Helena weekly herald., 1878-10-24

of the romantic gulChes and mountains clSsely
surrounding. The "Whitlach Union" quartz
mine, which has yielded 81, 600, 900 in gold,
is within easy walk of the city. Four miles
awav is that wonder of all Rocky Mountain
silver mines, the Lexington, whose product
surpasses all others for its marvellous richness
in native silver ores. The famous ''Penob-
SCOT" whose
$4,000 GOLD BRICK
of few months ago is well remembered, is
only half days drive northwest OF here, and
within twenty five miles are hundreds OF gold
and silver quartz mines recorded, which for
extent and richness will average better than
similar number in any district of Colorado,
Utah or Nevada.
In this necessarily brief sketch l can
only refer to these, to'the rich copper mines
and immense coal deposits within sight OF
the city, to the forests which cover many OF
the mountain ranges in view, or to the lovely
trOut-crOwded streams cOurslng nelghDorlng
valleys, to scenery as sublime as any IN the
Rocky Mountain chain and to game naunts
within half days drive which would hre
almost any one with huntsman's ardor:
The week lust closed has been Montana's 8
Derby. In other words the ninth annual fair
of the Territory has absorbed all interest for
six full davs. From the zeal manifested and
the turning out of the miner, granger and mer-
chant alike, from far and near, one would
naturally think there never had been similar
holiday in the Territory. But Montana has
always been noted for her fairs and races,
and it is safe to assume that the thing will
continue and improve with other rapid devel-
opments. So this gathering of the thousands
was nothing unusual. but just hearty
WhOle-sOuled
MINGLING OF PEOPLE
who will 60 their whole weight or "bottom
dollar" on any worthy ENTERPRISE The IN
stances of whole families coming lou miles
in wagons or other cOnveyances were not
rare. and Helena was crowded like centen-
nial street car. Our hotel fed !, 800 people
per day, while several others were equally
crowded in proportion to their capacity.
Though not very numerous the entries in all
departments of the fair were very creditable
Wheat as fine as the world can produce,
yielding from 40 to 70 bushels per acre; oats
which weighed A pounds to the measured
bushel, and yielded from 60 to 100 bushels to
the acre; enormous melons, potatoes and veg
etables of all kinds; fine imported and short
horn and ersey cattle, some royalty bred racing
and road horses, half a dozen pens of superb
Merinos and Cotswold sheep, and about the
same number of pens of Berkshire and Ches-
ter White hogs were leading features of the
agricultural and stock departments. Here as
elsewhere in the Territories the tendency Is
to fast horses, and the races were therefore
the great attraction. There was trotting low
in the forties and corresponding good time in
several of the running races. Other features
were specimens of ore from the great silver
mines at Butte City and elsewhere in the
Territory which fairly glittered with grains and
wires of silver, specimens of coal and coke
from mines twelve miles distant, and an ex-
tremely fine display of all articles relating to
household adornment or economy. The dis
play of dairy products was simply
ONE OF THE BEST
have seen To the credit of the Montana
ladies, also, be it said, that the departments
representing their industry were by far the
best of the present fair. The association has
eighty acres of beautiful meadow lands well
fenced and well improved, lying along Ten
mile Greek, about two miles from Helena.
Attractions no visitor should overlook are
the United States assay Office in the city,
and the hot springs, four miles distant The
assay Office, an imposing brick structure, was
designed and built by the present melter
MIR. NJ A. Meyendorff, at a cost of $50, 600.
Gold dust and silver bullion are melted and
assayed here in considerable quantities daily,
the total value of precious metals passing
through the Office during the past year having
been nearly $1,000, 900. Among fixtures
which possess no little interest are the fur
naces and assaying apparatus; the $1,000
scales, which were on exhibition at the Gen.
tennial, and which will weigh anything from
mite of paper to a thousand-ounce silver
brick two vaults costing $1,000, and whose
freight from Boston cost $4,000, or more
than if they had been sent by mail, and q
dainty pair of scales so delicately balanced
that we found our name written on bit of
paper, which had been previously weighed,
disturbed the balance to the extent of just
the one two hundred and sixty fourth part of
grain. If the contemplation of this me-
chanical wonder doesn't lead one to moraliz-
ing on ''what's in name, F." he needs looking
after.
THE SPRINGS
The springs referred to above are very hot,
afford;ng luxurious bath and their water
is an excellent tonic when taken inter-
nally. Soda and sulphur are predominating
constituents of the hot springs, while large,
cold, iron spring bursts out near by. The
hotel and bathing accommodations are fair,
and the drive is an extremely pleasant one.
The spot is naturally very attractive. 1t must
come in for large share of attention in that
golden age of Montana when the iron horse,
now so rapidly approaching from the south,
appears upon the scene.
Jack Frost in the Fever Districts.
MEMPHIS, October ia heavy black
frost fell last night. This morning ice the
10Th of an inch thick formed in pools beyond
the city limits. From 6 o'clock last evening
until noon to-day the undertakers report ten
orders for interments.
NEW ORLEANS October 19.-The weather