The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-09-22
FAOm HELENA TO VIRGUNua nu
HORSEBACK. VN

| HVhSEBACK.
EDITOR Posi-: Intruding with tb
ABOVE caption on your sanctity, hardl
promises perusal of this, as the roa
pe'"een the two principal cities of Nor
'ana is familiar to most of your reader
oy this time. I propose not to wear
you with lengthy description of tn
road, which, thanks to the energy of M,
A. M. Parsons, is now in better condi
ton than since it's first suryev bpt w;l
on'y mention places of note along tn,
route.
"A trip on horseback to Virginia il
something to look back upon in afte
iife' The glorious, ever-changing scenery
1rom extensive plains to narrow canons
with immense boulders fantasticall,
plleo up; the clear, cold, running noun
tain streams, is always source of hapni
ness to the admirer of nature. and 80
we start, and two hours ride lands us in
tricky Pear City, at the door of mine
most Hill, who keeps first class house
ana knows how to administer to the
wants of the weary traveller. Pricklv
Pear City formerly known as Montana
Clty) is the county seat of Jefferson
county, and presents more animated
appearance than it did six months ago.
owing to the resumption of bar mining.
Ihe mines were discovered in the latter
part OF July, 1862; but probably owing
10 their not coming up to the too san.
gulne expectations of the discoverers
were not thoroughly worked; but are at
present managed with fair results nros-
pectlng from one to four cents to the
pan. The naodus operand; adonted ia
1ound-sluicing, the creek (Prickly Pear
anord1ng plenty of water and ample fall
10 conduct the bitches to the highest
Dars. AS yet, only German bar, imme-
dlately above the city, is yielding up it's
yellow treasure but some other bars are
soon to be in working order. The con-
sequence OF the resumption of this bar
mining is, that the town now boasts of
TWO hotels, one butcher-shop, one black
smith-shop and two stores-not to for.
get whisky. of which very fair article
may be had in several places, in quanti-
lies to suit purchasers. Bidding this
village-beg pardon, "city >
we mean-good bye, we ascend Pricklv
eear valley, and soon find ourselves at
Jefferson city, which boasts of a. United
states post-office, under the superinten- |
lence of an obliging postmaster. who
lso presides over the festive boards of a |
.ood hotel table at the What Cheer.
louse. Jefferson City, with many of
ler sister towns, has worked her own
downfall by building too fast, and the
resent population could not fill one
nlrd OF the houses which now flank the
road Main street. But this really beau.
lful town-site may yet TEEN with it's
undreds of occupied houses. AS vet
title has been done in the shape of quartz
inning, except in the way of prospect
1g and as quartz indications abound
I This vicinity, many were the discove-
les made; but there it stopped, owing
the inability of the owners to devei,
pc their discoveries. Anew York com
any, under the superintendent of DIR.
ussell, are at work on the Gregory lode
40 probably will bring a mill to their
dge next spring, should the quality and
aantity of the ore Justify them.
Again we ascend the Prickly Pear val
y over the summit, where we enjoy a .
ew of one of those beautiful LANDSCAPES
ny to be seen in mountain country
builder valley. improvements are also
owing themselves here. Discoveries
I'd stakes indicate the location of many $
lartz ledges but, as yet, no returns !.
we been made to the lucky owners of
I'D and silver lodes, both of which are
lmerous. Professor Hodge has now.
ar Barclays rancho, one "Scotcb
arth, and a two horsepower engine,
d is sinking on several lodges but d
though the ores he takes from different
lges prospect satisfactorily they are not :
IND IN sufficient quantities to pay for =
elr working. 1t would be invidious to y
ention few of the (what are termed) q
St Lodges, without naming them all. =
llch want of space prohibits but as \
IN as one or more of those that are +
ing worked upon now are paying, we q
all take particular pleasure in recur- ~ =,
G to them.
Here we leave the Boulder quartz dis e.
ct, and cross the fertile and beautiful =.
ley OF the Big Boulder, surmount the w "
ulder divide and descend into White h.
|! Deer valley, whence we intend II
ing trip to the west, into section ss
ountry where but few hardy prospec ST ST
and enterprising miners have wended aMv M
If way, enjoying the euphonious ~
ne of Pipestone Of this in INV =.
b. hs
iEXICo is one of the richest mineral er
ring countries on the globe, but owing Ju
he sad conflicts that have during the es
half century devastated her nrov- tn