The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-05-29
A WORD TO STRANGERS.


With the spring immigration come
many to Montana who make their first
advent in a mining country. They are
some of them monied, some are mer-
chants, many have only their labor sor
capital but all have great expecta-
tions." They are excited by the tales
of fabulous wealth amassed here in a
short time buoyed up by the sight OF
huge bricks, great nuggets and splendid
specimens, and for a time exist in
sensational, unnatural and unwhole~
some atmosphere, by which realities are
sadly distorted. To all new comers we
say ego steady" You who are poor, go
to work by the day, in gulch or mine, or
store, or wherever you can find it. La
Dor is no disgrace IN Montana. In your
wooden shirt and gum boots, other things
being equal, you are a peer to the proud
est. Be economical. You may earn $5
or SO or 81 per day in gold +; more than
a weeks wages in the States but don't
squander it foolishly, There is not one
pilgrim" in fifty but that sees hard
times the first winter. First, because
they have exaggerated ideas, are too de
sirous of making "big strike y refuse
or neglect to work during the summer;
rambling around, leaving good pay for
every new excitement, and exhaust their
means instead of increasing. Too many
who do make money yield to the allure
ments of the gambling table or the sa-
loon, and are dead broke at the com
mencement of the long winter You
can make more money here than in the
States; you have to contend strongly
against the tendency it creates for ex-
travagarce and dissipation. Go to work
the first season. You have much to
learn before you are fitted for pros
pectors or judging of the value of mines.
You can only gain practical mining
knowledge by experience in the mines
If you strike out for an operator you
will get operated out of your money,
and quickly land at the bottom of the
grade with the disagreeable impression
that you have made a fool of yourself
To those having capital to invest in
quartz mines, we say, Develop" Even
if you have a mill here; If your compa-
ny is anxiously awaiting dividends; if
you have the best surface indications in
the country, do not move a pound of
your machinery from Helena, or other
convenient point, until you have devel-
oped your property. The erection
of mills on undevelOped and
supposed . to be leads has well
nigh ruined the Territory. 1t is
most consummate folly to erect a mill
before assured by at least 75 or 100 feet
/, of development that you have lead OF
r good crevice, ores susceptible of reduc-
I tion and yielding enough per ton tojus.
tify milling. Ten thousand dollars ex-
pended in developing is better for the
company and for the Territory than
e 100000 spent prematurely for machin-
| cry, transportation and the erection of a
: mill. Preliminary development is fifty
: to seventy-five per cent. cheaper than
i when made to supply a mill. Every
1 consideration requires it every practi-
cal miner will advise duty to your,
s selves and Montana demands it. De
: velop first if you have to sell your mil
e at twenty per cent. on cost to raise the
4 funds. Newcomers may not be able tc
g see the force of these counsels, but we
s repeat to the poor man, work and
!, save :" to the rich, develop and pros
d per-" if you would bless tie day you Sc
) foot in Montana.
# One of the principal causes of the sue
d cess of the California Democracy last
= fall was the Eight Hoar League combi-
r nations of the Democrats, and the gull
lible drift of Republicans. The Demo-
$ cratic Governor, Haight, afterwards
}. voted, at one of the Capital commission
ers. to reduce the wages of labores one
' fifth. The result was a strike; armed
: mobs patrolling the streets, forbiddine
! any laborers to accept the terms ! finally
heavy importation of Eastern labor
r ers-the Leagues throw up the sponge
r thousands are in penury who before haS
!, good employment, and those leaders VIII
q hood winked them will find the entir'
Q tide turned against them this autumn.