The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
NEW MINERAL DISTRICTS.

old warrior, ever signing for new worlds
to conquer, and the report of an unex-
plored mountain range showing signs OF
mineral wealth brings gladness to his
heart. We suppose that the only ranges
or spurs in Montana that have not
been thoroughly prospected are the
Bears Paw, the Sweet Grass hills and
the Little Rockies. all lying in the
Blackfeet Indian reservation to the
north and east of US. At an early day
when all Montana was unfortunately
an Indian country these detached groups
Of mountain peaks were inaccessible on
account Of the massacre that was sure to
follow any small party's invasion Of the
heart of the red mans country. Their
situation is similar to the Black Hills
and we all know how late in the history
Of mineral discoveries their inexhausti-
bic tTeasurers were utilized by the ever
c~onquering Caucasian-this delay, too,
in the face of rumors and authentic sto-
ries, both from the Indians and Father
DeSmet, Of the yellow golden nuggets
to be picked upthere. 1t used to be the
fashion to laugh at these floating tradi-
| tons as the vagaries Of a wondering saw
age or the imagination Of a religious
enthusiast. The rich placers Of Dead
wood gulch and the i~ne1haustible gold
| quartz quarries Of the overhanglng
mountains gave the lie to the doubters
4Y.4 AZ ~.~. -. ~ ~ 80 ~
the naked truth had been told.
The hostile Sioux composed for 8 long
time the same living barrier to the
Black Hills that the Blackfeetdid to our
contiguous northern country. Fol the
last few years as the tribes Waned in
number and strength the government
has stepped in with the "blue coats and
said to the daring prospector: Don't
intrude. This is left as a hunting ground
for the original owners" 1t is only in
the last few months that we could see
any prospect of this restriction being re-
moved. From all accounts Of travellers,
scouts and hunters what a harvest it
will be for the thoroughbred prospector!
One will not be confined to any single
class of mining alone, but placer and
gold quartz, silver, coal mines and mar
BILE quarries in profusion will engage his
attention. It would be strange, indeed,
if many richly paying mines We're not
opened up the first summer i'll a section
Of the country where SO many rich
prospects have been struck by only tram
sient travellers.
There seems to be a variety ofopinisns
as the comparative value Of the Sweet
Grass hills, Little Rockies and Bears
Paw as eventually precious mineral pro-
ducers. One old-timer and boomer tells
us that the Sweet Grass hills are worth
more than all the rest Of the country put
together rich gold and silver quartz is
to be found there in profusion. He says
besides the gulches, which pan out big,
also a quarry which has in it the finest
ofvariegated marble in immense quanti-
ties. Other prospectors say, look at the
beautiful silver bearing galena that has
boen found in large quantities IN the
Bears Paw. The gold nuggets and dust
| that has come from its rocky ravines
will be sure to bring it into future prom
inence, and the immense coal viesW that
| crop out in the surrounding foothills
will furnish fuel some day to warm
| shivering victims. The oldest OF the old
timers, if a comparison is allowable in
such a case, still remember the sad fate
of the m~assacred Keyes.and his compan-
ions. They think that IN the Little
| Rockies still slumbers that golden secret
| which he was about to solve when MUIR
dered by the red fends. Even as late as
last summe rowing parties Of white men
have found fine silver bearing float
scattered over the hills many places.
With all these facts staring US in the
face is it any wonder our prophesying
! the ever fortune hunting and never dis
pairing prospectors will make q grand
rush for the new mineral districts as
soon as they are thrown open by con-
gress to exploration and settlement?
Coal Mines.