The Montana post., 1868-09-18
"PARsON's TOUR.
NUMBER TWO.

of it which was then untouched, has
since been worked out, and the miners
have, for portion of the distance, con-
structed bedrock fume, from which,
when in full operation, they can scarce
ly fail TO realize grand results. These
fumes are not yet fully completed, but
they will produce this year, enough to
prove that there yet remains in Alder
Iulch greater riches than have ever been
taken from it. The western slope of the
ruIch for it's whole length 10 the sum-
NIT of the hills, would be good paying
ground if there were water to work it.
liz is with a view to test the practicable
ty of this enterprise, that the miners and
merchants in and about virginia, have
about concluded to construct i've foot
ditch, extending from the back oil Wig
wan Gulch. above Summit, 10 the upper
waters of the Madison, distance OF
about 20 miles. This will furnish suii
cient water. and at a sufficient elevation
above the gulch, TO work the hill sides
as well as the bed of Alder Greek, and
when completed and in operation, the
product of this gulch must be incalcuIa-
bic for at least ten years 20 come. lt
will revive and build up Virginia, and
enrich all those engaged in II. Fifty
thousand dollars in cash would put this
work in motion, SO that by an issue OF
water certificates to the miners who are
ready to engage in il, it could be carried
TO a speedy completion. And l here re
iterate what / said in my former letter,
that know of no enterprise in the Ter
ritory in which capitalists could engage
with more certain prospects of speedy
return and large profits.
The old settlement of Highland, which
three years ago, was the home of several
hundred miners,is completely dilapidat-
ed: single log cabin remains to mark
the spot where it stood. Summit City,
however, though not so populous as OF
old, in it's fumes, its quartz mills, and
the work apparent upon the lodes, In the
mountain sides surrounding it bears ev-
idence of decided prosperity. The John
How mill, which has suspended opera
tions for the past year, is to commence
work in a few days. l saw there, large
quantities of ore taken from the Messler
and Steele lodes. They are said to be
very rich; the lodes are well defined, the
ore easily excavated and, abundant.
Col. Postlewait has made several runs in
his mill, on ore taken from the Keystone
and the far famed Kearsarge. This lat
ter lode has, within the past lew months,
been worked by Mr.. Vogal, late Super
intendent of the Lucas Mining Company.
He has sunk an incline to the depth of
10 feet, from which he is now drifting
to the lode with fair prospects. Plenty
of ore is found in the upper part of the
shaft, but at the bottom, owing to the
pitch of the lode, the vein is as yet very
light. There is no difficulty, however,
in striking the main lode whenever the
shaft is made available for raising water.
This ledge maintains among Summit
miners, the reputation of being one of
The best in the Territory.
Messrs. Southmayde & Hall have con-
structed bedrock flume at Summit of
some eight hundred yards ia length.
They are driving large business.
One of those strange mountain phe-
nomena, which we hardly know how to
explain, occurred near Summit on the
18th inst. A dark cloud was observed to
gather, in a southwesterly direction,
from which was apparently suspended
an immense ashen-cOlored flmy VEIL
reaching from the cloud and enveIoping
the mountain under it. 1t gradually
moved further to the southwest, until it
struck a point called McGregor's Point,
and then burst, emptying its waters into
Butcher and French gulches. The tor
rent was tremendous it swept down
into the mills in these gulches, filing
them with water and debris to the depth
of four feet. The roar of this torrent
was terrific, and il entered Alder gulch
with a momentum which swept every
thing before il. The fumes were badly
injured. and the other works of the
miners along the gulch, for distance of
fourteen miles, were swept away. Much
of this damage will be easily repaired.
A snug hotel, where you can get a
good meal, and enjoy a pleasant chit
chat with lively old gentleman, is kept
by our friend Mr.. Glass; for whose gray
hairs and evidences of early piety the
Parson has great regard.
We spent an hour at Summit, and saw
from the steps of the hotel, along the
sides of the surrounding hills, more
than fifty excavations, which marked
the sites of quartz deposits, which are
destined hereafter to make Summit one
of the iveliest camps in the Territory
Passing through the town, at the foot
of Bachelor gulch. we began to ascend
Orc Cache hill, which receives its name
from the famous quartz lode found upon
its summit. The road is built along
the side Of the mountain, and gradually
ascends to a height of six or eight hun.
dred feet. From this elevation the little
city of Summit, with all its impressive
surroundings, is looked down upon as
from precipice; while in the distance,
on every side, q mountain view, en-
bracing in its range the headwaters of
the Jefferson, Big Hole, Beaver Head,
and the beautiful valleys which they
traverse. bounds the vision. For extent,
and magnificence of scenery, this view
is exceeded by few in the Territory.
Gambering along the road, as it encir-
cles the mountain abruptly, after ride
of about one mile and half, through a
beautiful pine grove, you descend into
Union City, at the head OF Spring gulch.
Here stands large mill, built by Col.
Mcclure and his associates. This is per
haps the best piece of machinery in the