The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-02-25

L
be difficult to figure how much they can
make by the operation, when they have
paid twenty dollars per ton for hauling, and
hay now selling for twenty-five dollars in
Virginia.
On reaching Boulder creek, l learned of
new discovery on a tributary of Boulder,
called Elk Horn gulch. This dela7ed me
two days, but consider myself well paid
for my trip to the new gulch. 1t is some
ten miles long and strongly resembles
! Alder creek. One shallow pit has been
sunk and seven cents to the pan the result.
If it does not turn out rich gulch, will
feel disappointed.
| The third morning after reaching Boul-
der, was again off for Last Chance, the
centre of Prickly Pear diggings. On the
| divide [ found the snow two feet deep and
badly drifted. Soon after crossing the
summit descending on the North side, one
meets the famous timber for which the
whole Prickly Pear country is celebrated.
1t is not the half spruce, half hemlock va
riety of Alder Greek and Colorado, but the
"simon pure" variety Of Wisconsin,
Maine and Canada. 1t is straight, and
grows sixty feet without limb, and from
one to two and half feet in diameter
| No greater speculation can be gone into
in this section than to bring from the States
portable saw mill, not one of which be-
lieve, is in the Territory. 1t would pay the
coming season better than any mining
claim. There is no difficulty In getting logs
for building purposes forty feet long,
and as straight as a string Doubtless this
is the best timbered section in the Terrific
ry. After crossing the range, the first
town you reach is Beavertown, the centre
of the early discoveries-a small cluster of
cabins which appears to have entirely stop
ped growing. Near this town is the ccle-
brated Courtrlght lode, which as yet ap-
pears to be the richest lode yet discovered,
perhaps because q deeper shaft has been
sunk, which is now down fifty feet. Many
other lodcs are considered by the owners
equally rich.
Four miles below Beaver we come to
Jefferson city, town started with the ex-
pectation Of its being the county seat of
jefferson, but by some means or other, the
recorder opened his books at Montana
Now, if mistake not, the county seat of
this county was established at Gallatin, and
able lawyers tell me, q do not know with
what truth), that all the records made
with the recorder located at Montana
sfito,st..4 OF THIS L leave uptUr lawyers
to Judge, but it seems to me that if a
county seat is established, it seems to
me that the records should be made and
kept there. Jefferson city, like its sister.
Beaver city, seems to be deserted. Plenty
of vacant cabins are to be found in either
place. 1t consists of some twenty-five
cabins, mostly well built. Above and below
this, are bar claims on Prickly Pear creek
worked more or less since 1862. Or
this gulch were the frst-discoyered mines
in the present Territory of Montana-ever
before the mines at Bannack
Twelve miles below jefferson, we come II
the present county seat of Jefferson county
Montana, about the size of Jefferson, pre-
senting the same appearance OF half-tinish
ed and empty cabins. tits in more livel.
e place, rs it naturally would be, with tn
= Recorders Office. found the Recorde
d absent, as am told he is most of the tim
n the duties being performed by Mr.. Aker
c man, deputy, and very much of gentle
e man when once you get acquainted wit
II him, though quite distant on first acquain
g tance. Mr.. Merrill, the Recorder, was ab
a sent at Bannack, looking after his chai
l. which he fears may slide from under hin
r From half q mile below Montana to Beave
| Town, on Prickly Pear are several bal
le which have paid as high as twenty FIVE do
at lars per day to the hand, and doubtless th
80 main gulch is rich, but no effort has bee
rs vet made to open it. 1t is claimed fro
is head to foot, but very few Of the clai
lie holders ever expect to work them, but
sell them some time during the summer
le parties with more energy and money.
at will cost some ST. 900 to open claim
r. this gulch, but when once opened, will,
Id think, prove rich. :,
IN Some two miles west Of here, is d
he gulch, which prospects extremely well, al
tn Inc dirt pays $25 to the load, and not ON I
/ ! bed rock. 'This-the dry guloh-I coensid
"a the richest in the vicinity, as the dirt
'er has to be hauled only two miles. -,
ad Last Chance gulch-the town is call
he Helena-is about six miles due west fre
of here, though it is some eight miles by
cr- road. This is the centre of the prese
l Prickly Pear excitement, and consists,
the reality; of four gulches, three OF VIII wi,
nv, merge in one-Last Chance. About hal
the mile from this is separate and distil
ne. puIch-a dry one-quitc rich, though
ner dirt must be hauled about q mile to wat
.xt, Grizzly gulch, a tributary to Last Chan
hat is considered the richest, and it is on
ely .hat claims are selling at such exhorbit
der nriees MS YOU hear IN Virginia. Rept
the come in to-day that $l3 900 was offered
eek, two claims on that gulch yesterday and
sed fused-a pair of fools | pronounce the
fter None of the gulches will, think, prove
red rich as Alder creek. Notwithstanding
till this. the mines are so extensive that Ia
,eer am cunts Of gold will be taken ont dul
the the present season, and if claims could
ther bought at reasonable figures, would pl
and remunerativa.
title Twenty-Five miles north Of Last Cha
nths we come to Pagan or Pilgrim gulch, VI
two is attracting considerable attention.
the this is also Silver creek, pronounced $
un- diggings" by those who have visited
Taken all together, this section must
for the richest mining section of the W
and Territory. !, Helena, in Last Chance g
it, will doubtless be business centre o
suf6- mean Importance. 1t already has SON
' all houses completed, and as many more
uccd n1enccd. Had they plenty of water,
large is no question but it would be very Pre-