The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-06-29
THE SALMON MINES.

I =
period of paralysis. A system stimulated
to undue animation necessarily has a
succeeding period of relaxation and de-
4 preston. Governments, localities, races
subject to this unerring law, and TO them
nothing is more productive of evil than
these unnatural tensions of the vital
energies, or q fictitious season of pros
perity, founded upon anticipations not
warranted by the actual circumstances
of the case. AS balloon. a bubble, or
boiler will endure this tension until the
climax is reached and the collapse come
suddenly and complete, so it will come
in city or mining camp. If, boiler-like,
having substance, it may be restored !;
if bubble-like, there is no regeneration
for scattered suds. There are many
localities in these mountain Territories
in the incipent, advanced or reactionary
stages of speculative initiation. The one
particularly prominent at this time is
the Salmon River mining region. Dis
covered last season, and held but in
moderate estimation by the mass of
those engaged, it flashed up into a
meteoric brilliancy during the winter
months when mining and prospecting
were impracticable, and allured thousands
from good wages and paying diggings to
rush after an igniS fdtuus, evolved from
heated imaginations.r rather than remain
by the steady glow of established camp
fires. When the snow was yet six feet
deep on the Salmon mines. the current
of men was streaming over the ranges
from Montana to Idaho. and joining the
expectant multitude in Nappie's gulch,
who saw beneath each drifted bank of
snow the realization of their dreams
Our cities were depleted, our gulches
abandoned, towns deserted, and fields
untitled. When the snow left the Sal
mon mines and prospecting commenced,
then came back ripple of disapoint-
ment and discomfort then the full flow
of the returning tide broke on Bannack,
Highland and Argenta, and is now eyi-
dencing itself in many familiar faces in
our streets. The Salmon river mines were
over estimated three months ago, now
they are probably under estimated. They
have had the paroxysm, now they are
suffering from paralysis, and many of
those returning at present, are probably
exercising as poor judgement as they
did in going, Alder and Confederate
gulches were pronounced ''bilks" in the
early days of their working, while dis
millions. So it may be with the Salmon
country. Mining is like any other avo-
cation and business in this respect.
Patience and perseverance are required
to overcome great difficulties. BY the
Salmon City Ne,es we learn that at
mining meeting held on the 18th instant,
regulations were adopted requiring work
20 be done four days in each week upon
every claim, to guarantee the title.
Heretofore. by one days work anywhere
in the district, one man could have held
all the claims IN it. The consequence
of the laws as they stood before, was
that three hundred or four hundred men
held all the claims-several thousand
in the Basin, and while half the popu-
lation were idle, the country was lying
undeveloped. Rich quartz has recently
been found, and all are now confident
that better state of affairs will ensue.
We have never believed that the de-
velopements would Justify tithe of the
wild reports of the richness cf that re-
gion, but even should il do that, Salmon
river would become a paying and per
manent camp. The rule holds good
there, as in our own camps, that hasty
opinion and running after big things
leaves miners dead broke in the winter
campaign of the year and of life, while
industry, and presevering labor with
even moderate amount of judgement
will eventually win success and a good
F" home stake"