The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-04-13
REV CITY IN Err.
An Interesting Exposition OF tine Mines
and Prospects,.
MEAGHER City, BARKER DISTRICT,

To the River Press.
Since the first week in March up to date
the weather has been all that could be oesireo.
The days have been warm and sunny winch
have lessened the depth of snow from . feet
to less than / foot on the level, Wnhe the
south side of the mountain on Dry Fork IS
bare from base to summit. Prospecting has
already commenced OF these bare spots ana
il is safe to predict that another week or THIS
weather will give a large area to the eager
prospector.
From the heading Of this letter you will
notice that q new city (Meagher) has been
added to The Barker Dittrict. At q meeting
held by the miners a week ago it was agreed
10 consolidate the two cities of Gaiena and
Leadyille into one and give it the name of
Meagher City. John Fagg was elected Re
corder and has already made 8 plat Of the
new city, and lots are open for recording.
The lots that were located in Leadville last
fell are subject to relocation, as the town
was never surveyed nor plated until now.
The trail over the divide from Geo. Ellis
to the upper end of Hughes City is now &C
cessible TO pack horses. Mr.. King deserves
credit for the industry and energy displayed
in trying 10 keep this trial open for the ben
eft of the camp. We understand be intends
making q toll-road over the summit on this
trail the coming summer.
The Summit and DeSoto boys have gone
to Benton On business connected with their
lead. Rob. Fezell keeps house during their
absence.
Pat. Donahue and Gus Okerman arrived
In camp from Benton on the 4th.
1t is reported that Capt. Garter has gone to
Benton for a barrel of whiskey, and will
open 8 saloon at the upper end Of Hughes
city on the forks of the creek, II the rumor
proves true on Capts. return, business will be
Immediately suspended in the camp and
whiskey Bob will take a two months vaca-
ton. Capt. will make a good bar-keeper.
1t has been the general talk this winter,
and we have often heard the question asked,
what those men had on the Oxide mine, and
why they never dragged on their lead or
spoke of it except when questioned. The truth
is, Joe and Tommy have been putting ia
some pretty "hard knocks" all winter
long, through storm and shine, and an old
quartz miner informed us thathe visited their
shaft 8 few days ago and found to his sur
prise that they had free milling ore. and says
he should think from the looks Of their dump
that every pound hoisted from their 20 feet
shaft was all paying ore. It was wandered
why they went to the trouble and expense to
locate q tunnel site with q little galena in
sight. as it was supposed that there was only
smelling ore in the Barker mines. The own
ers Of the Oxide undoubtedly understood their
business and keep their own council, and
now the mine speaks for Itself. The Oxide
is situated near the divide on the new road
leading co Benton from Barker, which is be-
ing built with the expectation Of being the
main travelled road this summer. The Oxide
is the largest vein shown up in the camp and
is cut across by q tunnel near the top which
shows about so feet Of q lead and is widen.
ing as they 60 down. They have sunk sew.
eral shafts along the vein showing good ore
every place that has been exposed, and car
trace the float nearly every foot Of the fifteen
hundred feet. Joining the Oxide on the
north is the Whoop Up mine, owned BY
Messrs. Caruthers, Kane d Lambert, which
has beeu we'll developed and shows q large
body Of ore. On the south end Of the Oxide
is the ~Well-known Boss mine and still south
of that, on the same vein, is the Comet lode
making it the longest and widest lead in the
Territory showing up at the same distance
The Oxide and Boss mines were taken VI
and located at the same time and when fully
developed will prove to be second to none If
Montana.
bfess-s. Caruthers, Kane s. Lambert left
camp week ago with pack horses loaded
with provisions and tools for their Vol
Creek mine. They intend sinking q shaft &c
further develop this lead.
"Endymion," the Short Horn PlctorsGEs
correspondent from the Barker Dist, has
already made an enemy in the camp. Hatred,
mixed with 8 desire for revenge, has risen il
the intestines of Mike Foley's bosom. JUS
as though Mike can't shave his hair OFF If he
wants to.
There was rejoicing among the boys on
the arrival of the Jews that a smelter Would
undoubtedly be built in the camp the coming
summer. Hurry up Colonel, you can't bring
her too quick. But you had better consult
Pat Hughes as to whether you put it in the
camp, ssout to Cashiers" or at Cape Horn.
We receive our mail more regularly now