The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-12-28
Correspondence OF The Cecil Wig
Letter from Montana Territory
HELENA, NJ. TT, Dec. 9th. 1865.

EnlIoR CECIL WING Since my last we
have been experiencing the first touch of
Winter. Gu the night of Nov. 9th and
morning Of the 2sth snow fell TO the depth
OF about l. inches, making tip.top slo;ghing.
1t laid but Il few days, when g warm rain
came and took il all away. BY the way,
rain is a thing we seldom &c. in this high
latitude Helena being All miles nearer the
sky than New York City. During the fall
months, and this far in December. The wealth.
Ell has averaged warmer here thnn it usually
does in Pennsylvania and Maryland; men
wear their linen coats up to about Nov.
18th. All shallow und suriice mining, pluc.
ing. &c, 8 abandoned until spring; but
deep diggings, drifting, and quartz mill op.
erations are carried on oil Winter.
There i. one quartz mill and lead within
four miles OF Helena, that gives employ.
ment ~ four hundred men the year round
They pay ordinary iaboring men. for eight
months in the year, 5000 per mouth and
board-tho other four lonlhs, $50.
IN greenbacks. The concern is known MS
the "Whitlatch Union Mining Company"
1t is very prosperous corporation, and was
sold few months ago for quarter of
million dollars-cash down son of Sem.
tor Trumbul, of lllinois-a young man Of
% to 26 years, being the purchaser Of one.
enough for thousand mills of the capacity
Of the "htlatch Union. One Of these days,
when capitalists get tired of gambling in
ancy stocks, the Territory will contain the
thousand mills. Already 1t is known that
!G are IN course Of construction, and will
be here III operation next year.
There is literally no end to the gold and
silver quartz leads in Montana. 4 section
81 country one hundred miles from here,
called the Flint Creek district, silver
luartz is lying over the ground loose, and in
as large quantities lis ever iron ore was
found on iron HILL. But it takes time and
heavy outlay OF money to gather up these
ores, and reduce them to the form of cir
cplatng medium.
There is q pleasure in doing business in
rienced in any other especially is this the
case in the placer camps. At night, tn
miner has the product of his days labor in
his purse not in the shape Of promise to
pay. or Of something that will sometime
@eu tor money, but the real mouey ITSELF
This makes The man liberal. and it is to be
regretted, often prodigal. have seen them
this fall pay Is cents for an spp!e Or peach
without knowing or caring what it cost him.
\ miner usually goes into store, orders
what h" wants, ha"ds yon his purse to weigh
ont your pay, without asking the price. bnt
while. they are liberal, generous, and conhd
ing, NO betde ~ st0rcAsepo who is IN.
lucky enough to be accidentally caught tax.
Ing doDr weight better for him had il
been had he never entered mining camp.
In my opinion, any hardy, euterprsing
nan. who can keep set of books, is affable
aud OF agrecaule manners -. rad nhn car
trundle whcelharrow, break or blast rock
and some OF it is very hard handle pick
and spade, whack bulls, nov Oh reap; and
who can run vivid der machine" generally.
and keep ny his end Of the row upder all
difficulties and who will keep out of sa
looms, and not fight tho tiger, or buck at
Monte or Faro, can do we'll in this country.
But If man possesses any one or two of
these accomplishments, think he had bet
ter stay away from tho Rocky Mountains.
there has recently been great speculation
and advance OF prices of all staple articles
Of trade in our market. Sugar has gone ur.
from 500 per 100 lbs 10 $500. Coffss
from $500 to $500. Blasting powder
from $1,000 to $4,000 per beg. Bacon has
risen from $500 to $4,000 per 100 lbs -
Whisky, the most staple of all, has not al.
vanced--in ono seuse its tendency is down
ward.
There have not been many large fortunes
yet made in Helena at merchandising. One
notable Instance of success. however, | |
must mention. A broad, sboulderej, double. |
breasted, hnge.pawed Dutch grocer, started |
business two aud half years ago, on a !
capital Of two thousand dollars. Last week |
| saw him get into the "Orcrland Coach "
for the States, with eighty pounds of gold |
dust strapped to his person. Besides this. |
he leaves behind him, good stone store. |
house filled with goods, aud paying bust.
ness going on during his absance. ZEN.