Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-12-23
Helena, Montana, Thursday, December q, 1875.
be-and neither this generation nor the next

be-and neither this generation nor the next
need fear check to Chicago's expansion.
After speaking of and describing the nat
ural wonders of the Yellowstone, the culture
of fruit, farming, etc., Judge Mcguire said:
But presume you are more especially in
terested in the mineral wealth of these re-
gions. l will tell you frankly that my ex-
plorations were not extended to Harney's
Peak of the Black Hills; but l am prepared
to give you full information of rich mineral
regions north and west of that locality The
Montanians generally have but little conf
dence in the reported gold discoveries of
General Caster, and Mr.. Jenney, the Gov
ernment geologist; but they know some of
the richest mines of both gold and silver ever
discovered will be opened next spring and
summer in the Big Horn Mountains
HOW DO TEE9 KNOW?
you will ask. They know by actual prospects
obtained. On the head waters of the Clarke's
Fork there are silver leads of enormous ex-
tent, the assays of ore from which run up
into the thousands per ton. have been at
these mines, handled the ore, and know this
to be 10 eXaggeratioa- Equally rich and eX-
tensiye mines of silver have been found in
the vicinity of the ,nouth of the Big Horn
and on northern tributary known as Six
teen-mile Greek. And in the Big Horn Noun
tains, and on the upper tributaries of the
Tourgie RIVER, the Rosebud and Pryor's Fork
there arepndoubtedly gold placers rich as the
richest yet worked Oh the continent. Mon
tana miners have known this for some years.
Why have they not opened these mines? is
the next question in order to be answered.
Let NE give you a little history which has
not yet become generally current. Twenty
thousand fierce and treacherOus Sioux hold
these regions, though the major part right
fully belong to the Crows. 1t is impossible
for white men to maintain themselves there
in small parties. 4 year ago last spring we
QUILTED and sent out an expedition of $50
men, carrying with them a serViceable piece
OF artillery. They, like the preceding expe-
ditions.
FOUND RICH AND EXTENSIVE DIGGINGs,
the full particulars of which, for reasons Of
policy, were not made public: but they were
engaged in almost daily battles from the time
they set out until they returned, and were un-
able to make a permanent stand. Then, last
June, two other expeditions-onc by river
and the other by land, but cooperating with
each Other-Were sent out to stay, and they
have been staying, and intend to continue to
STAY until those rich regions are made to unlock
their hidden wealth to the needy white men of
the nation, thousands of whom are tonight
IN hand-to-hand struggle with poverty in
our great cities. This is a practical way of
settling the vexed controversy between re-
lentless capital and its hornv-handed victims.
Those virgin valleys and gold and silver-vein-
ed mountains have been snatched at last from
the grasp of the barbarian by the brave pio-
neers of Montana, and the invitation is now
to honest poor men everywhere to come in
and share their riches But what do l mean
by saying Montanians have possessed them
selves of that country when Gen. Sheridan,
in an official document first published yester-
day, calls for the establishment of
A UNITED STATES FORT AT THE MOUTH OF THE
BIG HORN.
The policy which formerly called for Sc
crecy no longer exists, and will talk freely.
No officer of the army is held in higher esti-
nation by the brave pioneers of the noun
tains than Gen. Sheridan. But the War De-
partment moves and has always moved too
slowly to keep pace with the requirements OF
advancing civilization. What territory of
armies to settlement? Have not the troops
ever come tardily along over the paths first
marked out and beaten 10y the pioneer? And
this uniform experience is to be repeated in
the settlement of the regions under consider
alton. Last summer General Sheridan's boat
had not lett the mouth of the Big Horn ten
days when hundred brave Montanians dis
embarked there, erected an impregnable
block-house, and they have firmly maintain
ed it ever since.
THE NATIONAL COLORS
are floating over it as gracefully and as
proudly as they ever did over post under
epauletted command. And the boys will
''hold that fort until Gen. Sheridan comes
to establish his in accordance with the slow
and nicely y-methodical red-tape system. And
let it be especially noted that the fortifcation
of the pioneers is on tho north side of the
Yellowstone, and consequently encroaches
upon no reserved Indian territory. Steam
boats are now being constructed to navigate
the Yellowstone to this point; and the mouth
of the Big Horn is the true key to the new
Ell Dorado 1t is right in the mining region,
and with the opening of navigation next
spring you may goall the way from Chicago
to that point by steam.
The "Great Man, of n Town,