The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-12-15
Choteau Mining Prospects.
The Agricultural and Mining Prop
ertles of our Neighbors.
Rich LOdes Have Been Found in the
Sweet Grass Hills.
Mention Made of the Little Rockies
and Bear Paw.
Choteau's Mining Outlook.

Choteau county has never until recent
~ been regarded in any light other than
that Of being one of the best agricultural
and stock growing sections in the west. 1t
has been and is still held hat more stock
can be raised, fed and fattenued with less
expense upon its $4,000 square miles of
land than can be raised, fed and fattened
upon an equal area in any other state or
territory in the union. 1t is also maintain
ed that it has more available agricultural
lands and of better quality than can be
found in any other county in the state
But, as has been stated, it has not hereto
fore prided itself, particularly, upon its
mineral resources. Recent discoveries,
however, or rather developments made
during the past year entitle it to some
consideration as a most promising prec-
ious metal producer
Those discoveries have been made prin-
cipally in the Sweet Grass hills, whose
area largely exceeds that of Silver Bow
county's famous mining districts. Pros
pecting has been mainly confined to the
East butte, where large and we'll defined
veins Of silver and copper bearing ores
haye been uncovered. Owing to its dis
tance from its base of supplies and the
straightened circumstances of owners,
developments have been slow and those
made are of the most primitive character,
but the results are surprising. Ores of
astonishing richness have been brought
to the surface and the Importance of the
camp as producer of precious metals
clearly established. There is no longer
any doubt as to its permanence and val
ue. Further developments with the
presence of capital and machinery to aid
them will bring East Butte into promi-
nence among the most favored mineral
! sections of the state. There is no ques-
| ton about it. The ores are there and
another year will witness such develop
ment of the mineral resources of the
butte as to set at rest the doubts of the
most skeptical.
Prospecting in the Middle butte has
unearthed some fine gold bearing as well
as silver bearing lodes while placer min
ing in the immediate neigh hborhood has
been carried on with tlattering success
Some excellent coal measures have been
opened in the West butte, but beyond es,
tablishing their existence but little pros,
pecting has been done as thus far East
Butte has monopolized the attention Of
prospectors.
At the base of the main range of the
Rockies and near St. Mary's lake some
excellent gold, silver and copper bearing
ores have been discovered, but their dis
tance from lines of travel and the fac
that the lands are included in the Black
feet reservation have acted as bar tt
development work. The time, however
will como when the irrepressable prospec
tor will take possession of the land ant
unearth the treasures hidden beneath it!
surface.
In connection with these mention mus
be made of the Little Rocky and Bea
Paw mountains as encouraging prospect
ing ground. Promising lodes of silve
and copper bearing ores have been fount
in that group of mountains, but the fac
that nearly all of it is embraced within
military and an Indian reservation ha
discouraged prospecting. Enough, how
ever, is known of the country to warran
the belief that the future will witnes
some remarkable mining developments il
it, All the country we have mentione'
was included in vast Indian reservation
a little over eighteen months ago, an
the prospecting noted has been done dun
ing that time. The results are assurln
and supports the assumption that Chotea
county will, in the near future, be a
noted for its rich mineral outputs as it
now for its unequaled grazing and agr
cultural resources.-BentOn Press.