New-York tribune., 1868-07-24
Fwill make romance pale before the swift march Of
progress. A. X. NJ.
THE SUMMIT OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE-wAR
AND RAILROADS.


AND RAILROADS.
Prom Our SPECIAL Correspondent
LoRRAIN, Montana Territory.
From Deer Lodge City to the Summit of the Rocky
range is a gradual ascent for nearly 40 milesso
gradual indeed that the top is reached without any
of the abrupt hills and deep chasms common in
climbing the mountains For some % miles the road
follows Deer Lodge River, crossing numerous clear
mountain streams which enter it from the west and
traversng the most beautiful valley have found in
the Territory It's altitude is greater than the Gala
tin or Jefferson and agriculture is not so generally
prosccued but the largest herds Of the finest cattle
dot the prairie In every direction No sign OF mining
is seen the route until silver Bow Creek IS
reached when the m1rky waters tell that IL IS en-
plOyed to aid the miners to produce the precious
metals. The creek winds Oil from tie rOad through
short canon 10 the CITY Of Silver Bow, nesting he
hind an abrupt cliff and as passed mp the last hill
of the range, found placer mines beng worked III a
large bar on one of the benches OF the summit. "A
creek that rises IN BLUM south OF the ROAD on the
mountain top has been turned from the Eastern seas
TO wash the placers of the Pacific slope, and then
find its way 10 the ocean with the setting sun 1t Is
carried in ditch for some SIX miles, where III gugiCs
through the sluces and lodges the gold IN various
traps as il carries with II the earth Sborn ot It's
precious deposits In the Silver Bow district the
gold IS mixed more OF less win shNer-hehce us
From the summit could see off to the northeast
a FOad winding up over steep blui apparently lead
ing TO the high mountain ellis which he beyond; /;
but il pungcs into another mining district hidden
among the broken sweep of ranges. Highland, with
its new leads of marvellous width filled, as lar as
developed, with dcCayCd quartz is there, but no
mills have yet ventured To Try the new district Sew
eTai aastTaS in operation, and very satisfactory
results nave Deen obtained sun IuIiuei 20 wv NV
northeast lies Butte City, almost shadOWed from
sunlight by the towering mountains, aud WIN sEeI
and gold rich copper veins are there found Ilal
of some of the Butte City in melting furnace
turned out 20 pes cent OF metal and the metal assaSed
$500 of Slyera gold 10 the tUnhe rest BENG cop
Per saw four assays made from the same ne'3I, ana
they did not vary materially. The ore was selected
of course and do not pretend to say that the iie9
there viii yield anything like such results, but l
mention the trial 10 show the various combinations
OF metals Montana produces. If One-tenth such Ic-
suits can he obtained from leads which have nm
abundant supply of ore, they VIII be worked win
crcat protit Neither Highland nor Butte City leads
have been tested with any degree of thOIoughuess,
but their surface indications are most ilatterng.
From the summit we had short drive down 10
Moose Creek where was glad 10 IeSJ aver aIiIIo I
of GO miles over the Rocky range with llgAt muIe
team and heavy load. From the summit east, the
road tlanks Big Hole River, a rapid stream that
dashcs through cauOns and over litie plans lof
nearly 80 miles before il gets away from the noun
tajus Owing TO the rapld fall and consequent SWlt
ness of the current, its bed IS washed IN large hoes,
abruptly TO the northeast and crosses Bg Hole val
lev on its way TO join the Jefferson The valley Is
small and covered with excellent p3stuiasc, 9ut l
noticed 10 farming OF any account crossed uI3
river on substantial bridge. and huldIets oI wiz
ducks were sporting the water as passed, WINE
in tie clear deep stream an abundance OF large hol
tempted the angler. From the Big Hole the road
crosses "a level plain five miles IN width when the
Beaver Head River is reached. II comes ont nom
the mountains in nearly a due northern me, ana
takes its name from rock that adorns one ol lh9
ellis near It's source, shaped Ike beaver head. /
dined on the river bank, and found II unc0mlotaby
hot. We had descended 50 rapidly lqm tnc SuhihiilJ
that in 20 miles we on q lower altitude th&n the
Deer Lodge Valley, and bOuutnul cTOpsoi vegetables
were on the river bottom, hUt the gT1sshOppors had
appropriated every blade and stock OF grain from
the Beaver Head / took the southern road,
between the StinEiugwaier and the mountains.
and had continuous and sWendld view
of the Sunkingwatcr Nal!ey-one o. me most
fruitful in proportion to lis size, IN the Territory
Here and in the little valleys running southWaid
between the mountain spurs, are the lhtst retreats
for cattle IN the Winter, and it Is not uncommon TO
turn ont poor oxen in the Eail, leave them To iced
themselves, and bring them back IN the spring IN
excellent order for the butchers stall Ihe improve
meuts in this valley are the best nave louud pm
Montana. Good stables are erected on almost every
rancho and the houses have an an OF hcatht'a ahu
comfort not usual in the new settlements among
them noticed several twO-StOrcd frame buildings,
and luXuraut gardens around them, but no atttlipt
has been made to grow shade OF liulb lItcS IL I'
probable that fruit trees would not stand the Wra,
fhrr: but the cottonwood If properly planted ana
watcrcd. would give pleasant shadc li . very IeN
wears As all the farms are the river bottom none
of them have good wafer Tho wells on the river
hank are all more OF less bTackish soon rs the
guoW-,yatcr has passed Oh, and there are very lc"
springs. Latterly the settlers are be nuug 10 renew
their improvements on the beautiful tabIe mHh3
which come close 10 the river and there they Hhd
excellent water by digging IRON - 70 "O lcgt saw
but one spring in distance Of 20 miles ana u thIcW
out a volume of water more than loot ln diameter.
About sunset | crossed the StnElugWater 40 Lhls
pl.ce and found pleasant quarters tOr the night. II
is known as "lcn Mile Crcck" ana as LoAlMha
Rancho as It is called, ten miles from Virginia Cliy,
although really more than twelve. ana l5 owned ~
a Canadian FTeuchnau, by the name OF Lolrlln. JIG
fl am old nOuuiamccT, although SIN on inc sunny
side of 80 and kicks the beam no 80 lbs."VgIdupos
while his wife follows tine lahhioh oI heI loru, anu
even cXces him few pounds ln the race FOR The do
nestle hcayv-Wci gts. He was one OF tc carly ST
Tiers OF rather wanderers IN Montana. twenty-five
lao sfr
ans and has followed II until now lis usual c"uI
in ms trading operations was nom OH bcIioh ny
Deer Lodge, through 10 Bridger, and around by the
Yellowstone. nus for quarter OF century ne has
inhabited this dcsOldte mountain region
along with Bndger and others, and 1t
is lis crOWning E1cI. now ihaJ ClFlIIatoh HAS
usuprd the channels Of trade and Is likely soon 10
have railroads through his favOritc trails lie has
been blessed in his family and III basket and store
from the dusv maideus Of the forest, changing them
al pleasure according % the cercmOnesof the tubes
but in 1854 the noble red men widowed woman on
the Plains by butcherIng ana scdphg heI hGspahui
while she was mlIaculOusly saved, and my LAT ana
iOllv host healed the wounded heart by making her
his lawful wife, and discarding all entangInS ALI
e,nces with his Hiawathas No children bless the
new alliance but noticed halfadozen llttle haii-
breeds attheir antics IN and about the mousse 70
whom they belong know not but they broke Diead
from the same Loaf with us.
years trading with the Indians; but OF ali OF them
lc has most pTOspeTcd Although unable 10 make an
entry in his own books he is estimated TO be worth
100000. He digs 10 gold, and would not give Il
'liyuse for the best gold lead in the Territory to
work it, His forte is to traffic with everybody, and
the result is that he owns all the stores bridges, and
most Of the ranches, cattle horses and mules Tor %
or lO0 miles along the Valley. The Big Hole bridge
alone yields him $1,000 a year in gold He owns the
finest Winter pastures, and each Fan he exchanges
sonnd and fat oxen horses and mules with those un-
luckv enough to have broken-dOWn animals and by
Spring they are restored and ready to be ockcycd of
again for two or three times their number Of
l.lrrlne Liz herds arc acaffrred nYer the Beaver