drifted, and has perfectly
dry bed rock, but there is an abundance Of
water. 1t is said to prospect nearl y as we'll
Grizzly, and the best evidence of its rich
ness that | know Of is, that Il number of
miners from Alder gulch have paid good
round sums for claims, and have gone to
work to open them. Its length is FIVE miles.
1t heads near the summit of Grizzly and
runs nearly at right angles to it.
There are also two dry gulches between
Helena and Montana cities, one of which
is unquestionably very rich. Enough is
known of the other to convince all that 1t
will pay, but how extensively, further de-
velopment is necessary to show. They are
both about nine miles in length, head in the
same summit, and run almost parallel.
Of the numerous other gulches compris-
ing this mining region, know nothing save
report; but should they prove as rich as the
sanguine would have US believe that they
ale, this district will be second, in extent
and richness, to no sulch mining region in
the world.
In reference to quartz, upon which the
future of the country depends, very littleis
known, save that there are numerous lodes,
the development of which, although in it's
infancy, has proved some of them to be
valuable. Much attention will be paid,
during the coming summer, to the develop
ment of a number of lodes, as we'll as to
the prospecting for others. Extensive com
binations are being entered into, and rs
soon as the snow has sufficiently disappear
ed, prospecting parties will be scattered in
every direction through the mountains. !
will just mention one prospect which l
know to have been taken from one lode, at
depth of twenty feet. A single pan OF
quartz was pulverized and washed, which
Yielded ten dollars. have heard numer-
GUS other reports which would seem fabu.
lous, but as they are only hearsay, will
not repeat them, but leave it to the future
to reveal the untold wealth with which our
far.off mountain home abounds.
To the beauties of the surrounding seem
cry, my pen is inadequate to DO Justice
The gulch opens into the famous Missouri
v.IIav which is about fifteen miles in