The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-07-08
FROM PHIL1PsBURG.
The Richness and Prospective
Value or the Mines
NewspaperInjustice
Criticism, Etc.

CPltlciSrn, ETC.
Special Correspondence NEW NoRrH-wEsT
PHILPsBURG, July 2, 1SS1.--When think
how freely the capitalist lend his money
and influence in the purchase and develop
ment of lode property in other more fortu-
nate sections of this Territory; with what
confidence and alacrity his check Is drawn to
pay for seam barren of quartz and almost
of vein matter, simply because the location
is the extension of some good mine, in an
excellent locality, | am inclined to believe
the Territorial press in league against any
thing favorable to the mineral resources of
the Flint Creek district.
Every one conversant with the past history
of Montana must concede that without the
untiring efforts of the journalists but little
would be known of Butte, Helena Jefferson,
Belmont or Basin Ali of these camps date
their prosperity from the day the editor saw
fit to champion their interests. For ten
years the Helena Herald has as persistently
advocated the development of the mineral
districts surrounding Helena on the East Side
rs you, sir, have in the interests of the stock
grower. ranchero and miner on the West
side. The greatest mining camp west of the
one hundredth meridian, if not in the world,
was taken from within the limits of this
county TO form the nucleus of another, TO in
duce immigration, to invite capital; the
abandoned mines of Butte were commented
| upon until located; after location, until ex-
ploraton, until at last the much sought for
end was gained, though the good work still
goes on.
| This being the case, would il not be rs well
for the press, in avoiding the stigma of sec
tionalism, to devote an occasional editorial
in the advocacy of interests. though remote,
| equally as important as those of nearer and at
present more favored districts? For myself,
| | am impressed with the conviction that it
would be. 1t is just as impossible to estimate
| the value of the mining property in the vi
cinity of Butte and Helena to-day rs it would
have been to make the people believe it had
any value ten or twelve years ago. This be-
| ing the case, which I venture to presume no
one will deny, how is it that the same intiu-
ences have not in the measure of their dis
| tribution been more equally applied? If the
vast network of mines within this district,
from natural causes had nothing in them, or
within sight, to Justify the attention of jour
nalstS or monied men, then light deem the
action of the press consistent and founded
upon convictions based upon a knowledge of
actual and existing facts. No such excuse
could be rendered; and, therefore, it must be
assumed Ignorance of our minera, resources
with no desire to investigate them is the pri-
NAL cause of our present financial depression.
/ do not desire il TO te understood that we
have not occasionally been the recipients of
the most fiattering favors from the press, but
! have always observed in connection with il
a desire to let the matter Immediately drop
for fear of saying to much. Let me antici-
pate the very natural query
of some inquisitive one who probably
knows considerable, but who might know
more of this district: You have mills and
mines. Why not make your camp q sue
cess?
Ny reply should satisfy the most skeptical.
Did any merchant, having a monopoly of
the business of place, ever insist on eompe- |
tition to the end that his profits might be re-
duced? No, not if precedent goes for any
thing.
Did you ever meet a mining superintend- |
ent who was perfectly satisfied with the plant |
of his company and not always ready to in
crease it? A denial of this would be sar-
caSm.
Can any one, poor and without Influence,
go ont into the business world and command |
the attention of financiers with such credcn-
tials as good prospect? He has to live out
side of this camp if he does.
The above leads to the inevitable copclu-
sion that corporations are soulless, and the
geReralitv of mine owners invariably "pov-
erty-stricken milhonaires.
That so long as few can control the inter-
ests of many for the lack of purchaser, a
mine worth a fortune will pass away into the
clutches of a resident capitalist for nothing
There are those who actually delight in |
abusing and decrying locality that they |
live in. Still, you could not drive them out
of 1t. Ask one of those persons of a certain
mine in their district, which he has never
seen, probably never heard of before, and
he wild rejoice to inform you of its feline
qualities. my dear sir" he will excaim,
!" positively il is not worth d-n."
l am willing to concede that eastern and
capital has aided us materially,
but not suficientto provoke any great degree
Of enthusiasm. We have had too little solid
comfort from either quarter to consider them
in the light of benefactors. Still they might
prove so if disposed, and with lasting profit
70 both sides. We have no possible fault to |
ind with either of the gentlemen in charge
If corporate property in this District
K. Pardee, of the Algonquin Co., and Chas.
Clark, of the Hope Co. Will John Caplice,
If the Trout, make any obligations that are
not fulfilled? Either of the first two gentle |
men have in every way that lay within their |
power aided in the mineral development of | ,
his district-not alone, but capital at their
invitation has been brought into the camp, |
md for SO much we are profoundly grateful.
Iohn Caplice has practically dispeled the IL
usion that the Trout mine wouli not pay.
Two stock companies, the Northwest and J
Northwestern, still feel the most atfectionate
interest in this magnificent property. For ,
II of this we are not moving along in the
march Of prosperity quite fast enough If +
he press will only speak the truth of this h
ection, advance the interests of the whole n
instead of portion of the Territory, it will
hen only do for us what il has done for 9TH
rs-namely, inform the world that We have =,
lines Of gold and silver, unlimited supplies !,
{ water, lime, manganese aud wood aud want a
omcthing for them-which we will get in a
line. 4,
As your correspondent of the future, 1 feel "
delicacy in attempting to explain away GER b
hin occurrences of the past, neither credita- "
lie to the camp or the people thereof, provi- q
ing, Of course, that the protection of ones :
roperty is to be considered discreditable, for !,
thinx with you that a disagreeable remi- y
iscense should never be recalled. / can, q
lerefore, dismiss the past in the light of e
lore hopeful future. y
In my next letter will give your readers .,
'view of our good mines, and of those :,
respectively such. OF matters relating to
ur district and the surrounding country 1t is
~ intention to speak er catireda or not at
L. | have concisntiou' scruples agains q
ing, and cannot, therefore, speak of my -
wn property, but will ehdeavor to place that -