The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-08-27
TIE PROSPECTS AHElD.

It is a wcll-knOwn fact that the present
scaeon is, by far, the most trying one for the
miners Of our Territory that has yet occurred.
No other season has approached it in the
scarcity of water-tl,c miners'capital Ditch.
Is and streams tina: last year furnished al
abundance OF water, do not now contain
drop that Gin b. used; camps that were
giving employment to hundreds ut men at
this time last year, are now nearly deserted,
the claims being laid over, for lack Of water
to work them, until another season. Nor is
this state Of affairs confined to any particular
locality, but is tho case in nearly every por.
ton of tho Tcrritory-Virginia, Helena,
Deer Lodge, and in nearly every mining
camp throughout the country, the Lack Of
water for mining purposes is severely felt.
Merchants, rs well rs miners arc called upon
to bear their proportion of the effects Of the
droutl, and there is no doubt but some fail
urcs will bc caused within the next six
months from M inability to realize on their
goods. Larger invoices have been received
by our dealers this summer than any other
almost two tons to Onc-and there Is less cash
sale for them, than any other year in the his
tory of Montana. What will be, and what are
tho consequences. of This state Of things !!
We do not apprel.end anything very serious
Is the result Of this staynation in business
and mining. Disastrous it cannot be; and
some good results must, OF necessity, flow
from it. Miners who have been thrown out
If employment, or have been compelled to
means Idle during tbs i s. long, dry summer
From the very fact OF its having been SO
extremely dry, it has given m opportunity
to thoroughly prospect many localities that,
heretofore, have been untouched by the
prospector BY reason of the necessity Of =
great amount of labor and expense being in
Cured in pumping and draining, that can
now be avoided. But very few men, usu-
ally employed in the mines, have left the
Territory; prefcrring to try their luck
among the mountains in quest of new and
rich digsings that can be worked another
year. Bars aud guichcs that, heretofore,
have been lodged and skipped over as worth
less, arc now being thoroughly tested, and
In many instances, no doubt, viii be found
to contain gold in paying quantities.
This general prospecting, hy men otherwise
unemployed, cannot but result in great good
to the Territory. That there art large and
extensive regions among our mountains that
have never yet received close attention from
experienced miners, every one knows, and
It will not be Ut oil surprising If some of the
numerous parties now among them shall
discover and open richer mines than have
vet been worked in MontsnA At any rate
the number of good, paying camps will be
increased; more of our mineral resources
he brought to light and developed; enter
priscs that, from lack of time, heretofore
have been deferred, are being, and will be
nut into execution; now that the necessity
for them is felt, new and extensive bitches
are being projected, and, ere another season,
will he carrying an increased supply ut
water to camps that now need it. All
these results will, of necessity. follow; and
If next season proves IN ordinary one for
mining purposes. 1870 will be one OF the
most prosperous years in the history Of tue
Territory. This we predict with confidence,
ind are willing to bitle our timc.