The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-04

FLINT CREEK MINING DISTRICT.
The district above named lies in the foothills
on the western slope of the Flint Creek range.
The strike of this great upheaval through Deer
Lodge county is nearly due north and south, a
succession of westerly spurs thrown out at right
angles to the main trunk, properly forming the
eastern water shed of Flint Creek Valley.
Pleasantly situated in a depression of the table
lands below the mouth of a small canon is the
village of
PHIL1PSBURG.
a place of commercial importance as the supply
depot of the camp and adjoining country.
The large mill of the Hope Co., lies within the
town site. The population of This and other
towns tributary, (Hasmark and Tower) will
probably exceed 800. Excellent mountain roads
open at all seasons OF the year, connect the dis
trict with the principal cities of the territory.
The valley, 50 miles in length, has a mean
breadth of five miles and a large area of pro-
ductive agriculture al land under fence and Gull
tivation. All of the harlier cereals are grown,
while vegetables, such as cabbage, onions and
potatoes, unequalled in size and flavor, are
raised in the greatest abundance and find a
ready market at remunerative prices. The
grand sweep of table lands that stretch away
from valley edge to timber line are clothed
throughout the year with the richest and most
attractive mountain grasses. From every little
dell and canon, swiftly flowing streams of cool
delicious water course merrily away until lost
in the strong. rapid, clear, Flint Creek, the I'm
est trout stream in all Montana. Fores is of fir
and pine of easy access, will. for ages. furnish
the miner and farmer with timber and fuel.
Thousands of tons OF hay are cut yearly, much
OF it on the public domain, the prices varying
from IS to $l2 a ton in the stack. Cattle, un-
Ike horses or sheep, will not winter in very
deep SHOW. This necessitates, in unusually
heavy snow falls, a roundup of horned stock
and constant feeding. The valley is well set
tied a vast amount of fertile arabic land is,
however, yet 10 be found that offers to the i'm
migrant a comfortable and happy home. The
present settlers, with but few exceptions, have
been many years in the country, and, as whole
are enterprising, liberal and intelligent. They
have well conducted schools in every little set
Element and subscribe literally for home papers.
Game, such as elk, moose, sheep and sma IL
deer of several varieties are yet to be found in
considerable numbers up in the rugged lands of
the interior. Yearly pilgrimages to this section
are made by the Mission Indians of the lower
agencies, who return late in the tall with album
dant supplies of dried meats and pelts. The WIN
tiers, while usually attended with considerable
snow, are seldom severely cold, commencing in
49, - - baAS Sthi
mer and fall months being delightful, balmy
weather, unaccompanied with much rain. The
country is unexceptionably healthy, the air be-
ing pure, health-giving and invigorating.
Among the places of interest in The lower
valley,
NEW CHICAGO
at the mouth is the most important. 1t co m
Elands a large local trade, has a population of
probably 100, a large and eXcellently kept ho-
tel, several mercantile houses, among VIII ich,
Caplice, Smith & Dingwa!l. is the most promin-
ent, blacksmith shops, and saloons etc. Pro
ceeding up the valley the old time placer camp
of Henderson lies on the right, its best ground
worked out. Still further on, Stone Station
greets the wayfarer courteously and treats him
most hospitality. Boulder, a few miles further
on, is an old discovery and a silver camp of
some prominence, assuredly deserving a more
extended notice than the writer can give, (my
entire unacquaintence with the district must be
accepted as an apology for passing it by in such
an ncermonious manner. Philipsburg, u miles
distant, lies on the eastern bank of Flint Creek
and its business has a commercial value well
understood and appreciated by those catering
to the wants of its people. The houses of Cal
lice & Smith, N. Connolly and VIM. Weinstine
do a large business in groceries, dry goods,
clothing and Two drug stores, well
supplied with drugs and chemicals of every dis
cription are carefully attended to by excellent
physicions and prescriptionists, Drs. Bowie and
Weitman. The former every one knows; the
latter is a graduate of the allopathlc school OF
medicine and Is a new conner in our midst, with
credentials OF the most flattering character,
proceeding him. Two hotels, supplied with ex-
cellent beds and unexceptionable table-fare, are
well patronized by the public. both home and
travelling. A large brewery supplies the COM
munity around with beer of superior make and
quality. Two candy and notion stores, black.
smith, carpenter and millwright shops, a large
and well appointed livery stable, saloons, inf
mite in number, a roomy and comfortable hall
for dancing and theatrical purposes, complete,
a rather incomplete description of the second
largest mining camp in Montana. 1 should moi
omit to notice hat governmental blessing, the
public school house. This tastefully designed
building, with its silvery toned bell, pendant
beneath the roof of a pure while cupulo, has q
beautiful location on the plateau above the
town and from its broad piazza one can look
out on a landscape unrivalled for Its grand and
magnificent scenery. The interior is handsom-
ly finished and we'll supplied with improved
chairs and desks, Charts, maps and black.
boards line the walls. 1t is not only ornament
al, but useful and its benefits are duly appre.
ciated by its large and intelligent community
j.. a. Quinn, ESQ, a young man of fine literary
attachments and a teacher of more than ordin-
airy merit, has charge of the sixty children in
the district. The orders ofmasonry, odd fellows
and good templars have each a strong member.
ship. Their halls are well furnished and every
meeting promptly attended; sick members are
assiduously looked after and well cared for.
Adjoining the town on the east, are the vii