Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-12-13
SMITH R1vER-1Ts FLocKs AND HERDS.
NUMBER ONE.

ONAA1A III G1-41O AONA0 Nv AAAxsu0.
NUMBER ONE
1t is a somewhat lonely and desolate route
that leads from Diamond to the east side of
the range. The first five miles is q gentle
up grade, the track being in the gulch and
between the high mountains upon land
that was once valuable mining property.
but with the exception of a few thousand
feet has been worked out and abandoned.
Three miles from town it DIVORCES to the
north, following Cement gulch to Its head
and reaching the summit of the range about
the same time. Mining in this gulch is still
carried on vigorously every season by G.
Meyers and Joseph Emhoff, who are put
ting in a flume, working out the bed of the
gulch and pocketing the gold found thereon.
How much the fortunate proprietors take
out every season need not here be stated.
since the amount is not known by anyone
but themselves. Their persistent hanging
on from year to year and the earnestness
with which they prosecute the work, is a
good assurance of their prosperity.
Though the summit where the route starts
down the east side, is 1893 feet higher than
at Diamond-six miles away-and 6,l9S feet
above the sea, is many hundred feet lower
than the mountains at any other point along
this range, and is the most practical route
for an easy road that is 10 be found in the
country crossing a mountain divide. The
first mile grade down the east slope is a lit
ta futi0linu RI 1nnln1 faoy,c oo,,ia,r ,,> }u,+
is so much easier to climb than the Dog
creek, Madison, Boulder, or Pleasant valley
divides that transfers prefer to travel it to
any route crossing the mountains. After
passing the first mile of down grade, Ben
ton gulch is reached and traversed out of
the mountains. This gulch was once valua-
BILE for its mines and supported considera-
BILE population, but at present is almost de-
serted. Mr.. Geo. Shoemaker, r. A. Blaine
and A. H. Watson being the solitary inhab-
itants. 10 note the value progress and inn
provements of the country is the special
mission of the writer; and, though just at
the home of the first gentleman above
named, the subject is somewhat barren, it
may be we'll to state that Mr.. Shoemaker is
one of the large tax payers and an indus
trious miner. Messrs. Blaine & Watson
may be mentioned as progressive miners.
They have lived in Benton for Il number OF
years, deyoting their time to mining Two
years ago they invested their surplus cash
in sheep, buying about 400 head. Since
then they have fenced in q pasture of 100
acres and huilt some sheds. hut haya r;yan
the most of their time to the mines. allow
ing their little flock to associate with the
mountain lions, wolves and bears probably
a little too much for their health or a very
large Increase.
Seven miles from Blaine & Watson's the
road leaves Benton creek and turns over. a
ridge to Thomas gulch. This sulch, which
is one of the tributaries of Smith river. has
the notorlety OF having considerable mite to
the worlds treasury Of gold. w. G. Hedges
and Chill Pete are the owners of the entire
mines here. The gold is found upon the
low bars and the owners have constant en-
ployment through the summer season. A
somewhat lonely place for. men Of intelli
gence to pass their time. but their knowl-
edge of the wealth stored away therein, and
the consolation that they are the absolute
possessors, together with the novelty of
cleaning up the glittering gold, appears to
give them comfort and compensate them.