The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-10-12

report was wholly gratuitous, this Ter
ritory not being within the limits of his
field, but this did not materially detract |
from the pernicious effect the meagre-
ness of his report produced. We have
good reasons for believing that the re
ports of each for 1867 will be more Ella
borate, reliable and favorable. Mr..
Browne sent here as his deputy, DIR.
Blatchley, "a practical, experienced miner,
possessed of fine scientific attainments,
a man of excellent sense, and who, dur
ing the four or i've weeks he was in the
Territory was industrious and persistent
in acquiring information. On his de-
parture, he deputized a gentleman resi-
dent in the Territory TO complete the
report he had commenced. This gentle
man, we are informed, for want of sutii-
cient time, did not furnish any addition
al statistics, but in so far as DIR. Blatch-
leys report extends, it will coubtless be
accurate. Mr. Taylor has not visited
Montana this year. The report of his
deputy, Prof Keyes, who has had the
assistance of Mr.. Bangford, and that of
many af the most competent and reliable
men in the Territory, has been forward
/ ed. 1t is the most elaborate, and inter
esting history of the mineral and agri-
cultural resources of this region ever
prepared. OF it's correctness we have
no assurance, but the fact that the
gentlemen furnishing the statistics are
residents, fully competent to prepare it
and thoroughly acquainted with the
subject under consideration. Recog-
nizing the immense influence exerted by
these reports, both in legislative and
| financial circles and heartily interested
il the welfare of Montana, we antici-
pate a materially different and more
favorable consideration at the hands oi
the compilers from that which ciIarac-
terized last years report,and attributing
their errors to no intent to derogate
from the real merits of the Territory as a
mining region, we are inclined to let the
past go, and look more hopefully to the
future.
4 Since writing the above,we have kind
ly been furnished with the following
synopsis of the report of w. ). Keyes
NJ. E., on the mineral resources of the
Territory of Montana, addressed to j
w. Taylor, United States Commissioner
for the Collector OF Mining Statistics il
the districts east of the Rocky Noun.
tains. The entire report covers 13;
pages of legal cap paper.
1. Sketch of Territorial limits.
2. History of the explorations Of the Ter
ritory up to the discovery of gold on Gol'
Creek.
3. Area of counties, with relative proper
portion of meadow, arabic lands, etc.
4. Account of discovery of gold by Fran
co.'s Finlay, called "Benetsee," and arrival il
1862 of miners from Pixies Peak
5. Population of Montana.
8. Physical geography of the Territory, in
cluding some account OF the mountains, ,grea
, basins, rivers and lakes.
Z. Sketch of che Geology.
s. Localities of fossils.
8. Mining regions.
10. Account of the principal stampedes.
IL. Distribution of the various metals anC
, minerals.
-. Description of the three chief minin,
centres, Bannack, Virginia and Helena, in
cluding some account of the neighboriDl
gulches.
l3. Bannack laws relating TO the record
tenure, etc, o. quartz claims.
: IA. Specimens of regulations governing
placer claims; laws of Fairweather district.
Is. Placers west Of main ridge.
} I6' Gold product of Montana.
a IL. Lode mining.
Is. Descriptions of lodes, furnaces, etc. ,etc
: exemplifying the present status of the minin
industry of the Territory.
10. Copper districts.
1 20. Coal districts.
: 81. Minor resources; iron, graphit marble:
sandstones, ETC., etc.
%. Costs of mining, milling and smelling
%. Conclusion, resume, prospects, etc.