The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-11-09
THROUGH MONTANA.
Correspondence Engineering and Min,ny Jourpa


the traveller follows down the Bcaverhea
Valley. To his left, in huge bow of th
range, lies the Bannack district. At Lo,
elPs station, go miles north of Pleasau
Valley Pass, q road branches off to tn
northwest leading to the Deer Lodge Pass
on the other side Of which is the flourish
ing camp of Butte, and still further on Dee
Lodge and Philipsburg. Following tin
regular stage-line, another twelve hours
journey, Gaffney's Station, On the Jefferson
river is reached, from which branch leadl
Oft to Virginia City, in Alder gulch Some
thing over one hundred miles further OF
brings one to Helena, the capital, at the
mouth of Last Chance gulch, from which,
as centre, all the mining districts of the
Territory can be most advantageously
reached. A stage line runs from Helena
to Fort Benton, ON the Missouri river,
during that part of the year when naviga-
ton is opened. and another crosses the
range to the westward into Deer Lodge
valley. Almost due north lies the Sun
hiVer country, which last year was the
scene of some excitement, and which will
| doubtless prove, after further explorations,
to be as fine mineral district as any in the
Territory. To the east and southeast.
above the Yellowstone country, lies par
TALLY explored yet thoroughly unsettled
region, known to be rich in base metal Ores
Beyond this, still further to the eastward.
one enters into the bad lands of the plains,
through whose desolate reaches the Mis-
souri,, no longer clear, cold, mountain
torrent, but shallow, muddy stream,
winds its way to the sea.
The reader, by referring to any correct
map OF the northwest, can pick out ihc va
iious points we have mentioned, and can
easily bound that portion of Montana whicl. |
Is OF interest from pure mineralorical |
consideration. lie will see that the yest- I
ern half the Territory is crossed from north |
to south by the main divide Of the Rocky
Mountain chain, whose slopes and spurs /
extend east and west to width of about
300 miles The entire region, from the
Z
broad mining district, interspcrsed with
many lovely valleys, whose bottoms furnish
magnificent grasses for cattle, and which
are capable of producing all and more than
double the present population can consume
in the way of cereals. Unlike the mount
Tins of Colorado and the California Sierras
40 continuous belt Of mines stretches
lcross the country. The upheayals do not
appear to have been so great as is found to
'e the case further south. The mining
districts are more detached aud isolated.
'rdimentary formations intrude themselves
n numerous places close to the dividing
idge, covering up the granite and separat- q
ng the mines into districts very different q
rom each other. Montana shows also more
gnfl8n than apyo onaEt actt as the m W66tIssg ae
le great richness and extent of its alluvi- q
deposits. Close study of the country
sveals many extensive and ancient water
purses, rivalling the great ancient channel
the Sierras. The mountain slopes are
emile, well covered with soil and vegeta-
on, and yet rugged enough in place to
resent as fine scenery az may be found at v
ny point of the Rocky Mountains. d
hough SO far to the north, it's climate is f
onderfully temperate. To one aecus-
,med to the raw and cutting winters of
le Atlantic Coast, and the sultry summers !.
the Mississippi Valley and Lake regions, :
. seasons are delight. For few months I
the spring the SHOWS are piled many 7
et deep1n In the higher caiions, and over the
hole Territory the cold north wind set
es down like an icicle, but it is clear, q
,arkling cold, which brings nothing but I
salth or vigor to the laborer or traveller. u
Since it's opening in 1861 Montana mines p
I'd gulches have yielded about SIC, 1000, 900 "
bullion. Two-thirds of this amount s.
as taken out before 1866. By that time II
le richest bars and gulches had been rob-
I'd of the cream of their deposits, and r;
lough they still contain much more than q,
rs been taken from them, the rude process f,
IS and appliances of the miner could not ir
work them to profit, and consequently a
e yield of the Territory rapidly declined b
about $3, 600, 600 annually. At that fig h
'e the production remained stationary for
veral years, until, capital having been =
tracted to the Territory, a new era began :.
dawn on the industry. Attention was - !,
ava to quartz veins, and it was quickly -
und that these were not only worthy of :
hx1f .yaC ri | w
ch in silver ores. AS soon as the latter =
ct was appreciated more help came to the y
,untry in the shape of money, and since
en- the bullion production has steadily in g
eased year by year, reaching in 1876 D
'arly 5000, 900, a large portion of which te
as silver. The base metal interests are W
so growing rapidly. The Territory al is
ady produces as much copper as any part p
the west, and is shipping considerable m
ad. It's districts are coming into promi- st
,nce one by one, and attaining such a
ate of development that render perma- /,
,nt or even temporary setback" i'm ~
,ssible. This win be shown in the record
each district as described, and we hope,
fore concluding our sketch of the camps
the Territory, to show not only the
,ints of interest in the record OF each, but
Q extent of its resources and capabilities
r the future.
History OF CERTAIN WoRDs.- The word 10
is derived from the name of a n'
reek authoress, Pamphylia, who compiled a
history of the world into thirty five little "
,oks. ssPunch and Judy" is a contraction y
om Pontius and Judas. It is relic of an hl
miracle play" in which the actors were "
,ntius PLATE and Judas Iscariot. "Bigot'' q
from Visigotha, in which the fierce and u !
tolerant Arianism of the Vislgoth con- tr