The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-07-18
Letter From Barker.

Everything at present is quiet III the |
upper part of the camp or Hughesvllle,
on account Of work being stopped on the
Wright & Edwards, Barker, and ada
cent claims, bat the boys are all quite
sanguine as to their starting work on
these. valuable leads before long which
will liven up things with them.
In the lower town, Clendenin, every
thing is rushing, teams loaded with
wool. charcoal and silver ore, passing the
whole day, gives the place the appear
ance oil a genuine booming mining
camp.
The smelter is now running full blast,
turning Il 1900 pounds OF bullion
every "a hours. They have turned out
1900 bars of 100 pounds each, this run,
which is the largest one ever made. n
bullion is the highest grade ever turned
out, running about 50 OF. silver
worth, net, about $500 to the ton.
The Silver Bell under the supervision
of F. McCarty, is now the ore producing
mine of the camp, and a visit TO II VIII
! satisfy the most chronic grumbler IN the
country that large bodies Of pay ore are
:, in the Belt mountains only waiting the
3 touch of the rustling prospector and
miner.
e About 10 tons a day are being taken
I'D from this mine and this all from
work being lone to prospect the mines
Z. in running levels and sinking a SHAFT.
" The ore bodies lay mostly flat between
gray limestone above and black dolomite
below, with a thin streak OF putty-llke
v tale Gaping the ore streak.
Y. The longest level is in now about 2oo
G. feet; the shaft they are sinking IS down
Dr. 40 feet. The ore body shows and
d feet of good mineral in many places
! while in a few places the streak OF tale
alone indicates between the two lime
q stone formations where the ore body
le ought to be.
a The ore is mostly ~carbonates with
~anixture Of some galena, and in SOM
E. VILLAGES a streak of good iron ore near tn
vs. bottom.
~ ~ The c~arbonates as they are haule'
hast look to the outsider like a LOAD Q
;~usand for building purposes.
he The, two grades of galena found IN tn
mine run about 90 and 80 ounces sllVe
dy to the ton, the carbonates about 80;
this is very easily worked, they can
eW smelted at a good profit.
The company are making a new vel
ture for. this camp in the burning
q, their charcoal, they having erected tW
~conical brick kilns p feet IN height an
Ks: diameter. in which the logs cut into COZ
'ck LENGTHS are piled and burned. The
~ k;lns hold about 80 cords each, WINE
they expect to make 1,50O bushels
first class coal. About five days will
the required to burn one charge.
ON All the excitement about new disco
sest cries seems to be centered at present
oe q Snow Creek, in the Montana dlstrl
and every prospector as he comes
d. with the news ST his new strike
nch biggest thing ever found in Montana
also can tell you of black sulphurets, brit
sale silver, free gold, ETC., with asss
! sTlo running away up in the thousands,
YOU think that old man Crosus was We
g : small potatoes compared to some OF {
rex. Snow creek bonanza kings.
Il be Judge Gray informs me that
5et a /. x. L., of Tuck Lambert, and ext
Pn;y tions owned by Wright Edwards,
Tingle & Martin, are splendid prospe
md specimens assaying 1900 sl
little and 81, 900 gold-width of lead not
is q present known. Dan Lombard, ano
eafly S. Fitzpatrick, just in from there, SD
ed me some good ore. Other par
have made fine locations lately but | b
no definite reports from them. Sew
,s in parties have been looking with long
light ewes at the locations made last sum
!eces- by Dan Dutro, especially the Blue u
near. and Big Snowy.
evil The dealers in general merchandise
larck seem to be doing a good business, t
are Reed & Co, NJ. Foley, and Max
rye of baker; while those who deal out
e Tor groceries are Hodnett & Johns, T
,a mde > McDermott, John Lilly, Lee sn
Rail Barrett & Mix and AL Lester.
here Judge Bird, J. Killaley. and Graz
and Monaghan, are doing their be
1feed the hungry public, while II
, neat Wilson has the livery and feed St
feau, h,einocc all to himself at present.