American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-03-29

y Montana is composed of mountains AM
It elevated plains, which are woodless prai
rles and sheltered valleys. The climat
7 is dry and healthful; there is but it'll,
e dew In the plains; but the whole region
is abundantly watercd by unfailinl
streams flowing from the mountains
, Along the banks Of the streams, cotton
wood and other light timber is found, and
the mountain sides and spurs are covered
with heavy growths of pine, frs, etc.
The soil is very fertile on the plains an |
VaIlys. Three hundred bushels of pota-
toes have been raised on an acre. Veg.
etables of all kinds grow readily, and of
immense size; and wheat promises to do
well. The winters are mild; the ground
continues open sometimes until January;
and in the valleys cattle are turned out
to grass in the fall, kept out all the win.
ter and found fat for killing in the spring.
Cattle raising is highly profitable; veg.
e'ables are cheaper than in New York;
aud grain will grow in large crops as
soon as more grist mills are set up. At
present there is but one in the territory.
MINES AND MINING.
Mining is, however, the chief business
OF Montana. We have seen some very
rich specimens Of gold, silver and copper
ores; iron and coal are known TO exist.
but have not yet been developed The
silver deposits are immensely rich Sd
yer lodes are found in all the western
half of the territory, and in their vicinity
there is but little gold.
The first gold digging was begun in
1862, In July, 1868, gold was found in
Alder Gulch. A place of ten thousand
people sPrang up here in a year, called
Virginia City, and ten million dollars
worth of gold was produced in this spot |
he first year. During the winter Of 6
864-5 gold discoveries were made along !
he eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. e
ne hundred and twenty miles north of t
'irginia City, in very rich gulch called v
Last Chance" and here sprang up the Il
lty OF Helena, which has now eight a
thousand people.
East OF the Missouri river, during the
sst summer, discoveries were made at RI
Gulch, where Diamond CITY. ;.
ow containing four thousand inhabitants. q
as since gathered. a
Gold lodes occur everywhere in con, o
ection with Gulch dggings. One of the
est gold lode mining districts is on the A
ladson river, in what is called Hot d
prlng district. There are already three OIL
lariz mills set up there. W
The ores Of Montana are reported bv y
lentltc men to be much richer than "A
ose OF California. Those of California :"
ED an average OF twenty dollars per 'h
n. The great majority of the lodes of 10
ontana promise an average of more ga
an four times the above, and a few lodes Ia
hlblt an astonishing richness. There Ia
few sulPhurets of iron and copper, oil
FRYING gold. in Montana, such as gu
owe so troublesome in Colorado. This WI
owing TO the fact that the formation is az
open and perforated by water, that the Fl
Ipburets have been decomposed. For
same reason miners in Montana are RI
t troubled with water, and are saved ch
heavy expense Of pumping. III =.
The silver ores are in the form of argen. an
erous gaiena, which must be smelted AZ foI
western lead ores are, and the silver l Ba
'arated from the lead by cupellation. c t
is process is simple and easy. The gu