The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-02-08
MINING MATTERS.
Ten Mile District, Lee Mountain Lode -Dea
wood District. Esmeralda- -The Mexicana.

Ten Mile District, Lee Mountain Lode Dead.
wood District. Esmeraida-- Mexieana-
EDITOR Posr-SiR Some three weeks ago
I wrote you from Quartz Gulch, giving an ac-
count of the recent discovery OF very rich
quarts lode in that vicinity. Since that time
I have visited several other mining districts,
in each of which I made careful examina-
tion of different lodes, the quality Of quartz.
extent of developement, &C., and propose, by
your permission, to lay before your readers
the result of my observations.
Left Helena on the 22nd, ult., in company
with another gentleman, for the head of Ten
Mile Creek, for the purpose of inspecting the
lodes in that section. Arriving at Mr.. Ca
plice's cabin situated about ten miles from
the mouth of the canyon, the genial host ten
dered US the shelter of his roof and the hospi-
taiity of his table, which we gladly accepted.
After a good nights rest we arose early in the
morning and to our astonishment discovered
that snow had fallen during the night to the
depth of two feet or more, and that our pere-
grinations over the mountains would be more
tedious than We had anticipated, however we
drew on our imaginary Seven League Boots,
partook heartily Of good substantial break
fast, and receiving directions from our host
rs to the whereabouts of the nearest we'll de-
loped lode, We set forth ON our wanderings,
purposing to visit the Lee Mountain" lode,
which had been opened near the top of Steep
high mountain of the same name. We found
il very difficult ascending the mountain, ow-
ing to the great depth Of the snow. The gen
tleman with whom was, being considerably
corpulent, or as Nasty would say, ga little ro-
tund about the stomach" /" become so much fa-
tigued when We were halfway to the lead that
he concluded not to 60 any further, and would
there await my return. Your Correspondent
by dint Of perseverance and some profanity
finally succeeded in reaching the ledge. We
stop for a moment to recover our breath. an !
standing at the m, nth of an open cut twenty Y
feet in width, that is driven sixty or seventy
feet into the mountain, we locke with amazr
ment at the monument Of wealth before us at
the end ef the cut. 4 solid vein of eighteen
feet in width, forty feet high, standing directly
in front of us, and beneath our feet the same
vein extending downward, no one knows how
far; its richness increasing with every foot.
The ore Is argentiferous galena. antimony
| and sulphurets, which changes As il goes down,
| the galena and antiinony decreasing and CIV
ing place TO ruby silver. To the left of the
| cut Is a place prepared, and the ore that ha.
| been taken out, about five hundred tons. cord
| ed upon it. We noticed some pieces that We
judged to weigh at least fifteen hundred
pounds.
This lode taken all in all, is the best develop
laJ opdb bast. ~ pfip pp,1t b.fxv bar Ls
country. Mr.. Caplice, the discoverer of j,
| has certainly displayed a great deal of skill
| energy and perseverance in working lis mine
and it would be we'll for the interests OF Mon
| tana ii there were more such thorough Iniuer
in the country.
There will be furnace erected on the lod
| in the Spring, and there can be doubt bu
the owners will realize a handsome fortune
| in a short time. We intended visiting sayera
other lodes IN the vicinity, but the snow bein.
| so deep, deferred doing so until some futur
i time. We now bid kind host good ia,
and started for Dead-wood district. expressl,
to examine in person, the celebrated E.maral /
da lode. which has attracte so much attention
since its discovery.
On our arrival at Clark's toll gate, whicl
is four miles distant from the lode, we fin,
our friend John Thompson, the famed pros
pector who has met with such signal succes
in all his mining operations, and has done 5,
much to develop the quartz interests of IT,
Territory. In company with him set oi
on foot for the E-meralda. where we arrv
in due time, and are surprised to fnd it :,
finely developed.
A cut fourteen feet wide and twenty-sil
feet high, running one hundred and twent'
feet into the mountain, at the end of which
| a shaft ten bv twelve feet is sunk from tn
top sixty-six feet deep, one side Of which i
the west wall rock of the crevice. At tn
bottom OF tine shaft, a DRIFT has been run tn
distance Of fifteen feet through solid quart
and the east wall has not yet been reached
About seven hundred and fifty tons of yer
very rich quartz have been taken out, whic
l. Of = different character from that Of an
other that have seen in the country. 1t
OF a dark brown color, almost black, al
mixed through and through with specks u
crystalzed rock. 1t Is very difficult To find
piece of rock that free gold cannot be see
without glass, however. when found an
prospected, the yiell is very good.
was informed by gentleman who il no
in any way interested in the lode, that he ha
Obtained specimens of the poorest and riche-
qualities IF the quartz and had carefully pro:
pected it for his own satisfaction, the follow
ing being the result The poorest rock
found to yield Mt the rate of S267, per tor
and the richest to go to the fabulous sum q
Sl3, 600, per ton.
! was informed by the owners, that MI
Hendrie will erect n fifteen stamp mill nea
the ledge at .n early day in the spring.
We now retrace our steps and visit tn
Mexicana lode in Quartz Gulch, to see ho,
Mr.. Thompson's last discovery IL getting on
We find a shaft thirty eight feet deep, seye
by ten, an cr.vice by actual measurement
eight feet three inches wide. One ounce o
rock, in which gold could not he seen withou
glass, when pulverized and panned out with
out quicksilver, yielded thirty cents. A grea
deal of the rock shows free gold and does no
contain any base metals. Mr.. Cramer, wh
has charge of the mine, says that Mr.. Thong
son, the discoverer of the lode, is considere
by all who know him, to be the chief o
miners.
We had thought of visiting Blue Clou
before returning, but could not. We mad
inquiries concerning it and was informed tha
the promise for richness had never been better
Mr.. Baker, SO our informant says, is succeed
ing admirably with his mill, and all intereste
in that vicinity were very much encourage
BY his success.
| More anon, MINER.
| HELENA, Feb. 5th. le6s.