New-York tribune., 1879-10-25
MINING IN MONTANA.
TIE TRAPPER DISTRICT.


souri, River side of the mains range of the Rocky
Mountains and about five miles from the Big Hole
River. The pass between here aud Butte is one of
the 10 vest IN the whole mountain chain. Il looks
like a rolling priare and the only thing which tells
O stranger that he has crossed the divide is the
change IN the course of the streams.
This Is the pass which mentioned
in q previous letter. across which the water has
been taken in ditch for mining purposes. and
portion of one of the tributaries Of the Missouri is
turned INTO the head waters of the Columbia. TINS
ride of the divide the shortest road from Butte to
Glendale follows the Biz Hole River through an
exceedingly wild aud romantic canon. which was
almost inaccessible even for pack animals four years
ago. Even nature to make perpetual
protest against this invasion of her places,
for the frosts and the constantly tdmbGng
down from the steep mountain sides into the road
great fragments of trap rock, which. but for their
frequent removal by teamsters. would soon block
up the thoroughfare. woman clad in calico gown
and sun-bonuet, fsaing for trout with a long willow
rod and large dog at her side. completed picture
romantic enough for the pencil of a Bierstadt a
Moran.
Glendale selected by Mr.. Armstrong, OF the
Hecla Consolidated Mining Company, about four
years ago. the site of its reduction works and
the point from which It's bu lion should be shipped
The mines from which the company obtains its
are miles west from here. and at altitude of
about 1900 feet-3 600 feet higher than that of
this town-and il was TO avoid the severity of the
climate up there, the long Winters. the intense
cold and the deep SHOWS, which often make the
upper camp almost inaccessible. that the company
established this village. The gulch in which the
place has been built is narrow, its sides steep
and the whole town seems To have been pitched
into 1t haphazard. IL is not attractive looking
camp.
had arranged 20 spend Yesterday at the Mines
but after early breakfast. the clouds that hung
DveT the mountains II the west were so black and
threatening that was advised by residents here
not 10 venture out About o'clock the sun shonc
out the clouds seemed % break awav around the
higher peaks. and concluded 70 start Dressed in nv
heaviest and warmest Winter clothing, provided
witha rubber coat and mounted on fine black pony
! cot such information could about the road and
was soon on the way. Leaving the town the road
strikes at into a cafOn the rocky sides
Of which rise 700 or 800 feet above the noisy
tain brook that leaps from rock 10 rock and dashes
pver granite bouders that have fallen into its bed
bv the roadside. The sun was shining brightly,
streaming through the gorge between the hills. and
causing the higher mountain peaks covered with
snow. which Law in front OF me, to glow with daz-
zliug whitencss.
Presently dun. leaden clouds began 10 drift
across the faces OF the rugged mountains toward
the south. and furious snOw-sQuall shut ont en-
tirey from view the rocky crags that bali an hour
before had been brightly Illuminated 10y the sun.
Il began 20 look forbdding up there. The scene
from the winding road in the lower valley was
grand and awe-nsplring beyond ANYTHING had
witnessed ia the Rocky Mountains, but the idea OF
riding Mp into those clouds. driven forward by the
wind at the rate Of twenty-five or thirty miles an
hour was anything but pleasant.
The distant mountain and cloud scenery was not
alone worthy of description. The sides OF the calon
NJ which l had been galloping began 70 recedc
at,er had gone three four miles, and 10 slope OF
more gradually 10 the higher hills on either side.
Pine timber had once grown on the left hand side
10 the very bank Of the stream, but forest fires and
SHOW slides bad killed most of z and the gray
trunks of the giants Of the forest that have bleached
In the storms Of MANY long Winters stood here and
there among the widest confusion of fallen trees,
piled across each other OF resting on the grea-
granite boulders which seem almost 10 cover the
yround Amongst this confusion OF PROSTATE timber
Nd rocks sprang up thick growth OF underbrush
Llf revealing, halt cOucoaling II.
Along the roadside there is an occasional rude
iog-cabin occupied by prosDector. a wood-chop-
Der OF By the workmen employed by the company
to keep the road IN repair, and further up wander
Ing miner had pitched his tent IN the edge of the
forest and as passed seated on bis launches
,ooking late meal in a frying-Dan which he held
over small fire. Ii Is noticeable that the plains
men aud mOuntaineers of the Far West never set
mp tripod nor rig a crane on two forked sticks
over their camp-fres. They sometimes make
httle pile of stones 10 hold their cooking utensils,
but they generally squat by the side o. the fire and
hold the frving-pan IN their hands About five
miles from Glendale. the snow line" that Is.
at the point where the deeper SHOWS Of the high
mountains IN Winter end, there Is little
settlement of cabins and stables where the team
sters hauling ore from the mines to the reduction
works who start from either end of the route too
late to reach their destination before dark, stop
over night The road is too steep and dangerous to
drive over except by daylight. Near by is also a
saw-min in which the Hecla Company manufac-
tures the lumber which II uses both at Glendale
and at the mines.
From this point the road became sleeper. and |
very soon entered one of the binding snow squalls
which bad seen from a distance down tie road
1t blew almost squarely in my face making It I'M
possible 10 see the path ahead, aud causing my
pony to halt and turn has head away from the blind
ing storm. Just four months ago | was riding
through a similar storm over the mountains in the
vicinity of Leadviile. Col They have short sum
rners in the high attitudes Of the Rocky Mountains.
The first snOw-squall yesterday was only about
one-haf mile across. bur above It. although the sun
came out. a sharp. cutting wind swept down IRON
the snOw-cOvered peaks piercing through the thick
est clothing like March gale the North At
llntlc coast. Here too, ! found an inch Of snow
living on the ground, and the road, which below
mad been dusty was soft with sIush and mud.
From this point the storm scene IN the mountains
was wilder aud grander even than that of which
have already given a very inadequate description.
A. the road winds up between the peaks they seem
10 stand out IN awful grandeur. far more impressive
af