, 1865-12-22
MONTANA oUARTz MINES.

MONTANA QUARTZ MINES
The following article, copied from the Mon
taha Post, goes to show that the placer diggings
in that locality are already pretty well worked
out; and that in future the main dependence
will be upon the development of quartz ledges,
in which the country is believed to beparticu-
larly rich. What is here said of Montana, is
equally true of Idaho. In both these districts
placer mining may be kept up for years, but the
cream is gone, and quartz for the future must
be the great interest. 1t is fortunate that just
now capital at the East is seeking investment,
and that any amount of means can be had for
the development of our quartz interests Look
ing to the early exhaustion of the pldeers, the
Post says:
The time is now close at hand when mining
in this Territory will change its character. Al
though milions-much greater amounts than
have been yet exhumed-will continue to be
taken from the pacers already discovered, and
new placer fields will be developed, still, tho
time is close at hand when Montana must he
more distinguished for her production of the
precious metals FROM leads than from placer
digHings. Our quartz veins are unriValed in
wealth and it is believed by old quartz opera
tOrs-men who have had experience in ali the
old helds-that in extent and number of distinct
ledges, Montana surpasses any other part of the
world. Our future wealth and greatness are
dependent upon quartz. The inexhaustibility
Of these veins being unquestioned, this future
must be an uninterrupted career of prosperity
Every mill hereafter erected will be the precur-
sor OF others. Speculative feeling is now un-
timed and unnecessary. The gold and silver
bars will soon pouI forth into the commercial
arteries, disarming distrust aud attracting capi-
italistS from Europe as well AZ from the Eastern
States. These evidences will settle the ques-
ton. Capital, ever shy and cautious in the
midst of uncertainties, is bold and active when
results may be relied upon. We now feel safe
in asserting that the wealth of Montana in
quartz, silver and gold, is n fact esta blished.
Next spring and summer, the number of mills
that will be put In operation will make placer
mining subordinate.
Gold leads now attract the most attention
but silver certainly will receive a fair share of
public notice, and make its importance felt
among home and foreign operators. We have
before us specimens of silver from the leads on
RRttlesnske Creek. These leads are located on
spur of the Bald Mountain Range, about fifteen
miles from BAnnack City. They have been
thoroughly tested, practically and scientifically,
by those ndefttigable prospectors and enter
Prising citizens Colonel Mclean Professor Ea-
ton, DR.. Hopkins and Ned Purple. Their exam
nations have resulted in proving that those
leads are among the richest ever discovered in
America. The specimens alluded to were OBJ
tsined by smelling in a simple adobe furnace.
The results were so very satisfactory-iu fact,
far exceeding the most sanguine expectations
that several companies were INN ediattly organ
lied, and ma chinery is now on the way Mills
will be put in operation in " RattlesnEke Dis
trct early in the spring.
But we have other very important silver dis
cOveries cont EnOus, in what is kntlwn as the
Blue Wing District" These leads are situated
on the divide between the waters of the Rattle
snake and GrHsshOpper Greeks. They are of
great extent, aud, like those Of the Rattle
snake District, as actual assays have demon
stTated, will return fortunes to those who will
undertake their development In these leads
also, the gentlemen named, with many Others.
both here and in the East, have interested them
selves. Rock from them has been tested in the
adobe or common mud furnace improvis4S by
Prof. Eaton md Or. Hopkins. and the sneltiug,
as in tie rock from the Rattlesusks leads, vas
easy Of Acco nplishment.
Here, in these two Districts alone we Have
scores of Leads which have been tested and
proved to BE- equal to some of the best ltdges of
Washoe. But then there are the Silver Bow
leads; those argcntiferous leads in the - Hot
Spring District;" the new District discovered
exist in the vicinity Of He!ena-an those being
in localities distant from each other many miles.
and therefore belonging to distinct mineral avs.
tems-tbe distinctly traced edges in all districts
cannot am cunt to lesa than i've huadred, and
may reach thousand and new discoveries are
being made daily.
Now, when we reflect that single ledge NAV
be, and frequently is, almost iur1haustbIe we
may form an adequate idea OF the imnensity of
mining enterprise that is ahead for our Territory
in silver alone. But when the fact is connec-
lively considered thar our gold ledges ouinum.
her our silver hedges our prosperity in she fu-
ture cannot well be over estimated. OuraI.eadv
discovered veins of the precious metals argen.
tferous and aWriferous, combine, perIaps, a
greater number than the united Lodges Of Ne
Yada, Colorado and Idaho. This is certainly A
bold assertion; but we believe i! TO be spbstan-
table from the records of discoveries, IS shown
by the books of record Of the respective coun-
tries.
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Tur \, l.. l.