The Montana post., 1868-12-11
TO our LKGlsL ATORs.

give II favor!
To Our LEGlSLA
That the material prosperity of Mon :
tana depends pre-eminently upon the
successful development and reduction of
our minerals is an evident fact. Our
placers have yielded gold lsvishly. enc
riching the miners and the nation. The
agricultural resources. unlimited, have
kept pace in Development. and the Ter
ritory is demonstrated to be capable of
sustaining. in agricultural products, any
population requisite To the working Of
it's ores. But the gulch placers are
ephemeral sources of wealth, here as
and however well adapted
the Territory is To grazing and agricul-
ture we are dependent largely and pri-
marily upon the Inducements of our
precious minerals 10 secure an influx of
and capital. What Monta-
ma needs, is the systematic. early and
energetic development of it's great bar
placers and quartz leads. There are
many influences that will tend to this
result, some of which may be encour-
aged by wise legislation. others, depend
ent upon the success of those now en-
gagged in working the mines. the public
ity given to the results. and the increase
of facilities for reaching the Territory.
The construction of railroads, i'm
provement of the Missouri and re-open-
ing of the Mullen road. are each pro-
jects To which we look with hopeful ass
surance. The working of such mines
as the onion Whitlatch, which has
yielded nearly half million dollars in
two years, returned net income of
$500. 900 to one company in a year and
half, and paid another its total invests
ment in the mine and machinery in nine
is full of benefcent Influences
The institution of AN Elnigrant Aid Sos
cieiy would be a powerful and desirable
auxiliary, publishing tn the thousands
seeking our shores, and those in the
States who find employment
at beggarly compensation difficult 10
obtain, Territory where the lands are
free and fertile, the hill-sides spreading
a continuous banquet for stock: the
mines, waiting for discovery, develop
ment and ownership; employment at
eq litable prices, and "A climate that.
despite aspersion, is as the life-breath
upon Adams soulless dust compared to
the sickenins, miasma freishted stuff
that our eastern neighbors breathe with
reluctance and die tor doing E.migra~
tion would lessen price of labor, but in.
sure employment for capital waits that
result To enter earnestly upon the field.
IL ia now, in many instances we know
Of, absolutely frozen out by high rates
and the believed Insecurity OF monies
invested under our present laws.
II is an argument in favor of a State
that The laws would not
be subject to annulment. and thus in-
vite investment, but it is the d1ty of
oar Territorial Legislature to signify its
good faith to outside capital by differ
ent spirit than at present evidenced in
the Limitation Law. which the Gover-
nor has wisely recommended be re-
1al 1.l h.f x..A,,1l Ia.
desirable to see them entrusted with
permanent legislation. Another matter
itself strongly to Legislative
consideration the adoption OF some
plan that will encourage the develop
ment OF mines held under the title
given by the quartz law OF this Terri
tory. approved Dec. a6, 1864; and the
passage of an act requiring a larger
amount of work on leads discovered
hereafter before title is granted. and u
certain amount of labor shown thereai-
ter each year TO retain IT, The tower
nor also makes a suggestion on this
point IN his message, that may be OF
utility. Our quartz law, rs At present
existing, if remaining for two more
years, will prove detrimental TO the best
interests of the Territory. The titles
acquired under il are good, although
persons may hold 10000. 10000, or more
feet, without doing days labor in a
year 10 open them up. Looking as we
do TO this permanent interest 20 give
continued prosperity. the subject is
worthy OF broad, deliberate, tar sighted
legislation, that will result in the gene
raj welfare. without injustice 10 individ-
uals. and we trust it may not be un>
heeded be ''the powers that he' now
assembled.
Ireland nnNs seven millions wear