The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28

Barker aud adjoining districts. Still the
field has not been thoroughly prospected and
next season, doubtless, q great many addi-
tlonal discoveries will be made.
The Montana and Belt Park districts, of
which Mr. O. G. Morrison has something in
terestiDg to say elsewhere in these columns.
give forth great promise. The first locations
here were made the present year, and the
mineral wealth Of the district is as vet COM
paratiyely unknown.
PROGRESSION
Quartz mining camps develop slowly, for
the reason that it requires capital to Work..the
mines and reduce the ores. This is the his
tory of all quartz mining districts, and Bar
ker is not altogether an exception, although
the progress made in the two years that have
elapsed since the first discovery is considera-
BILE. A smelter has been erected at q cost Of
$35, 600, and is now in operation towns
have been built up in the gulch and an ex-
tensive business in the various lines estab-
lished and several of the leads have been
developed to some extent, being in a fair
way to be worked with profit to their own
ers next season. This is the. record of. pro-
gress at the close Of the second year, and
what will it be two years hence? Unless
everybody is deceived, a thing hardly proba-
BILE, the camp will be one Of the most -four
ishing in the Territory.
THE MINES.
Our limited space will not admit Of e1-
tensiye special mention of the mines. AS
yet but few have been developed to any
great extent. There are hundreds uf most
promising prospects, which, doubtless, il
our Holiday Edition, 1888, can be written
up in glowing style, and any one of which
would merit a column. Until the work of
development is further advanced they can
justly claim but q small share Of newspaper
space.
THE BARKER.
The most and best work has been done IN
this lead, and the fact is as clearly estab-
lished as can be that it is a valuable property.
A shaft has been sunk nearly seventy-fve
feet and levels run from this. The vein of
solid galena and blend ore is three and q half
feet wide, and constantly expanding as
greater depths are reached. The grade Of
the ore also improves. on the lower levels.
That it is a true issure vein and practically
inexhaustible are facts now established be-
yond peradventure. The ore runs from fifty
IN ono hundro1 onrnoc RI tho ron and thnrn
are now at the smelter some two hundred
tons of the ore, and the mine is in such con.
dition that it can be worked to great advant-
age. All experts who have examined this
lead pronounce it a valuable property, des-
tined to take front rank with the leading
mines of the Territory, and it seems to us,
even a novice might arrive at this conclusion.
AS We have said the original owners Of the
Barker were ?. I'll. Hughes and Buck Bar.
ker. TIE fus!aar sEill retains his interest,
bnt tie lister r~Hsos1llY soldiout to the Glen
danin Mining an9 Smelling Company and
has ~retarnel to HIN CID I10zae Id nlssCuri. The
principal owners are 7. H. Hughes, Billy
Rowe, the C. M. & S. Co., Z. G. Power &
Bro, Jos. S. Hill, Paris Gibson, John Huns
berger, and perhaps others are interested to 9
small extent. In June, 1880, the Barker was
bonded to Mr.. Paris Gibson for 500, 900, by
the terms Of which the bond expires on July
1st 1882. of the receipts from the sale OF
ore Mr.. Gibson receives what is necessary t(
pay the expenses, and the residue, if any
is divided pro rata among the owners. : The
mine will twice over pay for the work Of de
velopment, up to the expiration Of the bond:
and put plenty Of ducats into the pockets 81
the lucky owners In this connection it il
proper and just to make reference to the par
MIR. PARIS GIBSON
has performed in the premises. All possible
honor and credit are due him. AT a time wher
others, who claim much business sagacity,
would not havelinvested 800 in any mine in
the district. Mr.. Gibson's clear judgment
saw that the Barker lead was d valuable one
He took the risk Of bonding the mine, and
expanding his money in its development,
| when the district was as yet in its infancy,
and when not a single lead had been worked
to the extent Of $500. His money develop.
ed the Barker, which, proving all that had
been expected, if not more, increased the
value of every lead in the distslet. But for
the good part Mr.. Gibson played Barker
would not be the booming camp it Is to-day.
The good fortune that seems to be in store
for him has been richly earned.
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