Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-12-23
MONTANA.
lmmlgration--.Mining Developments.
River Improve ments.- Railroad
Building. Etc.

The following are extracts from an inte,
view of Capt. John B. LaBarge in the 81
Louis Globe Democrat:
Both Montana and Dakota are rapidly
FILLING up Where last year there was moth
ing but a wilderness along the river bank
this year there are squatters' cabins scatter.
ed everywhere, villages, and sometimes min
ing towns, the growth of @ year-for YOU
know it does not take long for q town to
grow up in the West country. Dakota is
fast becoming a farming country; it is well
watered, and the banks of its streams are
covered with thick growth of timber; back
OF the streams there is prairie country ex-
actly suited for agriculture and stock raising.
Wheat, rye, oats and Indian corn are the
staples but the mills are so few that thev
still import great deal of -four from St.
Louis. The upper part of Montana is very
rich mining region, the mountains being full
OF iron, copper, lead, silver and gold, the lat
ter metal being both in quartz and placer
mines The Judith mines in the Judith
River Basin are Of comparatively recent dis
covery; they are said to be very rich in
gold-bearing quartz and free gold. A trad
ing post has recently been founded at the
mouth of the Judith river under the title of
Judith City. | was shown very fine speci-
mems of gold quartz from these mines, be-
sides nuggets of considerable size and gold
dust. The principal silver mines are around
Helena, Butte City and Benton The latter
mines are recently opened and are paving
very well, in spite of the fact that little i'm
proved machinery is used in getting out the
ore The company which owns them intend.
understand, working them next year with
all the modern appliances"
RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
What Is being done in the way Of river |
?"
More than you would suppose. The |
aepth OF the Upper Missouri in low water is |
IN places not more than "a inches. The
worst OF these places have been improved.
Len years ago we could not have passed |
Oauphln Rapids after September This year
Inc work OF the Government engineers has
made three feet Of water there. A dozen of
he worst places have been improved, SO that
boat now rides over Snake Point in three
eet Of water, when last year it could scarce
y be passed at all. The engineers have en-
oloyed the appropriations well, and have
lone great deal in spite of the fact that
ne Government has not even given them a
tern-wheel steamboat to work with. Every
/
rom flatboats, which they constructed them
elves.
RAILROADS,
What about railroads 2" asked the repert
THAT is a subject little out of nv line,
nd am not very we'll posted The North
m Pacific, as you know, comes in at Bis ]
larck, and it has been carried over and is |
fnH 10 %ho ~ n
hich it strikes at Glendive. 12O i
lies from the mouth of that river, J
here IS splendid country, with plenty of t
mber around the place, and it is RAPIDLY i
aiding up. Another road, I believe it is s
le Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. strikes o
e river at Fort Pierre This has not been t
,ry much to the advantage of Yankton. a
hich is not the town it was as the railroad t.
WINS are taking its trade" Il
THE FUR TRADE.
Does the fur trade continue to be of any q
lpOrtance?" 81
Not so much as formerly, for it falls off 4.
the country settles up and game becomes 81
arce. This was great year for buffalo. n
Wever, and there were more along the riv- -
than ever knew before Buffalo robes o.
the principal peltry, though big trade ST
done in beaver and wolf skins Most of 81
ur fancy fur robes are made of wolf skins II
ought from the Upper Yellowstone and al
ssourl. The men who have the most trad ps
posts and do the largest business through OF
the country are /. G. Baker & Co., of st. va
uis. su
1T is vast country, an important country, pr
l it will soon be full of people," said Capt. II
Barge. m
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