Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-02
Montana.

Montana.
his territory contaies about one hun
dred and Sixty thousand square miles that is
20 say, 1t is nearly iour times big the
State of New York. 1t is bounded on the
west by Idaho, on the south and east by D4-
cotah, and the north by the British poses
sIonS. But what Is the use of mentioning
boundaries which are themselves unknown to
the average reader, who demands in turn,
w 1ere IL Idaho Where is Dacotah 10
those VINO studied geography twenty years
ago, i will perhaps be satisfactory TO say
that if YOU journey north from Montana, you
come into British America ; and if you cross
the territory from to vest you cross the
Rocky Mountains, which run through the wes-
tern haf.
Montana is a wonderful instance of the
American faculty for colonzing. In 1861,
wnen The late war brC ke out, the vast and reg
uisrly organized territory now known as Mon
tan4 was u known land. |; very tn My
peopei with Iudians aud ii had been visited by
few trappers and missionaries. In 1862, while
our armies were fighting on the Peninsula, ira
ces of gold were discovered in Montana, and
fortuue-seekerS began to turn their steps that
Wy. In 1865, the territory had already thirty
thousand people, and contained three consdera-
ole towns-Vlrginia Cay, with ten thousand
and Diamond City, with four thousand Also,
it had legislature, code OF avs, and courts
OF justice.
One OF the most surprising geographical
facts about Montana Is that II Is reached by
steam BOAT rom 81. Lewis. Inst is 10 say, the
river system of The Great " est is on 81 vast
a scale that travellers and freight are now trans
ported by steamboat, and without tranship-
ment, from St. Louis TO Fort Benton, in the
heart of Montana. The result is that irelg ght,
10 the proper season of navigation may be go1
10 Montana quicker than to Denver City
No doubt TINS cheap mode of communica-
;on VII! be Of vast Importance 10 the new terri
tory.
We are Informed that light draugnt ats are
now building a. Louisville especially tor the
Montana trade. These viii supersede the boa,s
now used, which are sometimes delayed the
upper waters and the day will come when
ort Benton, three thousand miles inland from
ST. Louis, will be reached By steamboat from
New Orleans, which will make a river course
Of four thousand TWO hundred miles.
The river voyage from St Louis to Fort Ben
ton Is now made in twenty eight days and
freigh, is carried at the rate of ten cents per
pound.
Montana is composed of mountains, elevated
plains, which are woodless prairies, and shelter
ed valleys. The climate is dry and heaithfu
there Is but little dew in the plains but the
whole region IS abundantly watered by unfailing
streams flowing from the mountains. L. is
betg,r supplied with water than any mining re-
glon in tbs country.
Along the banks of the streams, cottonwood
and other hight timber are found, and the noun
tam sides ana spurs covered with heavy
growths of pine, frs &c. The territory lacks
nard wood.
TIE soil is very fertile on the plains and
valleys. Three hundred bushels of poto-
toes have been raised on an acre. The
hi4 er p.slnS, however, require irTigat tiOn,
which Is easily done by means OF the numerous
streams. Vegetables of ali kinds grow readily,
nd Of immt MS siza and wheat promises to 90
we'll
The winters are mild the ground continues
open sometimes until January AID in the val
ieys the cattle are turned out TO grass in the
all, kept out without hay or other food than
grass ali winter and found fat for killing IN the
spring. Moulana promises therefore to be one
Of the finest grazing countries in the world.
The grass Is very nutritious. One gentleman
tells US that his train of oxen, which came in
the fail OF the year worn out, were turned out
10 grass sli winter, and were fat beeves in the
spring.
1t is not surprising ttat, with so favorable
climate and sell, farming already engages
the attention of considerable numbers. Cattle
raising Is highly profitable vegetables are
cheaper than in New York and grain viii be
grown II large crops soon more gri,t mills
are set up. Al present there is Dat one 10 the
territory
Mining Is, however, the chief business in
Montana We have seen some very rich spec
linens, OF gold, silver and copper ores iron
and coal known TO exist, but have not yet
b.en developed. The silver deposits are i'm
inensely rich.
The first gold digging was begun in Bannock,
in 1862. In July, 1868, gold was found in
Alder Guch, which is probably the richest
.'guich' in the world of it's size. A place of
ten thousand people sprung up mere in year,
called Virginia City, and ten million dollars
worth of gold produced in this spot the
me first year.
During the winter of 1861, gold discover
les made along the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains, one hundred and twenty
miles norlh OF Virginia City, in very rch
gulch called LAST Chance and here sprang
up the city of Helena, which has now eight
Thousand people. Other profitable gulcDes
are there.
The gold discoveries next extended across the
mountains, 20 the headwaters OF the Blackfoot,
where some important deposits have been
opened. East OF the Missouri river, during
last summer, discoveries were made al COn1eU-
crate Gulch, where Diamond City, now con-
tanning four thousand inhabitants, has since
gathered. 1t is reported that the deposits there
are of great richness.
Gold iodes occur everywhere in connection
with guch diggings One of the best gold
Iode-mlnipg districts is on the Madison river,
in what is called Hot Spring district. There
are already three quartz mills set up there, the
largest of which is the New York and Montana
Mining and Discovery Company's. Summit
district at the head of Alder Gulch, and the
region above the town of Helena, are also rich
gold mining districts.
Inc ores OF Montana are reported by scen-
| titc men to be much richer than those of CAL
| fornia. Those of California yield an average
of twenty dollars per ton. The great ma
jority of the lodes of Montana, promise an
average of more than four times the above
amount, and few lodes exhibit an astonishing
richness.
There are few sulphurets OF iron and copper,
| carrying gold in Montana, such as prove so
| troublesome in Colorado. This is owing to
the fact that the formation is SO open and per-