The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-08-05
From Confederate Gulch.
CONFEDERATE GULCH, Nj. T., !
LII July 23d. 1865. (


umns of your valuable paper, to inform the
numerous miners of our beautiful Montana,
after visiting Last Chance and many other
contiguous mining districts, that in this rich,
but hitherto neglected region. have found
the true Idaho of our Territory. | do not
intend to enter into lengthy description of
the numerous gold bearing gulches which |
abound in this beautiful region, but would
ask your forbearance while Icasually notice
few of them. The s'Confederate Gulch"
of which much has been said, is situated
about thirty-five miles east of Helena City, |
upon the opposite side of the main Missouri.
Its source is what the miners call the Belt
range of mountains, which are of great alti-
tude. It's course is nearly southwest, and
is about fifteen miles in length. Mining in
this gulch is done by drifting. We have a
beaut full slate bedrock upon which to drift,
rende ing mining both safe and easy. The
numerous bars of this gulch yield their rich
and shining nuggets in ample abundance, to
the labor of the sturdy miner, upon whom
depends the development of the mineral
wealth and resources of our Territory.
Diamond City-a small trading post, sit
uate at a point upon this gulch some six
miles from its SOURCES our most business
like point. Men wishing to dispose of their
merchandise for s'clean dust" and "reasOn-
able fgures," cannot find Il better place than
here. The famous ''Montana Gulch"-a
tributary of Confederate Gulch-is by far
the richest thing that has been discovered
in all this region, whatever may be said to
the contrary. will state what know to
be facts, respecting this gulch, and leave
your readers to draw their conclusions. The
daily runs of each well opened claim, here
made under the most unfavorable circum
stances, with only one-ffth of a sluice-head
of water, will average two hundred dollars,
clear of all expenses. am satisfied that,
with the advantage of sufficient water, claims
would Weld at least eight hundred dollars
per d,y. The owner of the Discovery, Chris.
Spiegsl, took out in one day over eleven
bundled dollars, with the labor of only three
men, with the disadvantages above named.
He also took out beautiful nugget Of pure
and solid gold, weighing one hundred and
eighteen dollars, besides many othera worth
from ten to one hundred dollars. No. be-
low furnished its owners with beautiful
piece of gold, worth one hundred and eleven
dollars. The proprietors of No. s below
can tluly say their claim has surpassed in
richness their most sanguine expectations.
Nos. 3, lO and IL are opened, and are equally
as ricl. On No. IA, pan of dirt was taken
out of the shaft, which yielded to the owner
$l2S. A nugget worth $58, in addition to
$40 of fine gold, was taken from pan of
dirt out of the shaft ON No. l6, below.
would say that if any doubt the above state
merits, they can be satisfied of their correct
ness by visiting this gulch, and calling upon
the proprietors of the above named claims.
wh, would take great pleasure in showing
them the incest gold ever taken from any
BET rock in this Territory.
, Cement Gulch-also tributary OF Con-
federate Guch-recently discovered and
opned, is proving very rich. 1t has fine
sluce- head of pure spring water, which rises
to Inc surface near the summit, or head OF
the gulch, thereby supplying all the mining
), districts with sufficient water.
Whites Gulch, situated nearly four miles
north Of Confederate Gulch, and running
parallel to it, and of about the same length
u u Is now being worked, and is paying well.
bar, which Is one and half miles in length
is now being worked, and is paying from $2'
to $50 per day to the man, which is suficien
evidence TO sustain the assertion that th
main gulch is very rich.
In passing over the summit from the hea'
= of Confederate Gulch, you enter creek
known as Thomas's Gulch. In passing dow
tbs beautiful mountain stream, you are con
tinually reminded by the surrounding seen
cry, that you are entering the rich and fer
as tile pasture lands of some gentleman farmer
Ill whose numerous herds of horses and cattl
are lesurely grazing on the undulations @
the most magnificent prairie that human eye
ever bheld. However, your cogtations Wi
soon BE- dissipated, and you reminded by th
~ numerous holes dug here and there by tn
adventurous prospectors, that you are sti
- in gold bearing country, and one, to'
r, destined at no distant day to become th
greatest in the mountains. This fine golC
r bearing gulch was discovered and develope
=, by Mr.. Thomas and four others, to whom al
m. due the thanks OF a grateful mining pOpr
", lation.
'gg, Of the other numerous gulches in tn
tn Range, but little is known, save that tt
ia bars prospect sufficiently we'll to Undue
,ks intelligent men to expend both time al
or. money in their development.
es OF do not Pretend to be sufficiently acquail
- ted with the character and appearance
ct quartz to give anything like acorrect opinit
90 Of its merits or demerits, hence l will on
tn; say that in no region of country have SCI
ion ion as many rich looking quartz lodes as in thl
A' many of them varying from one to five fe
or in width. have prospected the decompos
on quartz of many of the lodes, and find Il
Il yield to be from one to six cents to the p'
of nice, fine gold. l can truly recommel
this section to the consideration OF all pra
~, hs tieal miners, with certainty of being spec
at lily remunerated for the time and means spe
in prospecting for both quartz and gulcht
t in an agricultural position, this distri
- stands second to none in the Territor
Beautiful plains of rich and alluvial SO
In. easy of irrigation, are to be seen on eth
the side of the Range, inviting the ranchma
the farmer, or the tiller of the soil, to set
an upon them, and speedily become the M
nk, as, independent of ali the mountain populatle
9th This section of our Territory, occupying
central position as it does, situate betWe
>, Benton and Virginia, Blackfoot and fello
% 20 stone, is fast becoming subject OF iiv'
| h. nf IarrItOr