The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-10-06
BANNACK LETTER.
a BANNAcK, Oct. Cd, 66.

EDITOR Posi-: Having noticed the
most important companies and mining
operations in this and Blue Wing dis
tricts, we will now continue our notice
OF mining affairs in Rattlesnake Dis
trict. The distance from Bannack to
Montana city is about fifteen miles: the
road is a good one, of easy grades, and
will soon be unsurpassed by any road in
the Territory. A good deal of work has
been done in grading by voluntary sub
scrlptlons, and more is being done by
the enterprising people and companies
OF Montana city. 1t is credit to Bea
yer Head county that the road is free
one, especially when every other part OF
the Territory is ooerlapped with toll
roads, bridges and ferries. The citizens
OF Montana city have also made six
miles OF good road to the Virginia road
making it the best route for coaches and
treighters between Bannack and that
place. Nor is this all, the roads leading
to thevarious leads now being worked are
graded and in fine condition. Montana
city is situated just below the mouth OF
the canyon, on the south bank of Rat.
tlesnake, one of the purest streams OF
water in the world. Nature has made
tins location expressly for town site
for great city; and for advantages and
variety OF delightful scenery, it is un.
surpassed. No one can visit the place
without being impressed with the idea
that not many years hence, great and
wealthy city will be built on this.site,
especially after visiting the rich leads OF
silver ore that abound on every hillside
Tor several miles square on the north
side OF the creek. Perhaps the richest
OF these is the Legal Tender, discovered
by A. M. Esler, now superintendent OF
the Esler and Bender company. Mr.Es,
ler is sinking on this lead, aud is down
over one hundred feet. The ore is a ga
lena, and the average assay in silver is
5000 to the ton. Mr.. Esler has con.
tract with the st. Louis Montana Min
ing Company to smelt 200 tons of the
ore, which is now being worked at the
rate OF fifteen tons per day. The ore is
all ready, and over 100 tons at the fur.
mace. About sixty men are being en-
Hoyed by this company besides those
ming for Mr. Esler. .7 .~...
Frof. Augustus Styles, superintendent
OF the st. Louis company; began about
the middle of July to put up the building
over his furnaces. Almost impassable
difficulties met him at the outset. in the
way OF suitable rock, sand, brick. etc. but
he has been remarkably successful in all
his undertakings. His building is pro.
badly l20 by so feet, besides another
building about half as large, for offices.
The apparatus consists of blast, eupelling
and roasting furnaces, scotch hearths and
portable engine. The whole is upon the
frlperg plan, by which, in Germany
Where the-mines are several thousand feet
deep ores worth four dollars to the ton
give profitable returns. Now, we are con.
hdent OF the success of these operations,
that Mr.. Esler will have handsome
return for his company, and the st. Louis
Company will make large profit above
expenses. Mr.. Esler will have over
one hundred tons of lead after the silver
has been cupelled, which will certainly
pay all the expenses; now any one can
calculate the profit. The result will as.
tonish the world. Besides the ore from
the Legal Tender, the company is work
ing the Stapleton lode, which is Welding
any amount of rich ore from the surface
down. The shaft is now about thirty
feet deep, and the vein of ore about five
feet in width. As. .'.a -
There are score or more of other leads
just as good, no doubt, as the Legal Ten
der and Stapleton, if they were opened.
The White Cloud, Dictator, New World,
Banner, Prize, Godfrey and others would
furnish ores by hundreds of cords. if
worked. Now we see no good reason
why score of furnaces are not now in
full blast, instead of one. If company
means to do anything, why spend hun
dred thousand dollars and lose two or
three years labor and accomplish moth.
ing. If anything is to be done, let it be
pushed forward at once, and the test will
be the sooner made up and with less cost.
From this time the course of Montana
City is upward and onward. Two years
ago, only a few laborious and care worn
prospectors might he seen here and
there with pick and shovel; walking over
the hills, some of them poor indeed, liv-
ing in mere novels and caves, but they
had faith in the country, and we trust,
yes, we believe that their fondest homes
and fanciful dreams will yet be more than
realized. .-.. ~
Montana now has her stores and shops,
boarding and public houses, and the
weary traveller can find good "round
meals for himself and horse at Frank
Esler's whose lady knows how to make
the wayfaring man feel at home. In
passing that way give them call, visit
Professor Styles furnaces and the leads.
and you will find all that we have writ
ten is the truth, the natural and only
conclusion. "a, SID
P. .STNo Posi- came tonight. 1t is
reported that it fell out by the wayside.
Why not put the package in the mail
bag?
There will be great mining camp on
Salmon river; The diggings are on Ma
pies creek. The gold is fine. and thou
sands of dollars are Being laid ont for
goods in Bannack every week. ss' ifi
Z Smith Il Greater and Captain Wall
are doing well. They took out over
81 300 last week in Dry Catch, half
mile west of Bannack, and their ground
is improving. Prof. Eaton is about
ready to start his furnace. Clark g.
Kirby have their mill inclosed, and are