The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1888-07-21
Castle Mountain Mines.

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The West Shore: The new mining
field surrounding Castle Mountain,
Montana, from present appearances,
bids fair to become the most important
in Montana. The indications are that
the Castle Mountain mines when devel-
oped, counting only those now discov-
cred. will produce more carbonate ores
than the mines surrounding Leadville
in its palmiest days. Montana's great
carbonate camp, besides an apparently
inexhaustible supply Of ore, possesses a
decided advantage over the Colorado
carbonate camp in that the altitude of
the district is only between 5000 and
1000 feet and good wagon roads over
which heavy loads can be hauled can be
constructed with little difficulty through
every portion of it. The ore product of
the entire district has an average assay
value of between $50 and $75 per ton
and is first class smelling ore in every
particular. The camp is but mere in
fant to-day, but it viii furnish rich
smelling ore in abundance, a product
heretofore in great demand throughout
the territory for the reduction of the
more refractory ores found in every
mining district. The Northern Pacific
will connect the camp with the outside
world by the building of a branch road,
and the Montana Central it is rumored
will also build branch road to Castle
Mountain via Neihart. The Castle
mountains are comparatively small
group, occupying by themselves sec
tion of country about twenty miles
square. They were formerly known as
the Elk range. Their present name is
derived from the perpendicular walls
of granite projecting above the general
surface of the mountains at frequent
intervals and resembling very closely
the walls of castles in the old world.
These castle rocks present a very pretty
and curious sight to the lovers Of the
picturesque, rising at different places
throughlthe oval shaped mountain sides
and reminding one very forcibly of an
cient castles. The surface of the noun
tains is comparatively smooth, covered
on some sides with timber and on 9TH
ers with thick grass. Several of the
high points can he reached by wagon
or blackboard and afford grand views of
the neighboring ranges and the sur
rounding country. On one of the clear
days, which are many in Montana, the
snow-covered range of the Little Belt
can be seen stretching for long dis
tance on the north. East of the Little
Belt the Snowies raise their snow
capped heads, while between the two
ranges the Judith gap can De plainly
seen, the whole forming a magnificent
view. The CraZies stretch away to the
southeast, their craggy peaks forming a
weird looking outline, seemingly to cor
respond with their name. Far away to
the south may be seen the Elnigrant
and other lofty peaks of the Yellow
stone mountains and on the west the
Big Belt range. The routes Of travel to
the mountains are by way Of Livings-
ton, up the Shields river to Castle,
distance of sixty miles, one days stage
ride in good travelling; and by way of
Townsend and White Sulphur Springs,
a distance Of seventy-fve miles. The
hills and valleys surrounding the noun
tains afford the finest grazing to be
found in the territory, and the prospect
ors' ponies come out OF the winter fat
and frisky for the seasons use. Streams
and springs of pure cold water abound
everywhere. The climate is peculiarly
healthful, the atmosphere invigorating
and the temperature moderate at all
seasons