The tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1890, 1890-03-26
OUR WEALTH

A"n ooolSc " CWalloWS report al
state inspector of mines to Gov. Toole Is
an able and comprehensive document. II
is the most recent and completest publ.
cation on the mines of Montana. In il
DIR. Swallow embodies the extensive in.
formation he has acquired as one of the
leading mining experts of Montana. He
has added to that knowledge by personal
inspection Of the leading mining districts.
His report is terse because it is limited to
facts. He tells what has been found and
what has been done, leaving practical
miners to draw their own differences.
OF the mines of the Little Belt noun
tains, which are tributary to Great Falls,
DR.. Swallow says: "Unlike the Belt
mountains, the Little Belt range is more
noted for its quartz mines than its placers.
Some of the quartz discoveries are so we'll
known US to enlist the investments of cap
~ltalists and attract the attention of rail-
roads. One road is now laying its rails
toward Barker and Neihart to aid in the
development and share in the profits of
the rich and extensive mines in those dis
tricts. The principal mines as yet discov-
cred in the Little Belt mountains are at
Neihart, on Dry Wolf, on Running Wolf,
at Yogo, in the Bigger district, at Will
Jams camp and at Barker"
Brief extracts will suffice to show in a
general way DR.. Swallows high opinion
of these mining regions.
In Yogo some quartz discoveries shave
been so developed as to prove good mines.
A very large part Of the ore developed in
this camp is free milling gold" Carbon
ates of lead and sulphurets Of silver are
also found there.
Concerning the Running Wolf district,
DR.. Swallow prints a letter from H. H.
Chandler, who mentions eight silver mines
and predicts that as a "bullion producer"
the district will be second to no other in
the rich and extensive mineral zone of
the Belt mountains range"
DR.. Swallow speaks of Neihart as "a
we'll built, substantial mining camp
'These mountains are cut and intersected
by a great number Of veins. containing
uX1de Of iron. CARVING gold ~sulnhnrets
md carbonates of lead and copper, carry
ing gold and silver" He adds: "a great
many locations have been made in this
district and SO opened as to show up a
great number of bright prospects, and a
of them have been sufficiently devel-
'ped to prove them good mines." He re-
ers to the near approach of the railroad
md adds: "Neihart will soon be-
'ome n of the prosperous mining
amps of the world"
In Barker DIR. Swallow found a wide
of mountains and valleys covered
With numerous never-failing streams"
sums up the condition of this promis-
ng camp thus: "Many of the prospects
I Barker have been so developed as to
rove them permanent and valuable
lines; others show such large bodies of
lch ores as to invite liberal investments
nd hundreds of others show prospects !
right enough to induce further deveop- !
lent.' I
Referring collectively to the mining !,
istricts of the Little Belt mountains, Mr.. !
wallow says: Gall these mines were dis ,
in some ten years, in a range of !
less than so miles long and 20 +
lies wide. 1t is difficult to imagine the '
lture OF these mountains, when all have a
zen prospected, and when two or three "
inbred mines will be filled with work I
en-; when 80 furnaces will be melting u
e bullion from their ores, when a thou =
nd cars are carrying it to the marts of d
e world, and when a score of prosper .
IS towns and villages are crowding the =,
valleys and growing up the !
les of the grand old mountains of the =
tile Belt range" p