The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-14
Smelling Company, owe him debt Of graft

tude.
THE MINES.
| The mines that are being developed are
looking better every day. The Barker is be-
| ing worked in excellent style under the su-
pervision Of P FL, Hughes. They are now
sinking shaft and are fifty feet deep. The
vein is widening constantly as they descend
and the grade Of ore improving. 1t is pro-
posed to sink this shaft seventy-fye feet and
then tunnel to it, after which ore can be TAX
en- out to the best possible advantage. Sew
enteen men are employed, and an additional
force will soon be put on. Over hundred
tons of Barker ore are now at the smelter.
Only three or four men are employed on
the Wright & Edwards, when there should
be at least twenty five. The ore that can be
taken out easily will pay the expenses twice
over, and it seems to US the company is not
looking to its own interests by delaying mat
ters as they are. The tunnel started by Mr.
Lessard should be completed, when the mine
could be worked with some system and ad-
vantage. If a sufficient force were put on
the Barker and the Wright & Edwards, the
smeter could be buried in ore in three
| months.
The Boss, Benton, Pittsburg, Palmetto and
few other leads are being developed, but
the great majority of the leads, even of those
that give forth abundant promise, are entire
| ly undeyeloped.
THE ROAD TO BARKER.
| Some excellent work has been done on the
road to the camp The numerous creek
crossings from Mann's to the gulch have
| been bridged and vast amount of grading
done. thus putting the road in fair condition.
In fact, for a mountain road it is far ahead OF
the average, and hereafter freighters will
have but little difficulty in hauling heavy
loads to and from Barker. Parties are out
now prospecting for q route that will avoid
the hills at PhiIlips's and Mann's and when
this work is completed the road to Barker
will have been improved, very materially
For this good result due credit must be given
| Col. Clendenin who has directed the work of
| Improvement from the beginning.
/ NOTES.
| A. B. Smell is at Barker and finds constant
employment laying brick.
M. E. Miner paid visit to Barker last
week to look after bis interests there.
j. J. Murphy is building house and in
/ short time vii open up a saloon at Hughes
/ City
/ RYAN & McKAy have just opened board
;1a house at Hughes City, and are enjoying
a big patronage
Charley Martin supplies the meat for the
camp, and in the spring will open regular
meat market there.
jim Root is putting up a building at Gold
Ryn for livery stable. He will not open up
business until spring.
John Guthrie is cooking for the men en-
ployed at the smelter, and a few others. he is
doing good business.
! Jim McDevitt's teams are hauling ore from
the Barker and Wright and Edwards mines
at the rate of ten tons q day.
Every one speaks most favorably OF the
Montana district and rush Of prospecfors
in that direction, next spring, is anticipated,
Pat Donahue and Gus Okerman are erect
ing a large tWo-story house in Hughes City,
which will be used as q hotel. They have
already been offered rental OF $1oO month
for it when completed.
The saloons are running night and day; all
seem to be doing a good business. The
gamblers are on hand, plenty Of them, and
few big stakes have been lost and Won
Teddy Williams has made arrangements
1
to open saloon at Mann's ranch. Teddy
understands the business Thoroughly and
will, doubtless, 'sstrike it rich there. 1t IS
one of the best locations In the country
Col. and Mrs Clendenin have very pleas
ant little house near the smelter, and are lo-
Gated for the winter. On Sunday last, Mrs.
/ G. received her piano, and that evening, for
| the first time the music Of this faYorite inst
rument was heard in the camp.
| Foley & Connolly have a contract for get
ting out q lot of wood for the smelter.
They employ twelve men and will deliver
800 cords before New Year. Mr.. Foley is
one of the rustlers Of the camp and always
/ has his hands full of work.
Mnar e Robinson s drug store is at Gold
| Run, and Mr.. Robinson informs Us he has
been doing nice business since he opened.
Dr., Cooper, the dentist, headquarters at the
i drug store, and he tells US bis business
has been fair since he located at the camp.
j