The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-08-03
MlssouLA COUNTY ITEMS.
and Condensed by q Neurological
Tourist.

Mr.. William Hyde, who returned a few
days ago from Missoula County, let 60 of the
following condensed information:
Grantsdale, the present terminus Of the
Bitter Root railroad, is fifty miles from Mis-
soula, and surveys have just been completed
sixty miles beyond to Mineral Point, which
is about twenty miles up the south fork of
the Bitter Root river and ten miles below
Mineral Hill, which latter is near the summit
of the mountains, but on the Idaho side of
the main range. About seventy men are
said to be prospecting there in what is spo-
ken of as a new copper camp. Mr.. Hyde
saw rich specimens of bromide of silver ore
from there. Only one tunnel, of 200 feet,
has been run into the hill, but surface indi-
cations are said to be excellent.
It is up the west fork where the pass cuts
through the mountains, and Indians report
white men measuring off the ground on the
west side of the main range.
There is fine timber all along this road,
and the government timber lands that have
been surveyed are mostly taken up.
There are over a dezen saw mills in opera
ton close to the railroad in the Bitter Root
t0AA0ys 6AvAu6 OAPAVyAAVuV w oovoA0A AU0"
dred men at wages from S35 per month and
board, up.
Considerable money has been expended in
the cultivation Of fruit, which is a failure
this year for the first time, caused by the fine
weather in February, followed by frosts in
May, which caught the trees in full blossom
and nipped them. Trees should be planted
on the north side of q hill, and set sloping,
that their branches will shade the tree from
the MONDAY sun, and yearlings are best to
plant. Trees planted on the prairie should
be protected on the south side or they will
scorch and burn up. Some grain was being
cut for hay.
Mr.. Hyde took in the Methodist camp
meeting on Sunday where several hundred
persons had assembled together under a large
round, center-pole circus tent erected among
lofty pine trees near the edge of a creek. The
chairman of the meeting, in his remarks,
said that Masonry and Odd Fellows were
good societies, but that they would play out,
whilst their religion never would, and their
unique march of over a dozen ministers as
they walked arm in arm round and round the
aisles inside the tent, each shaking hands
| with the congregation and at the same time
singing sect In the Boat" ETC., to the tune
of "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" added to
the enjoyment as we'll as the success of the
meeting.
There are four companies Of colored troops
| stationed at Fort Missoula, with headquar.
ters there, and they have a first rate band OF
music. The Suffers store recently changed
hands, having been sold by Mr.. Mccormick
to a St. Paul company.
The Eddy, Hammond & Co. saw mill near
Bonner station on the Northern. Pacific rail-
road, and near the mouth of Big Blackfool
river, was turning out 130, 600 feet of lumbe1
daily, and employing about 40 men with q
families. The engine is $50 horse power,
driving two large circular saws, one on each
side of a platform onto which logs are hauled
by an endless iron chain up an incline from
the river. Patent log lifters are used that
toss the huge logs around like sticks, which
are sawed up with great rapidity. The roll
lers and tables on which the boards are car
ried to other saws are all worked by machin'
cry, and six cars each side of this platform
besides other cars in the yards, carry away
daily the products of the mill. There is II
feet of a lam over 200 feet wide across thu
river, forming a backwater for the logs al
well as giving power for a turbine wheel tina
works the planners and sash and door factory
There is q dryer with 5000 feet cap acity PEI
day, soon to be enlarged, and a company
boarding house seating over a hundred mel
at a time, with a large bell at the top of thu
two story building that calls the men from
labor to refreshment.
1t is said that a mammoth Touring mill i
in contemplation to utilize the immens'
water power available.