The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
The Recent Rich Discoveries, and
Some Of the Leads,
A Brief Description Of Fert Maginnis, the
New Pest.
Something for the Consideration Of the
Business Men of Benton.
BY T. D. WRIGHT.

the 1errltOry none are perhaps more worthy
OF extended notice than the Judith mines
Few indeed are aware of the fact that such
a mining district exists, but-the writer ven.
lures to assert that within two years the
camp will be considered one of the best In
the Territory and will add additional lustre
to Montana's reputation as the great mineral
depository of the Northwest.
The mines are located in the judith noun.
tains, about seventy-fve miles southeast OF
Benton. While at Fort Maginnis the writer
heard go many encouraging reports of the
new camp thai be saddled his steed and de.
termined to personally inspect the reported
bonanzas. It is three miles to the base of
the mountains and two more, through q
dark, dismal canyon, to the summit. There
is no road-nothing but a narrow trail that
winds and bends around the sides of the
snow-clad mountains and impresses one with
a feeling of real gloom as he slowly ascends.
1t would seem that the hardy prospector who
year after year follows the shadowy phan-
tom, hope, in his u~ntiring search for gold
is but barely rewarded for the incessant
trials and privations which his occupation
exacts.
On the very summit, and just to the right
Of the trail. is the famous montana" lead,
recently purchased by 8. {. Houser and
other capitalists Of John Burke g Co. The
fact that this property was first examined by
Mr.. A. M. Esler, q mining expert Of Terri
torial reputation, and afterwards purchased
by the above parties for $15, 600 is proof pos
tive Of its worth. The shaft is only
down sixty feet. but q force of men will be
put on at once and the work of development
rapidly pushed forward under the personal
supervision of Mr.. Esler. In q half hours
conversation with that gentleman, who is by
no means an enthusiast in mining matters,
he informed the writer that he had made
assays of ore there which went as high as
$780, GOO to the ton. He regards the future Of
this new district as decidedly bright.
The mine known as "The Collar lead" is
owned by Messrs. Kemper, Besser. Irvine,
Snow and MCFARLAND, and is undoubtedly
one of the most promising lodes in the camp.
The owners are all practical miners and are
in earnest in their efforts to develop their
mine. The lead is about eight feet in width,
is free milling ore, and the assays run from
sixty foot shaft has been sunk, and there is
perhaps fifty ton of ore or the dump. These
men have shown commenable zeal and I'M
firing perseverance in their work, and will
certainly reap the reward their pluck merits.
The Florence probably ranks next. The
owners have q large body of ore stripped,
and the assays run from two hundred to
four thousand dollars. The ore is OF the same
character as the Collar" but shows about
thirty dollars in gold. Work is progressing
and the ore will be sold on the |
dump as fast as taken out. 1t is certainly q
most valuable and much desired property.
The Key Stone" named in honor of
Pennsylvania, is a splendid mine, the ore
being in . large body and assaying nine hum
dred dollars to the ton. 1t is owned by
Messrs. Jones, Sage, Duncan & Bros, and
Gardner, the latter being a Minnesota capi-
talist, who came to the Territory seeking
and who was so well pleased with
be camp that he will erect a quartz mill il
he spring. Duncan s. Bro. represent Mr..
at Vaudeville and are very enthusiastic
b regard to the future of the district, and
prove their faith by heavy investments in
mining properties. This firm also do . gen
mercantile business, and appear to be
the success their go-a-headitlveness
The Warm Spring lead is the name of
lode that is attracting no little at
The vein is Of q good width and
he ore runs from seven hundred to q thous-
nd dollars to the ton.
The tsComet," an exceptionally promis-
ng lead, has q forty foot shaft and 2 nice
It Of ore on the dump. The ore runs from
ne to seven hundred dollars, and the VEN is
lrge enough to make the owners feel jubi-
over their possession.
The ssWar Eagle is eWned by Anderson,
ones and Dexter. The ore is very rich,
arrying from forty TO one hundred and fifty |
in gold besides q large assay IN silver. I
he owners are developing their mine, and, {
nee receiving their last returns, wear 9 self 8
.tistied smile that is pleasing to witness. +
The Alpine is Of the same character OF +
e as the above and is supposed to be valu- !
E. But llttle work has been done as yet, :
i II shows up ancouragingly as far as 9
yeloped. y