Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-05-29
Our Minerals.


Precious stones of all kinds, pearls, AMI
other objects of a similar class, have beer
always eagerly sought after by nearly
every nation and tribe On the globe. AnG
the nation that had the most of these was
at n time, considered the richest. II
those days tho circulation of money in
the form of coin was not universal, as i,
is to-day, neither was such a circulation
required, as most things were procurable
by barter. To-day, when everything is
changed, when commerce is so extensive,
when manufacture has reached such enor
nous proportions, when the arts aud
science receive so much attention, when
universal education, or the power result
ant from it, re;gns, the various kinds of
metals, precious or common are in great
demand. Many Of the metals in
common use to-day, were unknown to
the ancients and unneeded.- They
had their gold and their silver, their
brass Copper and bronco as we'll as
their precious stones, and loved to
wear gaudy ornaments Of the same, and
deck their temples and similar places
with them. Their gold and silver went
by weight. and every merchant had his
balances fol. weighing it. Although large
quantities Of various metals were employ
ed by the ancicnts, the quantity used was
nothing like What it is to-day. Tie earth
was far less densely populated, and civil
ization was in its infancy. Such being
the case, metals naturally were enaplovsd
for few and unimportant purposes com,
pared with their universal use TO-DAY,
As these substances have been more and
more needed, an amount of search for
them has been expended equal to the de-
mand and. Of course, those countries, OR
portions of countries, that were found to
contain the greatest variety and the best
qualities became renowned.
Montana has been some time before the
public as a mineral producing country.
She is rapidly gaining fame for it, and
large as her mineral exports are, it is safe
to say, that they are but IS a drop in the
bucket compared with what they will lie,
even ten years hence. New and rich
discoveries in gold and silver are of daily
occurrence. Not only is the quantity of
these valuable metals very extensive, but
others far more useful, and if more
useful, necessarily moretruly yalua-
BILE, are found sin all directions. Iron,
of various kinds and qualities, abounds
all around US. Sometimes it is almost
pure, and highly magnetic; some
times it is found in conjunction with sill
YER, gold and copper, or other metals, Or
it is found i%mpregnating vast strata of
rocks, ranging from twenty per cent. and
higher to the ton.
The Big and Little Belt mountains con
tain an abundance OF it as well as gold,
silver and copper, and aver the prairie
country Immediately surrounding Great
Fall, is largely underlaid by it, as can be
seen by the groupings of the rock. The
day is coming when the Highwood noun
tains viii be also found to contain some,
or all of these metals, and as the country
around US becomes further developed,
this section of Northern Montana will
prove to be one of the richest portions of
the Northwest.
We have laid, or intended to lay,
particular stress upon the magnitude of
the body of iron here; because, iron is one
of the most useful metals we have, despite
its commences. But let various iron
and foundries spring up, and the
territory will be greatly enriched. Mon
tana could, if she would, produce enough
iron and steel to supply the whole coun-
for there is no limit to this metal
here.
Not only could we manufacture our
own material from the ore, but we could
it into machinery, and other
things made of iron. This would give
rise to the employment of many men, and
IS we could then export largely, it would
be- the means of bringing more money
acre. The manufacturer is not the only
benefited in such a case, for the coun-
Try begins to settle up, and the trsdesaen
If all classes, aad the farmers ara called
lpon to make greater exertions To supply
he demand for their wares. All classes
If society are benefited; for, it is An
acknowledged, natural, self-regalating
aw that every trade and profession is,
md always will be dependent on tie rest.