Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-03-13
From the Gold Mines
HELENA, MONTANA Territory, !
February 7th, 1868. {

certainty to particular quartz vein.
Gold is found in quartz, mixed with
other metals, and that is called sulphu.
ret. frequently, in the same rock, gold
is found free In the latter case, quick.
silver is generally all that is required to
save it, but in the former case, certain
chemicals have to be used according to the
nature of the ore Silver is but seldom
found free or native. Judging from the
reports circulated by our papers, we might
/ be led to believe that Washoe has become
eclipsed. Speculation in quartz is very
uncertain one, and many are the capital.
lists who have become bankrupt through
an unfortunate investment. Others, see
ing the result of ;ncautious purchases, are
beginning to GO little slow. Without
capital, quartz cannot be developed, and
most of the quartz claims are owned by
poor men. Very few lodges that have
been opened in this part of the territory
are paying institutions. This is fact, al
though the papers take great pains to con-
ceal it, and make great blow whenever a
good cleanup is made from any mill. 1t
! is, Of course, to their individual interest
They are not in fault at all times, for some
persons will take advantage of the liberality
of local, and publish large falsehood for
some sinister purpose.
When men labor, day after day. raising
rock from ledge, and the mill is con-
stantly at work crushing, and all the money
to be obtained for that labor is barely
enough to pay for board, / think that is
| positive proof that the ledge is not paying.
| Such is the condition of our quartz mines
this winter. That there have been good
spots found, is und >ubted, and the proba-
bility is that at some future day, the yield
from the quartz mines of Montana will be
immense.
have seen several specimens from the
copper lodges, in the Musselshell county,
which indicate that in that useful metal,
Montana will at some time do fourishing
expectation.
AT the present time, galena is of little
value except where silver is found in pay
ing quantities. Ledges Of galena Of nearly
as good quality as in the lead mines of
Wisconsin, from four to six feet thick are
found in this country. 8E 81
Montana is what its name implies, a
mountainous country. The Rocky range
runs through the northwestern part, and
forms the western boundary of the south
ern part. From the main range, spurs jut
off in every direction, and in many instan-
ces are more rugged than the main range
itself. Among these mountains may be
found scenery that would suit the most
fastidious. The grassy slope at your feet,
and towering high above your head, the
overhanging cliff may at once be seen,
while mountain stream comes rushing
through its rocky channel and bounding
over a precipice, becomes lost to view in
the narrow canon. The gently sloping
mountain clothed in evergreen, and the alb
rupt and rocky one upon which no vestge
of vegetation may be seen The beautiful
valley spread out to view, while beyond
rising terrace after terrace, the mountains
loom up against the sky, their snowy sum-
mits mingling with the clouds.
There are many passes over the noun
tains accessible to Montana. But owing
to the rugged spurs, places that are only a
few miles apart in direct line, are many
miles separated by the most accessible
route of communication. The mountains
are generally clothed with dense growth
of small timber Those which are bald
are mostly covered with bunch grass,
which is the best quality of feed for stock
at any season of the year, when not too
deeply covered with snow The timber of
this country is not generally of a good
quality for the manufacture of lumber.
The principal part is white pine and fir,
both of a scrubby growth. There is no
hard wood of any kind, and no fruit ex-
cept service berries. ..a
That part of Montana lying to the west
of the Rocky Mountains, is large basin,
drained to the Pacific by the Columbia
river Several very rich gulches have
been worked in this basin, among which
are Blackfoot, jefferson, Clellan, Lincoln,
Bear, California, and Washington. The
now notorious Flint Greek silver miEes are
also on that side the mountains The val
leys of the Hell's gate, Missoula and Deer
Lodge are said to be well adapted to agri-
culture.
The country on this side the mountains
is drained by the Missouri and its tribu-
taries. The principal valleys now settled
are the Jefferson. Madison and Gallatin.
There is some arabic land on the banks of
most of the streams, and ranches are to be
found upon every spot where industry can
make an oasis in the great desert, and find
convenient market Agriculture in this
country depends in great measure upon
the chances for irrigation. Rain seldom
falls during the summer season in qHanti-
ties sufficient to supply the requirements
of vegetation. The soil is of a sandy ma
ture, and during the summer becomes dry
and parched Grass becomes dry early in
the summer months, but like well cured
hay, the nourlshment is retained in it, and
at any season it makes good feed for the
great herds of stock that are solely depen.
dent upon their own exertions for liveli-
hood.
There is but very small portion of the
land in this country that can be made til
liable. A narrow strip on either bank of
a stream is all there is of it. Far different
are the prairies of your state, where every
acre yields its share to fill the granaries of
the farmer with grain, and his home with
happiness. .....-.-...
Being situated so near the summit of the
great dividing range of the American con
tinent, Montana is subject to changeable
climate. A few moments will suffice at
times to change a summer day to mid win
ter, and winds sweep in fury across the
plains. Properly speaking. Montana has
but two seasons, summer and winter. In
summer the weather is not intolerabie, the
nights are seldom hot In winter mercury
is said to freeze OF this, INV first winter
/ Il, Il oly I,f 1f e