The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-08-03
THE CATARACT nv ING DISTRICT.
"Port's Impressions OF the New Camp
ITS Cities, Towns and villnges-Mines.
MOuntains, Forests ana Streams
abundant Water Power, Etc , Etc.
FIRST LETr TER.

Editor Butte MINER
The Cataract Mining district, which lies
wholly in Jefferson county, is about IL miles
square, and, therefore, contains IA square
miles, inore or less. Nature, it appears, was
in one of her most heroic moods when she
formed this portion of Montana. Thu cloud
reaching, rugged, precipitous mountains, and
the tall, shapely trees growing upon them;
the strong. huge lodes that rib the mountain
sides, and the rushing, foaming streams that
pillow their way through them are evidences
that they were all constructed after the most
ample and magnificent patterns.
Boulder creek, which rises at the west IN
the main range of the Rockies, flows through
the district in an easterly direction. From
the north, tearing through the cahons and
discharging their whirling waters into the
Boulder, come High Ore, Cataract, Basin and
Red Rock creeks, the last three named hav-
ing their sources IL or Is miles distant in the
it. The streams are all very rapid, having a
fall of over 200 feet to the mile, and carrying
water enough, if properly utilized, to run five
thousand stamps. 1t is one of the finest tim
bered sections | ever saw in the mountains,
and SO far as wood and water are concerned
the district contains the essential elements of
a first-class mining camp in an eminent de-
rec.
This lodcs, which traverse the district in an
easterly and westerly direction, are strong,
clearly cut, and we'll defined, and carry both
gold and silver, though silver appears to be
the predominatins metal. They are incased
between a foot wall of porphyry and a hang
ing wall of granite, AMI have a dip or inclina-
lion of about SIC to the north. They vary
in width from 3 feet to 40 feet, and in many
places crop out to the height Of IL or Is feet.
The streams which l have mentioned as flow
ing from the north to the Boulder, cut the
lodes at right angles, and the wash from the
hillsides having buried the lodes as they tp-
proach the water courses, it is therefore high
up on the mountain sides or upon the top Of
them, where the loies show float or groupings,
that most of the locations have been made.
1t therefore requires the expenditure Of no
inconsiderable amount of lung power and leg
muscle to prospect for and work the lodes
when found. Those who cannot stand the
thin, light air OF mountain SUBMITS would do
quite as well to direct their ate ntion to some
other occupation besides prospecting or min
ing in the Cataract district.
About two miles above High Ore gulch,
which bounds the district on the ease, at the
junction of Cataract and Boulder creeks, is
situated Cataract City. This town is regular
ly laid out with streets, avenues, alleys, etc.,
a plat of which may be seen at the Office of
Mr.. Esau James, postmaster of the city.
Building lots are so feet front by 100 feet
deep, and may be purchased at prices rang
ing from $25 to $50 each. Messrs. McDer-
mott, Sanders, Hauser and others own the
ground by virtue of placer claim patent. At
the present writing there is only one store,
one hotel and one saloon completed and in
running order, but several parties have signi-
fed their intention to build at this favorable
locality in the near future.
A Little over a mile above the town Of Cat
aract, at the junction of Basin and Boulder
creeks, lies the lively little Basin City. The
LCoNCi II piSdoC yin GudJ IL klllIlliS SCI
lions one house constitutes = town and three
make q city. Basin City, however bases her
pretentions to municipal honors on a much
greater aggregation of logs, lumber and shin
giles. She has at least 20 solidly built houses,
with the foundations laid for as many more.
Titles to town lots are in rather an unsettled
condition. The citizens claim the ground as
a town site. Four other parties each claim
1t as a mill site. Another party claims it as
agricultural land, and has a portion of it
fenced in for pasture land, and McDermott,
Sanders ct al. claim to own it by virtue Of q
patent IRON the United States government.
The latter party is likely to take the persim-
mons. 1t has the longest pole in the outfit OF
claimants. One store, one hotel, one restaur-
ant, one blacksmith shop, one butcher shop,
four assay offices, four saloons and several
private residences comprise Basins architect
ural display.
About a quarter OF a mile above the city
Mr.. Milo C~ourtwright, the veteran quartz
mill builder, has in course of erection a ten
stamp mill, to work ore from the Boulder
mine. Mr.. Courtwright has also a boarding
house near the mill.
Three miles above Basin City. Red Rock
creek flows into the Boulder. Col. L. NJ.
Black has a fine station here. | have not
learned that the Colonel has yet laid out a
city at his place. Should the mines. which
are situated two or three miles above on the
creek, turn out as we'll as they now promise
to do, a town will undoubtedly spring up at
or near this point.
Logs for building and other purposes are
very abundant and handy throughout Tie dis