The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-08-24
WOntaHa-Vsherc il rs Located
Virginia City Correspondence. n Y. Tribune.

NEShae1ahst- w aSEC fe H AIOCsttSu-
Virginia City Correspondence. N. Y. Tribune.
am not positive as to what circumstan-
ccs first led to the discovery of the mines
of this region, but believe it had long
been suspected that there were mines here,
perhaps from hints dropped by old noun
tainecrs and trappers; at any rate, about
three years ago, parties from California
and Colorado simultaneously arrived here
and found gold. The first digyings of any
magnitude were at Bannack, about -
miles west of this place, but some mining
in small way was first commenced in
Deer Lodge valley, on the western slope,
and on the Boldor creek on this side of
the mountains, before the Bannack mines
were discovered. These, of course, were
then Abandoned for those, but the Ban
mack mines not being extensive, "pros-
pectors" started in all directions, seeking
for new diggings, which led to the discov-
cry of this locality called Alder gulch, or
creek, upon which stands this city, with
Nevada some two miles below, and still
below that, two or three miles, is Junction
City, while at the head of the creek is an.
other camp called Summit City. (All
places where mining is carried on are
called in mining phrase Camps and by
general western rule, all or any small
cluster Of huts are cities.) The great
wealth Of this locality cannot be questions
ed; but for some time in the beginning OF
last season it was believed that Bannack
and this were the only two places where
gold in any quantities was deposited, with
the minor exception of Bivin's gulch
about nine or ten miles north of here
great disappointment to the swarms Of
emigrants who crowded into the country
early last season was the natural conse-
qucnccs of this, at that tine. universal
belief. Lodcs were then but little suspc,-
ted of being here, none having been
found, save at Bannack, of any consc-
quencc, until near midsummer. when the
belief began to obtain that lodcs, after
all, would constitute the real wealth of
the country. Some fine ones had been
found on the Boldcr mentioned above.
others On the Rattlcsnakc, a tributary of
the Beaver Head river, and others, also
on Mill. Rams Horn and Indian creek.
tributaries of Sinking Water creek
Then commenced the furore for the lode
discoveries, and the whole country was
soon swarming with prospcctors, who car
y succeeded in finding some of the best
lodcs of gold and silver in different local.,
ties, that have yet been found anywhere
There are on Prickly Fear creek tribu-
tary of the Missouri. Willow creeka trib-
utary Of the Madison river, anl Warm
springs on or near said creek, and Summit
Valley district, at the head of Deer Lodge
valley on the western slope of the noun
tains; and in addition to lode discoveries
there have been quite recently found some
Of the richest gulches and placer diggings
yet known perhaps in this or any other
country, and in great abundance; these
are on both sides Of the mountains The
richest, perhaps, are on this, or on the
eastern side, and are principally on gulch-
cs and creeks running into Prickly Pear;
some twelve or fifteen of them, great and
small, with an average much richer than
even Alder gulch. 1t being no uncommon
thing to get over $ 800 to the pan of DIRT;
some have gone as high as $50 to the
pan. The other discoveries are on the
other side in Deer Lodge VALLEY, and are
known as Silver Bow diggings, being on
Silver Bow, or Upper Deer Lodge creek
which flows down from the Summit Valley
district, mentioned above: German gulch
which runs into Deer Lodge creek and
Little Blackioot creek, which also runs
into Deer Lodge, some miles below, all of
which are known to be good.