Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-06-03
Dottings by the Way.
Correspondence Of Keo'oec Courier.
HELENA, MONTANA TERRITORY,
NTav 1H. 1870


torbear longer to communicate would abr0.
gate all our rights in first communicating,
and in this cXigcncy, should we continue to
refuse to diyulge, wo would forfeit all our
quandan privileges, and impose forever upon
us the duty of silence, aud as we do not pro.
pose to remain silent, at least while in this
Territory, VIC bring our notes up to date
And first IIccna comes in for her share In
the summer Of 1864 few prospectors from
Virginia City made tho discovery Of the Gulch
or Ravinc, or little branch called {" Last
Chance" upon which tho town is now prin.
cipally situated. The diggings was found to
be very rich in placcrs or surface diggings,
and that fall a general stampede was made
from Virginia City, following the lead of the
discovcrcrs, principally, amongst whom was
DR.. w. l.. Steele, tho first Judge of tho
Alder Gulch diggings, that built up the City
and Capitol Of Virginia. During same fall,
the Dry, Orc Elmo, Grizzly and Nelson
Clutches were discovered, and the spring and
fall Of 1865 opened these diggings with the
most lattcring aud successful results, that
have continued up to this time, and has maize
Helena, since then, from few prospcctoa 2
camps, to be the first town in the Territory,
and whose population now approaches ten
thousand souls with many beautiful and well
arranged buildings Her Court House is of
stone, spacious aud neat. Her hotels, somo
of them, not to be cxcclcd in any of the older
States, and her inhabitants kind, clover, OBJ
liging aud particularly courteous, and pleas
ant. If difference in climate gives a spc-
ciic difference in mind and manners, then
the climate of Montana has given to her pco.
pic the advantage over all other sections
we have visited in polite attention and &C,
commodations to her visitors. Her Undue.
ton to civilization, excepting Alaska, is the
most recent of any of our Territories. Her
area embraces l43,77G square miles, equal to
02 ,0lG,G40 acres, extending from cast to
west about $50 miles, and from north to south
about 275 miles. Her area is nearly equal
to that of California, three times that of New
York, two and u half times that Of the six
New England States, one half the size of Tex
as and one hundred and ten times that Of
Rhode Island. OF this vast region, it is csti.
mated that one third or about 3,067 % ,GG6
acres is susceptible Of cultivation. Tho two
| thirds of the total area comprise the main
| range Of the Rocky Mountains, running north
and south across the Territory, and numerous
| subordinate spurs, whose peaks often surpnss
| in attitude, those of the main range, and
among the spurs may be mentioned C0ur
| II Aieuc, and the Bitter Root Mountain,
marking the dividing liuc between Montana
and Idaho, OH the west, and between which
and the main range nestlcs, like king in his
swaddling clothes, the rich and productive
country embraced in tho Deer Lodge and
Missoula counties. The Belt and Judith
mountains, in the northern center, separating
the sparscly settled county OF Musclcshcll on
the north cast and Chotcau on the north west
| from the rich mining regions of Mengher
county (whosc capital is Diamond City.) OF,
the south, extending 10 tho Missouri river
Which is the north eastern boundry of Louis
and Clark counties, whose capital is Helena
Tho Bears Paw and Little Rocky Mountains
still to the north; the Big Horn mountains
extending into Dacota Territory in the south
cast; northeast OF which lies the uuorgan
lied county Of Big Horn, embracing the
yellow Stone river region, with Gillatiu coun
ty to the northwest, and Madison and Beaver
Head counties lying west and south west
and tho Wind river mountains OH The cx
trcme eastern border.
A few days ago in company with DIR. S.
VIC made visit to Unonville, some fou
miles up Dry Gulch from HcIcua, aud wa
shown by the proprctors of several Of th'
quartz mills in this region the way til,
| precious Inclal WIS uGNclOpcu. CfOSSlns
IIcndrics, Whitach, McClures and other ricl
leads, we return, via the Orleans, Grizzl,
Gulch and Orc Elmo diggings, made the ac
quaintance of the Mcssrs. McClurcs and Col
James Whtlach, the "Quartz King" so call
ed, who volunteered to show us around tn
country, with his fine span of grcys &c. 4
few days after, DIR. j. w. Rcins called for us
and in company with Mrs. DR.. S. and Turnc
Ashby, Jr., We went via Major Forbes beau
tiiul mansion, in Storevile, Can addcnda 0
iIclena,) and added to our company Mrs
Forbc and Miss Belle, and drove four mile
out to the rancho or farm of Major IT,, OF
Ten Mile creek, and was joined by the Maio
cat home, who walked us over his beautiful
grounds, now just being planted, and fo
richness of soil, beauty, and general convent
cncc, We have never seen one to excel it,
The Major Informed us that last year his Gro,
Of wheat had averaged him firty.six bushcl
per acre. Some Of his land had yielded hin
eighty-thrce bushels per acre, and thoFyea
before he had made quite good thing ou
of his vegetable crop After general OK
ploration of the premises and surroundings, i,
which wo found every thing to admire an,
nothing to reject, VIC set out for "town," vi
the celebrated Hot Springs, on Ten Mil
creek, al miles from Helena, kept by Mr.
Waswcila and lady. We find here the bcs
accommodations for guests, with amusement
of various kinds even Vclocipcdo ride,
you choose, across the beautiful, Lowell, grass
plateau. The waters are hot or cold, as vol
choose. You can stand with one hand il