The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-07-20
MONTANA.
[Salt Lake Tribune.

tNA-
In the great procession of States Montana
will, ere long, assume 8 stately place. IL Is
still a rough Territory, some Of its features
are crude and uncouth, but the shadow OF
the desert passes away before Montana Is
reached the glorifed hills are carDeted with
green and often crowned with forests, and
in valley and on mountain there is q promise
Of q strength and majesty which is to culmi-
nate in manhood and Womanhood in the fu-
ture that softer climes never bring forth. 50
far the people have been busy blazing trails
and laying the foundations Of homes. As
when the first settlers went they were forced
to traverse the hills without grade, and to
ford the streams SO the pratice became a
habit, and to this day no fortunes have been
lost there ia grading mountains or in bridg-
ing streams. The log house is still common
the saddle and pack horse and 'tjerkle' stage
are frequent, and the girls on horseback
drive upthe COWS without any such triding
interpOsition as a side-saddle. Til Montana
man grasps the handy Of a stranger as he
might throw a lariat there is no doubt
about his energy or directness. The placer
age is passing away, the quartz age is about
commencing in earnest, and within the com
ing five years the yield Of the precious metal
in Montana will attract the attention of the
mining and commercial world to its resour-
ces in a way which will make a transfigera-
ton in that Territory. The significance Of
Butte as q mining district is already &C
Hnnrrlo1raI thro,1rh what hos p1rpaHy hpnr
performed and discovered there is but as a
wave compared to all the pillows of the sea.
At Marysville, twenty-five miles beyond Hell
ena, is the grandest surface showing Of ore
in the known world in the Drum Lumond
mine owned by Thomas Cruise. All around
the Drum Lumond are magnificent mines,
like the Belmont and Gloster, and the region
has not been half prospected. Back of Hell
ena fifteen miles is Red Mountain, where for
miles silver bearing Lodges are thicker than
blaokberries. II another direction, q few
miles away from Helena, are the celebrated
Alta Montana and Gregory mines. AZ Sher-
idan is a magnificent gold property at Boul-
der there are several exceedingly rich gold
mines, beyond Bannack are fine mines in
many other districts are well established
properties, while in every direction new dis
c~overies are being made daily. The grade
of the Utah & Northern Railroad is almost
within sight of Butte, and the trains of the
Norther Pacific will be laundering over the
summit Of the Rockies year after next. The
Utah Northern is the incest little railroad in
the world and an unqualified blessing to
Montana. Montana's boom is about COM
mencing and it is going to be a continuous
boom. But when her mines are all discov-
cred and appropriated and there is no more
excitement on their account, then the real
glory Of the Territory will commence, for
by that time the first children born there will
be men and women the men will be self
poised and brave, and the women will be
rosy and true, just such q stock Of immortals
as will be q glory to Montana and a defense,
whenever called upon, to the whole Repub-
lie. Montana furnishes the fountains for the
streams that flow east and west her waters
bear the barges which float both on the Col
umbia and Missouri she is imperial in all
her attributes and canno help but become
q State that every other State will learn in
time to rely upon and that trust will never be
disappointed.