The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-01
JEFFERSON JUBlLANT.
Dull Times Just Now, but Rail
road, Concentration, and
Mining Enterprises
Present q Bril-
liant Pros
poet.
Notes of Interest and Personal
Mention.
Special Correspondence of the MINER.
poet.

Special Correspondence of the MINER.
JEFFERSON CITY, August %.
We are having very dull times in
Jefferson and surrounding country,
but there is no doubt that the Jeffer-
son county branch of the Northern
Pacific railroad will be built within
two or three months. The railroad
company are having some trouble
with the ranchmen along the route,
about the right of way, but there
seems to be no good reason why an
amicable and satisfactory settlement
OF this question cannot be arrived at.
The ranchmen should be willing to
take whatever amount they are &C
tually damaged by reason of the road
running through their ranches. This
amount the company ought to be
willing to pay. The Northern Pa
ciic railroad company is a wealthy
and powerful corporation. They
own millions of acres of land which
has been given to them by the people
of the United States, and for them to
ask a few poor ranc lmen to give
them the right Of way through their
ranches, gratis, would require more
cheek than the Northern Pacific peo-
pie are supposed to possess. There
will probably be no serious trouble
III this respect.
The new company which pur-
chased the Alta-MOntana COmpany's
mine and smelling works are erect.
ing extensive concentrating works
one mile and a half from Jefferson
City. The object of these works is to
concentrate the ores of the Alta and
other mines in this vicinity. For
the present the concentrations will
be reduced to bullion at the Compa-
ny's works at Wickes; but it is ru-
mored that extensive reduction
works are to be erected on the COM
pany's site near Jefferson, OF at some
other convenient point on Prickly
Pear creek, in the near future.
The Gregory smelling works ara
temporarily shut down. The con-
centrating capacity was not sufficient
to keep the roasters and smelters
running steadily, consequently it be-
came necessary to increase it. When
this is done the works will start up
again. The mines of Jefferson Coun-
ty are beginning to attract attention
from the outside: and this section of
the country presents a fine field for
the profitable investment Of capital
in legitimate mining.
Since the locating and grading of
the Jefferson County branch of the
Northern Pacific railroad is being
vigorously prosecuted. quite a
change for the better in the business
outlook for Jefferson is TO be observ-
ed. The Jefferson City hotel, H. G.
Dodge and lady proprietors, is filled
to repletion with guests, the most
of whom are employees of the
railroad, and persons visitin
this section of the country for the
purpose of examining u mines.
Ellis 4 Berendes, merchants of this
place, are energetic young men who
take pleasure in waiting on their pa
irons and are doing a brisk business.
Mr.. Eyle is also a very popular mer-
chant who carries q large stock OF
goods and is doing a good business.
There are three saloons in Jefferson
where liquid refreshments are dis.
pensed to all thirsty tr 've]ers who
have the requisite two bits to pay fol
it. Mr.. MILESTONE, Mr.. Mclaughlin
and Mr.. Campbell, are the proprie.
tors of these popular places of public
resort. VIM. Neil runs the black.
smith shop aud all orders of his pa.
irons are promptly attended to, and
all work skillfully performed. The
Sale Brothers are .the proprietors o.
the livery stable. They have a first
class outfit ofhorses, buggies and har.
ness, and are always ready to supply
their customers with anything they
require in their line. The directors
of the Jefferson school district have
contracted with Mr.. Charles Thomp'
son to build a school house. The
building when completed and furn-
ished will cost seventeen or eighteen
hundred dollars. 1t is to be finished
by the time the winter term of school,
$4,000 a a.lnaAaa oE xho oLila ror