Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-03-20
From the Gold Mines.
HELENA, MONTANA TERRITORY,
February 10th, 1868.

| February lOiU, loOo. g p
Mr. w. j. WRIGGLEswoITn- To
! fulfill my promise, | will now present your
readers with sketch of Helena and its
surroundings. The city proper is situated
in bend OF Last Chance gulch, near the
month Of a canon, through which the
waters find their way from the mountains.
1t is the largest town in the territory, and
being in central position among the nu-
! merouS mining camps, has pretty. nearly
y monopoiized the trade Of the territory, and
thereby acquired an important commercial
position. 1t is the great Quitting post
for retail merchants. and also for prospect.
ing expeditions. The principal part OF
/ the Immigration comes here, and nearly
/ all travel is directed to this point. Every
body has heard of Helena, and whoever
CONES to the territory must come and see
the elephant
Last Chance is formed by the junction
of Grizzly and Orc Elmo. 1t forms juno
ton about three miles below town, with
Ten Mile Creek, a tributary of Prickly
! Pear, which flows north and into the Mis-
sonri, about fifteen miles from here. The
general course of the Missouri from the
junction of the three forks to the Gate Il
the Mountains, is northwest, whence it
takes course bearing eastward.
Prickly Pear and its tributaries form a
small basin, in the S. w. corner of which
is Helena. 10 the southwark the noun
tains tower aloft and stand as giant guar
dams over this metropolis of Montana.
To the westward, the rocky range is in
view, and Is miles distant the Mullen road
crosses the summit. Sixty miles to the
north may be seen the Bears tooth, tower
ing pile of rocks, which stands at the Gate
of the Mts. Looking to the eastward, the
valley of the Prickly Pear is spread cut
before us, a beautiful landscape dotted with
its ranches, and herds Of stock, while from
beyond the river the Confederate noun
tains present a rugged barrier to the range
of vision, and form superb back ground
for the lovely picture.
The city is tolerably well sheltered from
the wind, yet signs and awnings are often
seen to take flight or the wings of the
winds. Light substances gyrate through
the air, and houses and men become alike
Invested of their tiles. The main consid-
Grafton for its location is an old custom in
| the gold mines, viz: to concentrate bust
ness as near as possible to the best ground
| known at the time. Helena being no ex-
| cepton to that rule, the conflicting inter-
csts of builder and miner would naturally
| collide at times. As the miners right is
paramount, little law generally ends all
! disputes, and have not heard ofany very
serious difficulties transpiring on that ac-
| count. m @
The main strectruns parallel to the gulch
and is the mart of the city. 1t answers
well the purpose of a thoroughfare in dry
weather, but in wet weather the mud is
tain, and is veritable Slough Of Despond
to those who desire to cross. There are
two crossings, both below mud level.
Throughout the city, in building, no indi-
vidual consulted other than his own inter-
est, and too seldom that. Fine two-story
buildings are built in holes, fimsy fabrica-
tons upon stills, and vice gersa. Dwellings,
stores, saloons, stables, meat markets,
dancing halls, etc.. mixed in one confused
mass. Streets and alleys occur at irregu
/ lar intervals, as necessity demanded, and
terminate for the simple reason that they
can 60 no further for the houses. Varia-
tons of from three inches to five feet in
| the height of the sidewalk, arc annoying
to the pedestrian, and particularly unin-
| viting on dark night to those who have
| often smiled at the 9shrine of Bacchus.
| There seems to be no hope for better ar
engagements. Our legislature granted us a
city charter, subject to the vote Of the peo-
pie, but the powers granted were SO unlim-
tied that it was defeated. Academy Hill
is east of Main street, and is the site of
churches, courthouse, and the principal
part Of the dwellings Nearly all the
4 buildings are frame and log, but few of
stone give to the city slight appearance
| Of stability. The most remarkable thing
in the history Of Helena is its exemption
from the ravages of FIRE. Very few towns
were ever built in the gold mines of such
material, and existed so long without a
destructive fire. A hook and-ladder COM
pany is the only safeguard. Water is
scarce except in the summer season. when
it is brought through bitches from Ten
Mile. The city is supplied from spring,
the water being conveyed through wooden
pipes to different places. Unless more
snow somes soon, we shall have to cry for
water next summer. Friday and Saturday
the 18th and 9Th inst, were extremely cold
otherwise we have enjoyed about month
of summer weather The temperature of
! the 7th inst resembled that of the 18th ult.,
when the thermometer indicated So de-
grees below zero G. B. WHEELER.
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