The Montana post., 1869-03-05
PROSPECTING.

their hopes and tears, and by thes,
lights direct their business In view
OF all controlling circumstances, o
which we have knowledge, the Ap-
preaching business and mining season
promises more favorably To all classes
than that of last year. and 1868 wa,
one of the best in the history of Mon
tsna for steady. legitimate business o
all kinds. The day of wildcat specula.
tion OF fancy companies fancy invest
menis and fancy managements is wei
nigh gone. There was more practical
development of quartz leads last year
than ever before, and il ia bearing good
fruits in proving leads 10 be substantial
verities. justifying the erection of ma
chinery, in remuneration to those who
have machinery erected, and giving a
steady confidence to companies proving
up their property. The advantage OF
this condition of affairs To the Territory.
as compared with the excItements and
depressions of fancy operations, cannot
be overestimated. We now have eigh-
teen quartz mills of two hundred and
eighty stamps, running regularly, aud
yielding generally good profits. This
was never before the case. Thers are
still nearly two hundred stamps idlefrom
having been located before the lodes
were developed, from defective machin-
cry, OF from company squabbles or pow
erty. Probably all of these that are
serviceable will be brought into requi-
sition as additions OF as separate mills.
during the present season, while a mum
ber more will be brought from the
States. Montana quartz will pay, and
Montana has plenty of the paying kind.
( The revGlsion that ensued after the wild
. M nf n ha 1ofs nf h..
war, and the depression of business SUBJ
sequentlY. has locked up aud withheld
capital for three or four years, although
exceptional capitalists have still been
found willing TO invest speculativeIy
unoer Sweetwater or White Pine ex-
elements. But as mining has been re-
duced 10 business principles-as the
country has recovered from its financial
scare-as the dangerous political excite>
ments have subsidized, and trade re-
wives. the dollars begin to show signs of
activity again and apply TO be used.
The New York, PLiladelphis and Chi
cagO papers. we have noticed. mention
the revival of mining interests, and the
press OF the Pacific coast notes that the
large increase in manufacture and
shipment of machinery is by no means
exclusively owing TO the White Pine
all over the coast have received a fresh
impetus. Montana will feel IL practi-
cally ere long, and some of the many
millions she has exported will return
for investment.
In placer mining, the fall of snow or a
rainy season is alone requisite to assure
a good season. Many new mines have
been opened in Deer Lodge. Jefferson
and other Counties, bitches have been
brought into paying gulches and upon
bars where water hitherto could not be
had and several of the best which
could not be worked last season but for
a short time on account of the scarcity
of this element, will in all probability
be favored this. There will not be an
excess of miners, not enough TO work
the ground. Quartz mining employs
many more men than formerly; White
Pine and the railroad towns are making
a draiu on the population that will not
be compensated by the influx of immi-
grafton by river unless il largely exceeds
the net results of the past two years.
Late in the season, when the two rail-
roads meet, a portion of the force will
come here, but the most of il will seek
other railroads, some red hot excite-
ment, or settle down in the railroad
towns. We believe, therefore, that
while the aggregate yield will not be
largely increased, individuals having
choice of camps and ground, will. either !
as laborerers or owners do better than |
last season.
Business men, who have no reason !
to complain of 1868, have as good pros !
poets for go. They are not necessitated /
TO carry the enormous stocks of expen- |
sive articles as in previous years. with |
money worth three or four per cent a /
month. With the cars at Promentory |
City and a Transportation Line estab- 1
lished, spectators will find their occu- I
patton gone, much to the advantage of /
merchants and the public. With East
ern markets steady; freights reduced /
and expedited; rail communication es>
tablished; a good mining season; their
trade acquired and more permanent in |
its character. the Main street princes
have as fair future as they could de-
sire
The farmers have their duty defined.
Ii is TO furnish bread~stuff and produce
and meats for $4,000 people. tend the
sc. 900 or 10000 head of stock, grow
rich and be happy. Four years ago
they were raising comparatively nothing;
everything was brought from the States
or Utah, and -four sold for $1,10 per
pound. Last year our farmers produced
? ,040,0 900 bushels of wheat barley and
oats. and 100000 bushels Of potatoes;
put 250. 900 sacks of -four on the mar
ket At $40 per sack. and producing
quAdruple the barley snd oats per acre
that Utah did. sold them 1t one halt
the figures they commanded in Salt
Lake City, and still made money.
In the anticipation of an average
placer mining season; in the steady
and successful development of quartz
leads and reduction of ores; in the ca
pacity of our agricultural lands TO pro-
duee our bread-stuffs; in the abundancy
Of employment for all our population,
and good reward; in the Increased ta>