Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-01-22
From the Mountains.
HELENA, MONTANA, Dec. %, 1868.

GDos yOu h"'0 - 49,
ton, we will take ride. We do not like
to be shut up in the city, day after day.
A little of the keen, frosty air will be for
the benefit of our health. There is no
coach on our route. A carriage will
probably be too expensive for our circum-
stances. So we will mount our trusted
cay,lse. We will carry behind US two
pair of blankets, and enveiop ourselves in
our warmest coats. Fortunately our
course is such that the prevailing wind is
nearly in our backs, and away We scam
per over the valley of the Prickly Pear.
Little gullies are the only irregularities
We find on our course Of eight miles. So
perfect is the plain that we could distin-
guish horseman upon any portion of the
road we have passed. We have met many
loads of hay on the way to market. 1t
will bring about $l4 per ton. The ground
is covered with light snow, probably
three inches in depth, so that we cannot
see the innumerable beds of prickly pears
that flourish here. To recompense for
this we will watch the prints in the snow,
and ascertain what kinds of game may at
present be found in our valleys. We find
the gray wolf, cayote and fox. Here a
herd of elk have passed on their way from
the mountains. Now we cross the trail OF
drove of black tail deer, and again that
of the antelope; while here and there we
see the unmistakable signs of the gazelle.
Seven miles, over rolling country where
nothing but snow and an occasional stunt
ed pine may be seen, and we arrive at the
Missouri river. Silent and clear as crystal
is its water as it pursues its way toward
the northwest. A short distance below
this point is ferry which crosses to FL
Dorado bar. We will cross here, at Trout
Creek Ferry, for our road lies up this
stream. Within distance of thirty miles
from this place, up the river, there are six
ferries. AS we pass up Trout Creek, we
behold towering mountains Of naked rock
on either hand. In one place they so
closely approach each othcrthat two teams
would barely pass abreast. On entering
this narrow gorge for the first time we
experience sensation of timidity, for on
looking up we see what appear to be over
hanging walls on either side, and we esti-
mate them at three hundred feet high.
This gorge is called canon, and similar
ones may be found On nearly all the
streams on this side the river. AT the
mouth of this canon 9 ditch is taken out,
conveying water to branch of the Mis-
souri, We cannot tell the exact cost Of
this ditc&, but will say no less than $780,
GOO. As we ascend the stream we find
another ditch, also conveying water to a
bar of the Missouri Gel Dorado.) The
cost of this ditch is estimated at $50, 600.
We find two drains in this creek, neither
of which has found bedrock.
The mountains are now less rugged, and
here we find New York city--lower town,
at the mouth of the New York gnlch.
This city contains a population of about
twenty, but it has capacity to accommo-
date at least two hundred. By inquiry we
find that Trout Greek has never been bot
toned and that New York is not as good
as it used to be. However, we see men at
work hosting dirt to be washed next
spring. As men in this country dislike
to work for nothing, we will take it for
granted that they are making something.
We will not question them, for we are sat
isfed we should not obtain the truth but
we shall undoubtedly find some acquaint-
ance on our trip who is posted. We find
ten or twelve companies at work hosting
1t is all drifting ground.
About three-fourths of a mile up the
gulch We arrive at New York-upper
town, containing g population of about
fifty, but not many vacant honses. AS
we find several persons in this vicinity
from our State, we will here alight, turn
our horses out into the hills, and accept
some miners hospitality, which is freely
offered. After our twenty mile ride, we
enjoy the ample repast of grub, which is
set before US. Then we gather around
the blazing fire, accompanied by several
neighbors who have called to see us, and
we enjoy pleasant evening. Night has
closed in; we take our blankets and lie
down in a corner, where at any time dur.
ing the next ten hours you may rely on
finding G. B. W.
~ If we had time we would like to
speak somewhat at length Of the Young
Peoples Association, of Madison; liteIa-
ry society that is, in every way, model.