Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-05-02
[For the snnbury hmerioan.i
LETTER FROM MONTANA,
BAssAoK CRY, M. T., March 2ist,

DANNACk VITf, NJ. H., Marcn zlft, fcUo.
SfRs My short Acquaintance in this young Ter
ritory Of the mountains makes me feel inadequate
to give you description Of its mines and resources,
and tho hopes which to ineite its occupants 70
still greater exertions TO develop its rich minerals,
making 1t day stand side by side with its sister
States, unrivalled In mineral wealth, while It's rich
valleys are hardly to be surpassed in agricultural
products by the old and seted portions Of eur
great Union.
Dggings is still far from being exhausted. Only
the most accessible portions have been worked by
miners of small capital, who procured small part
OF the precious and then returned to the States
to tell lamcntable tale of the mines and thoir
roundngs, leaving the larger portion to be taken
by more systematic miners The mines In Bannack
and vicinity, which year or two ago. would source
yield Eve dollars day, when worked by the old
process Of mining with rocker and hand sluice md
which were abandoned by the miners who went in
search of richer claims, are being re>oocupied by
men who have erected large fumes and hydraulicks,
and are now making those old unproductve claims
pay from ten to fifty dollars per day to each miner
Each claim being thus worked, still makes 1t moro
conclusive that the palmiest days of cur young Ter.
ritory are yet to come.
The present modes of mining are said to be, by
men Of experience far from being perfect, and that
a few years hence will show more improvements and
productive mining than the changes of the last
year or two have displayed. Bannack, two years
ago, was supplied with water fer mining, by two
small bitches, neither of them large enough to sup.
ply more than one hydraulick. Now those bitches
for a small river. Their numbers have increased
to nearly dozen, ranging in length from to 25
miles landing the water on top of the ghest noun
tain and making mines productive which hitherto
have laid idle account of their elevation above
the water facilities. New bitches are in contcmpa
tion, and soon our pretty streams, now teeming with
spotted trout will all be turned from their natural
channels and made subservient to the hardy noun
taineer in his efforts to unearth the shining ore
When our railroad connections are completed with
the east, and when labor and material can be had at
more reasonable terms, it will make mines which
now worthless account of high prices, produc-
tive to the owner in degree that will surprise some
of our slow going eastern friends. The Placer
mines here scattered over hundreds of miles of
territory both sides of the Missouri and gold has
been found on the western slope, only few miles
from here.
The quartz odes or leads horc both gold and sh
yer bearing are considered to be far more valuable
than the Placer mines, and on them seem to hang
the future greatness of our rising Territory. They
are found in great abundance, and the work done
on them thus far only proves them to be mines of
inexhaustible wealth. There are several steam
quartz mills running here and the result of their
numerous clean-ups seem to make the quartz men
feel in great gee, and point out to them rich har
vest in the future
Nearly every part Of the globe is represented
here by mon Of all colors, ages and languages. You
may meet at any time John Chinaman with his long
cue, the treaoherous looking Greasers from Mexico,
while the English, Irsh Scotch and Welsh are seen
together. The Canadians and French are well re.
presented, while Norwegians, Swedes and Poles
meet you on every side. This mixture of nations
in common search for gold often causes quarres
which seem to be quieted by bloodshed only, and
give this place unwished for notorioty. But as
civil law becomes more effective the revolver and
knife laid aside 1t is hoped that their reign is
at an end.
Coal has been found here in abundance, and al.
though the country, as general rule, Is sparsely
timbered, there is no danger Of the supply of fuel
being exhausted by the immense drain caused by
steam mills and smelling furnaces the latter being
used in the reduction of silver ores. know Of bat
furnace now in successful operation that is
Esles, at Argenta, is miles from this place 1t was
built late last fall at cost of $1,000, and is pro.
nounced a complete success, turning out silver but
tons weighing from 80 to 200 lbs The cost of smet
ing ton of is about is dollars, the paying
from that up to 500 per ton, leaving large margin
in favor of the owner of the ore.
We have had q very pleasant winter, considering
the altitude and latitude OF country, the Their
mometer going down to II deg. below zero for
few days in tho fore-part Of January. Since then
the weather has been mild.
Ibeieve this to be the healthest climste in the
Union. sick man is rarely to be found, although
the life lead here by many would seem severe
enough to destroy the strongest ofconstitutons.
Yours, G. Z.