The river press., 1883-08-15
Barker BRIEFS.
The News of the Several Camps Corraled
by the River Press Correspondent
" CLENDENIN, August 8, 1883.

The work of discovery and develop
ment still continues in this camp and
vicinity, and great Improvements are
visible. The huge stumps SO long such
obstacles in the main street are grad
ually disappearing. Messrs. f. w.
Reed & Co. are now moved into their
new store and display a stock Of goods
not often equaled in larger towns. DR..
d. McH. Mckay has moved his surgery
and drug store below the livery stables,
to larger and more commodious quar-
ters. The smelter company are now
manufacturing brick for other improve
ments now in contemplation. The new
charcoal kilns, under the supervision of
MI. Rice, are getting rapidly in shape,
and the new tramway connecting them
with the smelter is nearly finished. r..
G. Wight, our county surveyor, has
opened an assay office, which, in con-
nection with his official duties, keeps
him very busy. Work progresses on
the Silver Belle, and very superior ore
bodies are taken out.
In this vicinity, Central City is build
ing up very rapidly, and some remark
ably fine houses are being erected.
Among others may be mentioned nota-
bly, the brewery buildings Of J. C. Lilly
& Co., which are large and substantial.
Opposite the mine is the new hotel kept
by NJ. w. Ellis, formerly of Philbrook,
and which is acquiring reputation for
| low prices, combined with neatness and
| plenty. This hotel, together with that
of J. M. Bird, at Clendenin, are the two
hotels of the lower gulch, and command
a large custom.
Several new strikes have been made
recently which are at present looking
livery promising, especially that of Uncle
IGeorge in the Big Dry coulee. There
are also other mines now undergoing de-
lvelopment in the Dry Fork district, not
ably the Globe and San Francisco, which
are showing very high grade ore. Pros
pecting is now very lively, and it is very
probable some rich mines will be struck
| close to Barker before winter.
Down the Dry Fork, the saw mill of
Perron, Wall & Co. has been moved over
to Dry Wolf creek, on the Judith,
where they have large number of ex-
cellent logs, which they are now busy
cutting. We understand that prior to
the mill being moved large cave was
discovered and partially explored by
some of the employees, in a coulee about
half mile from the mill. The discov-
cry was quite accidental, and the cave
very large, often being forty feet from
floor to ceiling.
Over in the Belt Park mining district
new strikes are being constantly made,
and some are exceedingly rich. Beyond
doubt we have in the new town of
Montezuma a formidable competitor to
Neihart, Clendenin, ETC., and its growth
will be promoted by its peculiarly fav-
orable location with the adjoining lodes.
Snow creek now presents busy ap-
pearance, and the new locations, rich as
they were known to be two or three
weeks ago, are constantly with develop
ment increasing in width and richness.
Some specimens brought in from the /.
x L. by Mr.. Lambert this week showed
free gold in large amounts, and excited
: much curiosity by its appearance.
: In Neihart the old lodes are still i'm
!, proving, and are being developed as fast
: as the resources of the owners will per-
: nit. It is understood that negotiations
are pending for the sale or bonding OF
the Queen of the Hills and the Massa-
chusetts, and ether locations in the vici-
nity. IF this is done the camp will adj
; vance at once.
The fine hay camp at the head Of Belt
park, and known as Keegan's ranch,
has been fenced in by Mr.. Moreau, and
is now probably the finest hay ranch IN
the country. Wild timothy was cut
here last year which was fully five feet
high. If the new road is put through
!, it will be valuable location, as it will
! be on the road both to Benton and Great
Falls. The Great Falls road is now
completed to this point, the Sun River
! parties who did it having run the road
by way of Tiger Butte, and made very
short route. The total length of road
from Great Falls to Montezuma or Nei-
hart is about fifty miles.
+ shall in a few days be going over 70
the Judith slope, when / will send you
some items from there.