The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-01-28
DEER LoDGE COUNTY,.

pOlnteT Oy COmm1oobO0ef ISoymon0 70 10.
port on tho mines, ETC, Of Montana, We are
permitted to compile The following facts
Concerning The Empire County. 4 4 -
-' CENTRAL TOPOGRAPHY.
The county IL nearly rectangular In form.
the only deviations being sslight projection
in the southeast corner, and an indsntation
in the east. :. 1t Il $50 miles long by 100 in
width, the northern line forming the bound
ary between the United States and the Brit.
ish possessions. 1t crosses three and half
degrees flstitude-from l5deg. 3omin. to -
N. The northern half IL on the east side of
the Rocky Mountains, the south half on the
Western Slope, the main chain running d.
agonally across It w. and 8. E. The northern
hall, embracing some of the best agricultural,
grazing. and (probabIy) mining regions in
the county, il yet . terra inecgaita, In Nm
disputed possession Of the Indians. The
southern and western portion 10 sparscly
settled, principally By miners. Agriculture
and grazing, for which the country IL ID
mirably adapted, are yet in infancy. The
roads of the county are mainly natural and
excellent
IT'S STREAMS.
The western and southern portion Is
drained to the W. and N. W. by the Deer
Lodge, Hellgatc, Big Blackfoot and their
tributaries, they being the central feeders
Of the Columbia. The northeastern por-
tions are drained to the cast by the Sun,
Dearborn, Teton, Marias and Milk Rivers,
tributaries of the Missouri. The country
in that direction partakes of the plateau or
plain, character, which farther east degcne.
rates into bad lands" ....
THE MOUNTAINS
The Rocky Mountains encirclc the south
ern end of the county in an immense arm,
and running diagonally approach ON the
N. W. and corner into Missoula county.
Some Of the mountain peaks in the N. w.
arc undoubtedly 1900 feet high, towering
far above tho line of perpetual snow, but
along the central portion OF the county do
not rise above the timber line. There,
where not timbcrcd, the peaks are rounded
and covered with luxuriant bunch grass.
Many spurs extend out in all directions,
some being of equal or greater height than
the main range. All arc mountains of up.
hcaval. Many of the highest peaks arc
composed Of altered scdimentary rocks,
dipping at various angles from gentle in
clinalions 70 almost vertical position. In
some places the granite and sycnitc pro-
trudc and form peaks, but these arc exccp-
tional. Other high peaks and ridges arc
composed 1T sandstone, split into beautiful
slabs of all sizes and thickncsscs, showing
distinctly the ripple marks of the sea that
lavcd them in the ages gone.
LIMESTONE AND COAL.
Limestone of excellent quality Is abuu.
d"nt in nearly every portion OF the county.
Goa! exists in several places. Ono bed of
unknown extent lies in basin on the head
waters Of the Little BLckfoot, near the
Mullan Pass. thirty miles from this place.
It 10 supposed to cover 1000 acres, and MAS
discovered by Morgan and EmLody, July
IS, 1869. i Is nine feet thick. nearly hori.
zon:al, having slight dip to the east I.
is bituminous. free from mineral or other
impurities, AID burns well in gra.c or stove,
leaving bat little ashes. e.. .. ... u.s..
A vein is also discovered about Is miles
wcs, of the above, and Is miles due north Of
Deer Lodge City, on a branch of Bi. Black.
foot, called Ncya,la Greek. and was claimed
by parties several years ago. but has never
been developed. Its characteristics arc the
same - the Morgan and Embody coal. The
vein Is II feet thick, and lies horizontal
They arc probably one and the same An.
other vein of unknown extent and thick.
ness was discovered in 1867 on Dry Creek.
Ut the Mullsa crossing. IL miles N. z. of
Deer Lodge. It has not yet been opened,
the plentitudc of timber preventing any Ct.
fort for other fuel There arc also good in
dic..ions Of coal In Gold Greek aud the up
per Deer Lodge valley, but no effort 10 find
veins has ever been made. The Morgan &
Embody coal can be mined for SO per ton,
and delivered here for el5 more, with =
q margin to the owners. T., ..a.....s.-.....
TIMBER ETC.
There are six water.powcr faw mills In
the county, and one portable steam saw.
mill. Lumber rates Ct from ee5 to go per
NJ, according to quality. The county is
we'll tinbcred, prol,ably the second best in
the Territory, Missoula county bcing 6rst.
,fEs GRAINS AND VEGETABLES b.
There q nosa single Touring mill in all
this immense county, consequently but little
wheat 10 n;sed, but the yield and quality
are both good. Oats and barley are sure
crops. except in case Of grasshopper inva.
s;ons. Large quantities Of these grains are
raised, tho yleid averaging full forty bush.
els per acre. Vegetables at sxcellent quail
it, grow to large sise with the exception Of
some Of the lcss hardy kinds, such - melons,
tomatoes, etc. Al Of these. howcyer, with
care. grow finely in the adjoining northern
county -Aiasou:a-the altitude being less
and the nights warmer. !
Hsa'i I'll YnRl, GAME And soRDs.
|d Game, oaee - Sbuatlast, b n0w lalsno0t
sxsesaisaAS0, tbste bsiss 1sw dsss, nean-
tain sAeep Or snsslsPc rsnaalahg. Thsse
aie afew white Rocky Mtuat1ia geaas h
habitinithe anbss. einaceeebjt)e peaks. Elk