The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1890-06-07
A REGION OF WEALTH.
An Interesting Write-Up of the Famous
Castle Mines.

ports of the new discoveries and deve
opments that have been made in tn
Castle mountains, in eastern Meaghe
county, and of the wonderfully larg
and rich bodies of ore encountered; but
while nearly every one has heard some
thing of this kind, comparatively fe1
have enjoyed the pleasure of visit t.
this truly wondrous mineral region, pro
nounced by experts as containing large
bodies of silver and lead ores than an,
like area in the world. This we believe
to be the case, although many people
either from ignorance of the extent ane
character Of the ores there, or from {
malicious desire to do the camp injury
have gone forth proclaiming it worth
less region containing only pocket ores
Time, the great developer, has, however
caused the true facts to be proclaimed
far and wide, and most unreasonable in
deed is he who combats the greatness Of
the Castle mines in the light of recent
growth an impetus that will eventually
make it the leading camp of it's kind. In
this connection too much praise cannot
be showered upon the brave pioneers of
Castle, who from the first have remained
as unfiinching as the pyramid of Cheops
IN their faith in the camp-a faith which
has proven we'll founded, and has not
only vindicated their judgment in the
eyes OF mining men, but filed their cot
fers as WE'LL and not one of them but re-
loices in the fact that, though their
hopes IN times past shone dim as bea-
con light on foggy shore, they remain
ed true to their convictions, proven so
well founded.
The Castle mountains are situated in
eastern Meagher county and cover quite
an area of country. The average eleva-
ton is about 1000 feet above sea level,
although the highest peaks reach an al
titude of nearly 10000 feet. The noun
tains are SO named from the tall, con-
stellated pinnacles of rock that rise gro
tesquely from the granite peaks. Geo
logically speaking, the Castle mountains
are interesting from scientific point of
view, being belted on the south and east
sides by rocks of the secondary forma-
ton, principally lime and shale. The
peaks proper are composed of primary
rocks that at a remote period have from
violent internal causes been forced up
ward through the lime or secondary
formation which covered the area now
occupied by the Castle mountains. This
IN measure tilted or threw the lime
strata on edge, as it were, and resulted
IN the diagonal plane which belts the
mountains proper. The porphyry, which
abounds in the camp, is a volcanic mix
ture of feldspar, silica and other pri-
mary rocks, and is found in places inter
secting the mineral belt.
DurinC tho form tiva pario1 IF tbnco
mountains the explosion of subterranean
bodies of gas, engendered from the form
ing limestone, has caused chaotic confu-
sion OF the primary and secondary rocks
as result of their convulsive bursts.
1t is between the blue limestone and the
granite wall that the great mineral belt
OF Castle lies, it's greatest width being
over two miles. It traverses the noun
tain system in north and south direc
ton, being parallel with the Big Belt
range. The ores are found in contact
and crevice veins and veins of segrega-
ton. The ores found in this belt are
the carbonates, oxides and sulphurets of
copper, containing copper and silver;
oxides and sulphurets of iron, contain
ing silver and lead; carbonates and sui
phurets of lead, containing silver and
leaG, and oxide of manganese, containing
gold and silver The ore veins, with few
exceptions, average rich in silver and
leaC, running from few dollars to ten
thousand dollars or more per ton.
The history of this camp dates prac
ticaly from 1855, although H. H. Barnes
during the summer of 1883 prospected
through the mountains and located
daim near the site of the present town
Of Robinson. During 1885, however, L.
F. Hensley prospected in the mountains
and satisfying himself that unusually
large and rich bodies of ore lay hid in
hat vicinity, planted stakes and has re-
NAMED with the camp ever since; has
discovered and located the Cumberland,
Yellowstone, California and number of
dhers that have since become famous.
When searching for lead in the then
wilderness, though his heart at times
nay have failed him, still he prosecuted
lis labors until the most gratifying Sue
sesses have crowned his efforts. He is |
# truth the pathfinder Of the Castle |
Mountains, and to his steadfast advo-
.acy of the mineral wealth of the dis
rict, ably seconded as years passed on
" an ever increasing force of expert
.nced, intelligent miners, Montana and
he entire country is indebted today.
From 1886 Castle has continued to de
-elop despite all opposition, for, like
5anquo's ghost, it would not down, but |
las steadily advanced until it has reach
G it's present enviable position, although |
a, times her future looked gloomy. One
f the factors in retarding the immedi-
de growth of Castle was the fact that |
curing the early history of the place
everal of the new discoveries were bond
el at different times by west side capi-
tlists. These parties, doing but little,
itany, development work, threw up the
binds, and every time this occurred it
give the camp, fguratively speaking, a
back eye, from which it was hard to re-
ever. No matter how rich a mining
camp may be, if ostensible mining men
tae hold of properties there and relin-
qish them, even though without giving
thm fair trial, it is hard matter to
inluce capital to enter.
The town of Castle, prosperous busi-
nes place, is situated in beautiful
guch on the southern side of the noun
tais. It has a population of about 500;
ha stores and business establishments
Ol every ucoCllptlOus ID we'll idlu OuUj |
ha substantial business and residence
hoses; can easily be supplied with pure
MAINTAIN water, and is destined to be-
cone the Leadville of Montana.
,or an accurate idea of what Castle
ha in the way Of mines, a description of
th,principle ones in the camp is given.
Tb representative of the ENTERPRISE
is Indebted to the citizens of the place
forourtesies shown during his trip and
the assistance rendered him in his ef-
fora to collect data in regard to the
carp.
D visitor to Castle who makes tour
Of The mines but invariably first visits
the famous Cumberland and Yellow
stoe before turning to the others, for
in hem the greatest development work
ha. been done and they are the best
expnents of the great mineral wealth
lyig far below the surface of the earth.
Aahe Cumberland is the most devel-
opa, history and description of its
workings are given first.
THE CUMBERLAND.
his mine was first discovered and
looted in the summer of 1886 by Hens
ley,rothers, who, from the character of