Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-07-14

Mr. Ellers was prompted to take flying
trip to the mountains to see for himself
and this he did last week. He did not
Intend to make q careful or minute in
spectlon OF the mineral field, but was
content to examine few of the leads
opened and to follow around the rim of
the limestone. The Barker and Wolf
creek districts are the only ones he visi-
ted But it is evident that he did not
have to go further to be convinced of the
great mineral resources of the Belt noun
talns. In almost so many words he says:
L am satisfied from what have seen and
from the reports of Mr.. Enrich that the
Belt mountains contain as large an area
favorable for the existence of carbonate
ores as have ever seen anywhere. The
geological formation is in the highest de-
gree favorable. Nothing is wanting,
Felsite porphyry abounds, and wherever
that is found breaking through the older
limestones, or underlying them, ore has
either been formed or float Is scattered
on the slopes. The extent Of the lime
stone zone sklrted and occasionally en-
tered by Mr.. Eilers, is something more
than fifty miles and Of this only
VERY SMALL PART HAS BEEN PRosPECTED,
Mr.. Eilers was fairly surprised at the ex-
tent of the mineral bearing region of the
Belt mountains, as well as at the
splendid showings and prospects of the
camps and region visited. From what he
had learned before the Investigations
made by Mr.. Enrich and himself
he had no expectation Of finding the stu
alton SO favorable one 1t is evident
from his representation Of the case, that
the one-tenth has not been told, and is
not now known, of this great mineral
region, which promises to be the most
productive and important in Montana,
and that in the very near future.
A RAILROAD NEEDED.
With some few exceptions the ores of
this region are not OF sufficiently high
grade to warrant the working of the mines
and the hauling Of the ores by wagon
to Great Falls, but the construction Of
railroad to Barker, Neihart and the other
camps, atfording cheap transportation to
the great smelter at this place, would at
once lead to astonishing activity and bring
this noted mineral region rapidly to the
front. With Mr.. Eilers, who is an authority
on such matters and whose conservatism
on the subject is well known, holding so
high an opinion of the Belt mountains as
a mineral producing district, it is safe to
say that the Manitoba management will
partake Of some of his enthusiasm and
that the day is near at hand when the
branch railroad from
GREAT FALLS TO THE BELT MOUNTAINS
will be unelor full roadway anu Ioushad !
across the prairie and foothills as rapidly |
as Peter Stems and Donald Grant brought
the western extension along. While no
authoritative statements can yet be made
the Tribune can say that 1T looks very
much like railroad and that the miners
of the Belt mountains, who have waited
long and patiently for this result, can
look hopefully to the near future.
RICH FIELD FOR PRosPEcToRs.
From the statements made by Messrs.
Eilers and Enrich in regard to the region
# which we write it is evident that it is
he most promising field in the western
country for the prospector, as only .
small portion of the mineral belt has yet
yet been prospected and it would seem
hat the most inviting sections have been
wholly overlooked. 1t is safe to predict
hat the next twelve months will see one
of the greatest quartz mining excitements
ever known in Montana in this region and
with the aid of the railroad and the i'm
nense smelter at Great Falls the develop
nent of these several districts will be |
something marvellous But it is not the
mountain region alone that will be bene-
tied. Active and prosperous mining
,amps create market for the agricultur-
Il and stock regions surrounding and |
heir prosperity will go hand in hand.
Great Falls, as the railroad, smelling and |
supply center, will be benefited more
han any other town, and, as resul, veri-
lying what Commissioner Colman said:
Great Falls will not be second Den