Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-10-02

1
comes within reasonable striking distance
| Notwithstanding that the Northern Pacific
has been delayed, and has apparently come
| to stand still with its construction at Bis
marck, on the Missouri river still it is the
principal hope of the Montanians, and their
hopes have been greatly stimulated by the
recent report that contract is about to be let
Immediately for the building of two hundred
| and five miles west of the crossing at Bis
marck. A pro iect has beer agitated for some
time past, to build road from Corinne to
Helena. The undertaking is considered feast
BILE, and some of the leading men of the Ter
ritory think that this North and South Road
will be built before any benefit can be de-
rived from the Northern Pacific. However,
the enterprise has not assumed any tangible
shape yet; but if successful, will be an addi-
tional benefit to the country, for there is room
enough for both roads.
1t must not be inferred that business has
entirely ,stagnated while waiting for the rail-
road enterprises. Times are nothing like as
"tlush" as in former days; but business is in
better tone, and much more stable than ever
before. This may need some explanation,
which l will try to give. The first discover
ers of gold in the Territory found but little
difficulty in taking out large quantities of
money aoithout capital. The discoveries were
made in ravines or gulches, on the banks of
streams of water; in fact, little or no atten-
ton was paid to it in other localities, for
water must be had to wash it, and there was
such rich diggings where water could be had
for the taking that men could wash out from
500 to $500 per day. People came from all
parts of the globe to the new FL Dorado, gen.
orally with but sufficient money to bring them
here. The country was soon filled, mainly
by the toughest class of adventures. "Might
made right" and the pistol or the knife were
the most frequent arbiters of disputes. There
being no agricultural products, except that
which was hauled or packed hundreds of
miles, flour sold at 81 25 per pound, and all
other necessities of life at proportionate
prices. Gold dust was the current medium,
in gambling, drinking, and debauchery, as
though the mines were to last for a life time
This state of things may be said to have last
ed until about 1869, when the easily washed,
rich diggings began to fail; and since that
time there has been quite steady exodus of
that mobile class of people, who never had,
and never will have any money ahead, and
who are in some respects a detrment to the
well-being of any community. There are yet
thousands of acres of gold-bearing gravel
throughout the Territory, some undoubtedly
as rich as any that has been worked, and
some that will pay three or four dollars to the
hand per day when labor becomes cheaper,
but water is required to wash out the gold.
This must be brought long distances in canals
or bitches, in some instances thirty or forty
miles, and as it costs from two to five thou
sand dollars per mile to construct the canals,
it is easily perceived that considerable outlay |
of capital is required to develop and work
], nf oil 1vyino INo fDr
many of the men who made their money by |
hard knocks in the early days, have saved |
and reinvested it in operating these more ex-
pensive diggings; in fact, almost every man |
who has any money here, has more or less |
mining interests, to the extent of his ability. |
Then there has been some capital invested by |
eastern parties, and mining has been reduced |
to more systematic and legitimate business
than heretofore. Among the most extensive
Of these placer mines, is that of Taylor, Den
niston & Co., owned in Pittsburgh and vicin-
ty, which is doing well, Notwithstanding the
season, and will give good ac-
count of itself by paying handsome divi-
lend, this, the first year OF its operations. In
addition to the placer or "wash" diggings,
he deposits of gold quartz, and ore bearing
silver, lead and copper, are very extensive,
md in many instances, the richest found on
|
being made, and it is doubtful if half the
reasures of the mountains are yet known.
Qartz mining is much more risky and ex-
oensive than placer mining. Heavy outlay
If capital is needed, as most extensive ma
;hinery is required to reduce the ores and its
)ulk and weight are against its shipment, un-
ess very rich indeed. Then the labor of quar-
wing the quartz out of the solid rock far be-
ieath the surface is immense, and the lead or
rein, although it may promise well on the
urface. is liable to ''pinch out" at any time
n this way great deal of money has been
invested and lost. Men having rich surface
discoveries, some with knowing and down. ,
light fraud, and others through honest but .
mistaken belief that they have ''true 6ssure
,ein," have induced eastern capitalists to pay
arge amounts for mines, and put up the most i
Expensive and sometimes imperfect machin-
rocket" and which pinched out before j
noiety of the cost of the mill was obtained. {
Numbers of these mills, costing hundreds of 6
thousands of dollars, are standing idle and I
seless to-day; movements of too hasty ac- {
ion, downright folly, or barefaced deceit c
nd fraud. In this way so many persons l
ave made misventures that it seems to con- !
emn the business, and put all mining pro- a
ects in bad odor in the East. But in this, @
s in placer mining, great progress has been i
,ade, and a number of quartz mines are now |
eing operated with most fattering results, n
ne bulk of the rich ores being shipped to the n
asst or to Swansea, Wales, for reduction d
lines that promise to be worth hundreds of I
,ousands can be bought for mere song, Il
nd some are being picked by expert agents s.
eastern men, who can either afford to wait g
lree or four years, or who are willing to de-
q nd arb tf,os, md ont d.I
antages. OF the latter class will instance
le Legal Tender silver mines, located sixteen c
liles from Helena and owned by q company C
Minneannlis ipenflemen AThr0ugh the ii