The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-04-01
TIE CEDAR CREEK MINES.

SVVOBb NV~WA E4AAUA y NAAuoAS .
THE CEDAR CREEK MINES
An Open Letter to all Correspondents.
10 rnE Eprron NEW Nosrn. WEST:
lam in receipt of large number Of vsl
liable letters costing four bits each) from
those seeking In formation about these mines
AT the risk Of being charged with neglect
delayed answering uAtil the period o.
doubt and uncertainty which envclopcd tn
Cedar Creek Mines should pass away, ant
until developments should furnish JdcN a
basis for statements instead OF hazardini
mere opinion. That epoci, in tho brief his
tory of Cedar having arrived, write mainly
for the cdification Of my correspondents
each of whom will please regard this rs An.
swer 70 his (or herr individual letter, thu
New NORTH. West will give credit for 9
promise fulfilled, and all will recognize In
this species Of ''double banking" the econ
omy Of time, paper, ink and Huutley's en-
velopes.
CEDAR cREEE
Upwards OF i've miles Of the bed of Cedar
Creek and its lars and hills arc now pretty
well prospected by great number of shafts.
drifts and drain races, the washing having
been done by pan and rocker. The general
result is such 40 TO place beyond . doub,
the fact that in that distance n least it 10 q
good mining and good paying creek; and
that some Of it, Chains arc what the miners
term "big" and ''rich." This prospecting
has been confined to about the center of the
creek, that being the slallowest and conse-
quently the easiest to prospect. The larger
part and what will be the most extensive
portion of the Gggjngs Lies below, being
deep and almost wholly .unprospected. Al
20, above the prospcctcd five miles; It u
again deep, forming large, fat basins, con-
tanning extensive deposits of gravel. The
limited prospecting shows small quantities
of gold evenly distributed through the
gravel near the surface. The basins con-
tinue, ono above another, to near the sum-
NIT of the mountain, like chain of small
lakes. The lowest and largest one begins At
about No. O. above discovery, in Barrette
District. Below this point for half . mile
the claims prospect well, some of which are
known to be rich. Good prospects have al.
~ been found In quite number of small
gulchcs and Gags which flow into the basins.
Through the lower basin At no time during
the winter has flowed less than LOO inches,
the general estimate being $50 inches. The
snow now lies six feet deep, with q much
greater depth on the surrounding ridges,
and tho heaviest stormof the season is in pro.
gross.
OTTER GULcHEa
Oregon gulch, q larger stream than Cedar,
the txo joining at Cedar Junction, Is scarce
" prpspccteA but as yet has failed to yield
in paying quantities.
Lost gulch, containing fully 100 inches of
water, 10 miles in length, and Tributary of
Oregon, yields favorable prospects and is
believed to be good paying gulch. 1t was
discovered about the middle of February by
. company of Helena prospcctors; Chains
were laid over until the 18th Of March, On
that day 200 claim holders were present at
. miners meeting, and claims were again
laid over until juno Q, snow being too deep
for many of the claims 70 be accessible.
The belief is that this gulch will pay we'll.
The more recent discoveries, which have
caused exciting stampedes . I'd many frosted
feet during the recent cold snap, are on the
of Trout creek, which flows down
tho range parallel to Cedar, discharging in
70 the Missoula . short distance below Lo.
xcau's and about four miles above the mouth
Of Cedar. These tributaries arc named
W'indfall, Deep, and Prospectors, and join
the main creek from 10 10 Is miles above
it, mouth. They are said to contain plenty
of water and paying diggings; At all events
come good prospects have been obtained In
the few holes sunk.
Trout creek 10 variously estimated st from
twice to five times as large as Cedar: II the
latter, II ID entitied 70 the appe)lstion river.
HOW PROTECTING Is DONE
Cedar Wa discovered before snow fell in
such quantities a. to seriously impede travel
and prospecting. The balance of the dis
crverics have been made under the follow
ing circumstances: A party of miners roll
up their blankets, grub and tools into pack,
which they ei"chs on to their hacks,
put on snow shoes, and ''strike out" through
the timbc. and ridges. over boundlsss sea
of snow. A weeks provision, with balance
Of outfit, Il considered / good pack. which
will weigh from Is to ist pounds. With
this tho party win travel from three to six
miles per day. In choosing . plsce to sink
-''indications~ are al alike on the surface
from 1 to Is feet OF snow measured on
California gulch BY Thomas 6trang) u drst
removed then several feet Of brush and
fallen timber, before the surface Of the
ground 10 reached. In this way, prospect
iag has continued through tho winter, add-
ing about dozen new gulches 70 the list Of
paying diggings
TIE Developments In Cedas, oossidering
Ill the disadvantage and draw.backs-dis.
covered in The winter, but four months
si.Ss, and 70 miles from any supplies have
advanesd with considerable energy. A line