The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-05-06
CITY OF VIRGINIA MONTANA TERRITORY SATURDAY NAY 1865
From PrickIy Pear.
PaIcKLY PEAR. April IA 1865,

PRIckLY PEAR, April IA, 1865.
EDITOR PosT:-We have just returned
from hasty visit to jefferson CITY. The
boys up there are all sssound on the goose
question:" but more intent upon finding
the bedrock in this gulch at that place
than upon the solving of the other problem.
Through the enterprising endeavors of
Messrs. Shecnan, Richardson and others,
a prospecting company has been formed,
and drain ditch started, the work upon
which is progressing rapidly. The number
OF persons composing the company is limit
ed to thirty; twenty are already interested,
each OF whom is to have three hundred feet
of ground in the District for prospecting it.
Thus many persons with but a small outlay
f.money or labor are enabled to obtain
ground, which is undoubtedly good, as ex-
cellent prospects have been found only four
feet below the surface. The terms of mem-
bership in the company include the paw
ment of from three to FIVE dollars per day,
orjust enough to keep sufficient number
of men working advantageously in the drain.
Thus men can work out their own assess
ments, make small wages, and get one
claim and half besides. The superinten-
dents OF the work and scheme are honest
and responsible men, who, when they un-.
dertake thing, 60 through with it if it
takes a-limb.
Jefferson is improving fast, and the price
of town property is advancing rapidly A
good saw7mill near the town is doing a
thriving business. We are told a brewery
will soon be in running order, which will
add much to the spiritual comfort Of the
place. Wishing the boys all the success
imaginable in getting down where -g
"They II pick up humps that weigh pound,
And lay like horse chestnuts on the ground, -
we started home.
The twelve miles of road between this
place and Jefferson, instead of the unin-
habited and solitary appearance 1t present.
ed a few months since, now presents one
I of thriving industry. 4
Prospectors are now busily improving
their time looking for quartz in the sur
rounding mountains. Many Iodes of au-
| riferous rock are found daily. One great
difficulty with the majority of the quartz
| prospectors here is a great want of thence
essary mineralogical knowledge to prose-
cute their labors with dispatch. Prospect
4 ing is sup hill business at best-success
is only obtained by handling the pick and
shovel earnestly, enduring many priva-
tions then. perhaps, strike a 'sgranite
Lode" A good assayer could do well by
locating in this part of the country. The
want of one is much felt in this community.
Besides proving kind of philanthropist, a
good assayer. can become possessed of
quartz property which viii Immediately be-
come valuable. =. '
We have had man here who had q
| 'prognosticarum," (more commonly known
as forked stick. The s'stick man" Gre
ated quite an excitement by his success in
finding gulch and quartz mines; but bis
Iforked Institution is about }''played OUT
now, having failed to make the connection
in several instances. The thorn-man is all
the 90 now, who says: "This is the richest
Egulch IL, the Territory" We do not know
upon what alchemical principle the thing
i works, or what are the secret ingredients
i inside his outfit. We only know he has i.
Sin horn," and that the horn was labor.
i ing under severe indisposition the other
! day, caused by bad whisky, and failed te
perform its functions in consequence. We
i have known for long time that horns will
sometimes cause inebriation, but didn'
know that a horn could become inebria
\ ted-howeyer, strange things occur now.
days. -
4 divers and Egnell's express lines arr
i doing thriving business SO far as carry
ling passengers is concerned; but there
seems to be something wrong at the post
Office. Sometimes the Prickly Pear mai
}. bag comes instead of the Silver Bow. W.
think as our letters cost us two cents more
each than the Express charges are, the pos
!. master ought to be able to distinguish ont
mail bag from another, or sell out to some
body who does. Yours. ROVER.
i AsLocAL's' RESOLUTIONS TO REFoRM.--
4 The Local. of the Muscatine Journdl say
that while sitting in his sanctum, leisurel,
I chewing the cud of sweet reflection, ant
watching the gyrations of spider on tn
ceiling, he began to sum up the number o
Il good resolutions he had formed during tn,
I last year, and arrived at the following result
4 Sworn off drinking. 300 times
Been asked to drink, E ..sa $50 ="
Drank, 81 24S So
Drunk, excuse US. 81 Z.
Joined Temperance societies, g
Been expelled, g
Intended to 60 to church, SO 's
Went, s7 2 ss
Going to be married, 8
J Married, nary--calico too high.
Been whipped, 6 6
, Whipped other feller, "
! Going to cut down expenses, $50 0
Cut them down. SO l
| Besides numerous Cousins and othe
: things too numerous to mention.
IL He confesses his "progress" at reforr
wasn't much, but claims he will do bette
) this year, all of which be will religiousl
do--in horn.
The. New York Tribune's Washingto
Especial of yesterday says: "The feelin
among Congressmen to night indicates
2 massacre Of all private jobs and scheme.
: and an honest and determined devotion {
what money is left in the Treasury, to th
2 prosecution Of the war. The prospect {
! killing the Niagara Ship Canal swindl'
!. and Of hanging up till the war is over, th
!, ~, ao Of thu Tll;no;. Cb,x, nd fh