The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-10-13
BANNACK LETTER.
.--.- BANNACK. Oct. Sth 'Rl


EDITOR Posi-: In former articles we
have given you detailed account of
the progress of mining affairs of Beaver
head county, and that progress has sur
passed all we anticipated year ago.
Then, Bannack was pronounced dead,
and beyond resuscitation but such
could not long be her fate, when such
untold treasures were locked up in her
hillsides and gulches. Industry and
perseverance would unearth those hid
den treasures, and prove to the world
that " rich returns were awaiting their
labors. 1t is true that during last fall
and the past spring things looked dull,
and citizens were discouraged, but the
men were in the East who would bring
about measures for the development of
our rich mines. When our: people were
in your city on business, they were ridi-
culed, and many times day the ques-
ton would be put, viz: You're from
Bdnndck, / believer Yes" "Well,
Bannack is dead. How many people
are there nowY One would saw, :"
was over at Bannack not long ago, and
saw but one man in the street, two or
three lousy looking fellows lying about
Hurly's saloon, and on Sunday one dog
fight? And so on, Gd intnit1m.
Well, how do we stand to-day? The
st. Louis company are smelling fifteen
tons of ore per day at Rattlesnake !;
Prof. Eaton's blasting furnace is about
ready for full operation the Butterfeld
mill is making good weekly returns /;
the Bannack Ditch and Mining Company
are taking out over thousand dollars
per week; Messrs. Kirby & Clarke will
have the largest mill in the Territory
running in few weeks; and hundreds
of tons of rich gold ore ready, besides
furnaces which will be put up next year.
The Duran Company are erecting fur
mace, and have q 24-stamp mill on the
ground ready for use. if their ores re-
quire it. The miners in the gulches
here, and at Horse Prairie, have
been doing well, and Professor
McComb has powerful hydraulic
which he has now tested and will
set to work at Horse Prairie at once.
Large quantities of dust are also begin
ming to come in from the Salmon river
mines. Last spring we had but two lit
tie shops; now there are three wholesale
and retail stores, and five retail, besides
three or four saloons, several boarding
houses, hotels, etc, etc. Smith L. Grea-
ter are daily enlarging their stock OF clo-
thing, drugs and groceries, and have Just
finished one of the best fre-proof cellars
in the Territory. Rockfellow has an i'm.
mense stock of groceries, and is probably
sellings as much at Bannack as in Vir
ginia- Ameda Bassette has perhaps the
largest stock of clothing in town. He
has just received new stock from Tootle
Il Leach s extensive stock of clothing and
dry goods. He refers his friends and
customers to that house, as having the
largest and best stock of goods in the
Territory, and as cheap as any other.
To sum up, mining and mercantile af
fairs, labor and capital, are all in heal
thy and prosperous condition. Every,
body can get work at good wages. capi
tai can find good investments, and mer
chants ready sale for their goods. Now
we will close this article by inviting
treighters of goods of all kinds to give
us call, and we promise to do as well
by them as they can do elsewhere.
..- ..... S. F. d.