The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-11-13
COAL AND IRON.

No two minerals are more needed in
the future development of our Territory
than coal and iron. Such discoveries as
have hitherto been made of their exist
ence, have been more the result of acci-
dent than of deliberate exploration.
ProsPectors in their search for gold and
silver, have, in almost every mineral
district of the Territory, found traces of
these minerals in abundance, but with
the single exception of one coal bed near
Boseman, and one below Fort Benton,
these traces have not been explored.
One good coal bed in each mining dis
trict. and one or two veins of iron ore,
would be of more value To- the Territory
in the development of its gold and sill
yer re, and TO the discoverer. than the
discovery of the same number of gold
and silver lodes Coal would diminish
the expense of reducing metals, both by
amalganation and smelling, fully one
third, and iron would soon put most OF
the machinery for mill purposes within
the means Of our home operators. and
in measure relieve our present depend
encc upon foreign capital. Ia some of
our most prominent quartz districts.
wood for fuel has % be hauled a distance
of ten miles. at AN expense of from sew
en 90 ten dollars per cord. And 10 cau-
not De- many years, with the present
prospects for extensive operations In
quariz mining. before wood will become
scarce in all TIE districts. Coal al ex-
.41 .f.. 4
the Territory. if we take unerring traces
as evidence. liz bus been found az Ban
mack. Areenta. ON the Big Hole, ON the
south side OF Bald Mountain. In the
Madison aud Gallatin ranges. on the
Missouri near Helena. on the Dearborn,
aud on several of the Islands below Fort
Benton. as well as the banks of the
Missouri A full exploration OF either
of tla-se localities would probably result
IN the discovery OF large deposits. and
prove a permanent benefit TO the Terris
tory. The coal veins on tie Yellow
Stone, probably as extensive as
any others on tile continent. can only
be made practicable by the construction
of the North Pacific Railroad. That
great work would supply us with fuel.
for all purposes. az price merely nomi-
nal. bus until that is made, or the pres
ent interdict of the Government re-
moved-which assigns the finest agri-
cultural region of the Territory to the
Indians-we must economize the re-
sources we have. What is true of coal
is equally so of iron. The Territory is
full o.. evidences of it's abundance. bu.
as YET the pervading mania for gold and
silver has rendered its develop
ment a matter of minor consideration.
This is all wrong. With the discovery
of coal and iron new distribution
would be given TO labor, which, of itself
would add materially TO the wealth and
enterprise of the Territory. to say moth
ing of the great reduction il would make
in the expense of, and the convenience
it would afford 10, other pursuits. With
our present means of livelihood. these
two minerals would supply all the need.
full wants of the Territory, and give us
an immense advantage over Nevada and
Idaho in the reduction of our precious
metals. The same amount of labor be-
slowed by the prospector iu the discov-
cry of gold or silver lode would, with
equal probability of success, open coal
or iron bed, and the reward. in our pres
ent necessity, would be much more inn
mediate, and quite as productive. If
search for these minerals, the case
would be different, but the fact of their
existence is undoubted. The localities
are known. Development only is me-
An enterprising company of
few men can soon ascertain whether
either of the places desi gnated are prac
ticable; and il is a little strange, that
Of the great number of prospectors in !
the Territory, few have deemed them |
worthy of attention. Our citizens gem
orally indulge the belief, that within |
the next five years, at most, our Terri
tory will have railroad connection with |
the Union Pacific. Nothing would |
sooner confirm that belief than the dis |
covery of unfailing beds of coal and |
iron. If both of those articles /
could be found here in quantity |
and quality sufficient to supply the |
needs of the road, il would hasten the /
of a branch road, and open |
up TO our citizens an immense CONNER
,ial pursuit, scarcely inferior to that /
promised by quartz mining. Such COM
Danies as that contemplated by Mr. /
Ward, of Detroit, two years ago, would /
hen come to our Territory with an
of success. We make these
hoping that they may meet
.he eye of some prospector who has, in
he field of past explorations, from evi-
lences of one or both of these minerals,
sufficient to invite his more thorough /
They are today first /
lmong the wants of the Territory. A
speedy fortune is in store for him who
irst renders them of practical utility to
he people of the Territory.
BozEMAS, Nov. l, 1868.