Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-01-31
No. 1 I.

sufficient to last year or six months.
These people will now have market
opened to them which is reached in a dis
| tance of from II to 20 miles. The advan-
tage thus derived it is easy to appreciate
During the past season large settle
ment has taken up section of valley on
the Big Blackfoot. These people, who by
! another year, will probably number as
many as the older district of Nevada creek
will also find this place their most con-
venient depot of supply, and must con-
tribute large volume of business to the
new town. A feasible pass over the range
has been utilized to some extent for years
and with the expenditure of few hun
dred dollars can be put in first class con-
dition
At the head of Willow creek, twelve
of mines have been discovered and camp
of considerable Importance will soon be
established. The ores from this district
are carbonates, are found in beded veins
which vary from three to five feet in width
and yield from 25 to 80 ounces in silver.
Among the most prominent properties are
the Comet and Oxide, which were pur-
chased in the spring of 1882 for $500 by
w. H. Williams, Superintendent of the
Colorado and Montana Reduction Company
ofButte. These mines are edeveloping satisfao.
torily, the first shipment having been made
few weeks since. 1t consisted of 100 tons
of high grade ore which milled 100 ounces
in Butte and $50 tons of second grade,
which was reduced in the Hope mill at
Phillipsburg, yielding 40 ounces per ton.
In the spring of 1883 number of new
locations were made in this district. In
these lodes the ores are of the same charac-
ter and quality as those above mentioned.
In the Screamer the foot wall is slate, the
hanging wall quartzite, the strike north and
south with dip of about 500. A tunnel
has been driven in ON the vein 100 feet
through solid ore body four feet wide, 20
inches of which, on the hanging wall aver
age 200 ounces to the ton. There are 40
tons of this quality of ore now on the
dump and sacked for shipment. Of the
many locations in this district it is impos-
sible at this time to make mention, but
enough is known already to insure pro-
missing camp at an early day.
At point twelve miles from Drum
mond the Boulder, fine mountain stream,
unites with Flint Creek. Following up
the Boulder twelve miles further the ira
veler arrives at Medhurst camp unques-
tionably destined to become a large ore
producer in the future. The most promis-
ing claim in this vicinity was recently pur-
chased by the Lexington Mining Company
of Butte, for $4,000. The vein varies
from IA to 20 feet in width, is true fis-
sure, and carries ores that will pay from 20
to 80 ounces silver. In the spring steam
hosting and reduction works will be erect
ed and the mine fully developed There
are over fifty locations in this district hav-
ing an average width of vein of from to
7 feet. They are, however, chiefly owned by
poor men who for years have clung to
their properties, awaiting the arrival of
capital to aid in the work of development.
All this extended region to which refer
ence has been made will draw supplies in
large measure from Drummond. Next
season a very considerable freighting busi-
ness will also be done by the town, which
will materially assist in its Development
All the mining and milling machinery, the
salt used in chlorodizing by the districts
above referred to, will here be taken from
the cars and transported by mule or OK
trains to its destination, while the ore and
bullion shipped will be forwarded from
this place. In reviewing the various re-
sources from which the town will in the
future derive its revenues, there can re-
main no doubt that its future growth will
be permanent and rapid. The mining dis
tricts to which alluson has been made are
as yet scarcely prospected, but capital,
after many years of waiting, is at length
tllSlcu III IHCli DCue'ii, IL ID tAiS Ii IL
belief of those competent to Judge that
within very few years this region will
be one of the most important mineral sec
tions of the Territory.
The railroad company has nearly COM
pleted the largest freight and passenger
depot on the line between Helena and
Missoula in anticipation of a heavy business
in the spring. The first months receipts
from this source, ending the last of Octo-
ber, amounted to over S4 900, which, for
station that at the time did not boast
single business house, was very satisfac-
tory return. A number of buildings have
since been erected to meet the immediate
demands of business, and arrangements
are already completed for the erection of
others with the opening of spring.
For the accommodation of many tran
sient visitors, Mr.. Hettinger has opened
the DrummOnd House, where comfortable
quarters can be obtained. F. M. w.