The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-03-18
FROM CEDAR CREEK.
A Letter from NJ. Il. j. S;mns0na

foll0wipx. Mr. simmons needs no ineroduco1on to
xontanians. TO ths1s beyond the lines: There h NO
miner in Montana whose judgement and integrity
commands more confidence, and this letter. the result
Of thorough observation and prospecting In the guch
will do to establish public opinion in regard to
Cedlt Greek, than anything hsssssSose puhiished-
En-. n, N.W.) ... ,.,.s.
Mr.. WV. H. CIAoErr, Deer Lodge, NJ. r.
Dear Sir: So many persons haye Decn
going from here to Deer Lodge with whom
you could talk in regard to the camp that
have delayed writing you. prcferrins not to
hazard any opinions until developments
reached stage at which could state def
nitely and positively what the digsings are.
That point has been reached, settled ques.
ton. 1t is now beyond question of doubt
that Cedar win bc among the best mining
camps in the Territory the coming season.
ANY man would he convinced of this by to-
king walk through Barette District and
washing with pan from the various drains
now being run in the Creek, and from cuts
and drifts in the bars.
WHAT ON.
Five miles Of the Creek prospects better
and with greater regularity than any other
creek Of its size ever saw. Below this tho
Creek is deep, having an average width Of
about so yards with grade of between
and 5 feet to the 100 feet along the channel
The depth is not known, and 10 feet the
deepest shaft. Some fair prospects have
been obtained at this depth in the loose
gravel taken up from the water. This ought
to be the hest portion of the Creek accor-
ding to all rules of gu!ch deposits, and is
rising in value as the prospects above on
slallower ground are being constantly
found nearer to It. This deep ground be-
gins at shout 20 below and extends down
81 miles, to the mouth of Oregon gulch at
Cedar Junction. From 20 below to 60above
just miles, claims being 200 feet-is the
prospecting part of the gulch. AtC7 above,
tho Creek commences to widen out, AID
forms wide, flat, extensive basin, which,
perhaps may have been the bed of lake,
and become drained by the Creek cutting
through the narrow canyon below. At the
head of this canyon, between 81 and GO,
some big prospects have been found, from
so cents to $3.50, in the gravel. The basin
extends up to s. (mouth of Illinois guich).
and as yet, no bedrock has been reached,
and but small prospects obtained Its dc.
post of wash gravel is deep and extensive.
None of the large ccdars that are so alum
dant in the lower part of the Creek grow
here, but the basin Is thickly covered with
growth Of small black pine and fir, the
branches of which droop dcwnwards from
the pressure Of the heavy fall OF snow-at
this time the snow being from to 12 feet
deep on the ground, preventing travelling.
except on snow shoes, outside of the we'll.
beaten trails. Barrettc district extends up
to 80. Above that, prospecting with shafts,
for the last month, las resulted in paying
prospects in the gravcl-bedrock not found
-, tho organization of Summit district, and
the discovery of small gulch called Snow
shoe, from which big prospects are reported.
.4.-..nss ANOTHER STAMPEDE.
A large Greek. much larger than Cedar.
called Trout Greek joins the Missoula river
miles above the mouth of Cedar, on the
same side. A branch of this creek coming
in from the east side, has been the scene of
IN exciting stampede for the last 4S hours
From parties returning learn the follow
ing:
wINDFALL GCLCu
Joins Trout Creek about Is miles from its
mouth, and contains 100 inches of water.
Two companies have been prospecting this
for some time, one of them found bedrock
at tho depth Of rinc feet. About all the
gravel prospects from l to 8 cents to the
pan, and 10 cents on bedrock. Have seen
about dozen pcrsons who have been there.
All tell about the same and have confidence
in the gulch. ..s... -.
Another late discovery is Lost Gulch,
tributary of Oregon. 1t is about 10 miles
long, having an abundance of water and
shows paying prospects.
ABOUT PROSPECTING.
The limited knowledge of the mountains,
the scarcity of tools and supplies, and the
great depth of snow are enough to almost
prevent prospecting at the present time.
Parties leaving the trails have to put on
snow shoes and pack their blankets, grub,
and tools on their backs. Notwithstanding
these inconvenience, new discoveries are
made every few days. It seems as though
pay Is found in about every gulch pros.
pecssd in the range, incredible as 1t may
appeax.
A CAMP FOR 5000 MEN.
Cedar and its tributaries, I think, will
support population of 5000 the coming
season. This IL based on the prospectcd
ground which 10 known to be good. What
there 10 or may he found outside of Cedar
will doubtless transpire the coming summer,
as ! think the army of prospectors that will
be lured this way, both from the east and
west, will give the whole Bitter Root range
. pretty thorough overhauling. 1t certainly
offers great inducements to the prospector-
IN extensive field hitherto unprospectcd,
with every facility for mining, an album.
dance of timber and water, and better eli.