The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-08-03

to supply Benton's wants il that line for an
hundred years.
a PROFESSIONAL PRosPECToR.
a Benton gentleman, now largely interest
ed in our tributary mines, tells ''good one, !"
showing how he and . party of Would-be
quartz kings were taken in by professional
prospector in the early days of Montana.
The quartz fever was raging to some extent,
and the party got possessed with the idea
that their right road to fortune was over the
rocky ledges Of quartz claim. But as they
knew no more about tsrock" than any 'sten-
derfoot' would, they concluded to hire reg
ular prospector to h@lnt up rich claims for
them They were fortunate in finding the
very man needed, one who had spent life
time in the mountains and who could tell
rich spot the moment II got bis optics on it.
Well, they employed him. BY the terms of
the contract the prospector was to be kept in
provisions (nour $1o0 d barely, and to have
an equal interest il al the finds. Off he
started, supplied with . weeks grub At the
end of that time he returned with pocket
full of specimens, and reported wonderful
luck. He located several claims, and the
party had them duly entered of record. On
the second trip he returned with another
pocket full Of quartz, and emptying it upon
the table in the presence Of the feverish and
expectant miners, draWled out
'sAh. We lucky dogs! there's rock that is
rock Your fortunes arc made now without
any doubt
But to make assurance doubIy sure he was
again and again loaded with food and sent
out into the mountains, and every time he
would return with plenty Of rock, and the
metes and bounds of several claims laid out.
At length the boys grew suspicious of the
fellow for some reasen, and one day they
followed him-to find that he had camp at
| convenient distance where he had good
supply of 'srock'' to select from, and where
all the provisions furnished had been devour-
ed at his leisure. When asked to point out
! the numerous claims reported, he confessed
to the dupes how he had gulled them, and
only laughed at their exhibitions of anger.
They did their own prospecting after that.
BARKHH ITEMS
1 4 Mr. H. 4. IsoIfe fassdfned from tie Barker
District on Sunday, having, during his stay
there, surveyed the coming town of Gold
Run. In q conversation with Mr.. r. RIVER
Press reporter picked up the following items
of interest:
Work on the smelter is progressing rapid
ly, some thirty men being employed on the
same. The mill was raised on Monday, and
by October 1st Mr.. Foss expects to have it in
running order. He has an assay furnace al
ready constructed, and claim owners can
now ascertain the worth of their ore without
sending specimens to distance.
Mr.. Foss, who is al old and practical
miner, says he was never in camp where
the prospects were better than at Barker. He
has great faith in the development of the
mines, and thinks there is s'big money" in
nearly all Of them. The smelling company
have some good property at the camp which
they will develop IS soon as possible.
There is an abundance Of iron ore at the
camp. One lead shows rs per cent. Of mag
ne1ic iron. One assay made shows also 81
per cent. Of copper.
Gold Run is enjoying d boom. The town
contains 100 acres, and is now properly sur
veyed and plated. Seventy-tlye lots were
taken the first day, and they have been going
OFF rapidly ever since. The town is situated
at the junction Of the roads TO Benton and
White Sulphur Springs, and also where the
railroad must go when one will be built from
Benton to the camp in the near future. One
half block has been reserved in the central
portion OF the town for school purposes.
Thomas Maddox is putting up store at
Gold Run, 30x20 feet in dimensions, and will
have it completed in few weeks. He pro-
poses to fill it with stock of general mer-
chandise this fall.
Three or four dwelling houses are now in
course Of erection il the new town, and
many others will be put up this fall. A
new boarding house will soon be erected near
the mill site.
Some parties at the camp are engaged in
making an excellent quality Of lime at the
camp. 1t is far superior to Helena lime, and
soon will be for sale il the Benton market .
The Wright s. Edwards mine is being de-
yeloped rapidly, and they are shipping large
quantities Of ore.
Superintendent Fos will soon have his
saw mill in full blast.
jim Matkin, when lot employed officially,