St. Paul daily globe., 1891-11-26

divide" is another and similar
basin. about half as large. both being
drained by tributaries of the Columbia
river. The larger of these basins con-
tains the only lake of size in the state.
This is Flathead lake, thirty miles in
length by from ten to fifteen miles in
width, its clear. limpid blue waters and
dark setting Of pine-clad mountains,
here and there lifting a SnOW-capDed
peak above timber-line, being justly
rated among the most picturesque of the
many very fine bits of scenery which
lend charm to the entire state.
Great Mining Industry.
The great industries of Montana are
three in number. and are fast advancing
her to the front rank in point of wealth.
OF these, mining is the first order of i'm
portance, the volume of wealth which it
annually pOurs into the Golfers of her
people being simply marvellous. Forty
millions per annUm is modest eSti-
mate to place upon the mineral product
of this great state, and her hidden
treasures are but barely touched as yet.
In the old California days, placer-min-
ing or the washing of auriferOus gravel.
was about the only mining which the
Door man, with only his hands, his pick.
shovel and gold pan, and often meagre
grub stake" could engage in.
All this has passed away, and with the
building of ore mills and reduction
works. smelters and refnerieS, and the
construction of railroads to all the prin-
cipal mining districts, the poor "pIos-
pector" who strikes a vein of lead or
silver, copper or gold, has but to stake
out'' and record his claim. procure a
hammer, drill and few sticks of giant
powder, and as fast as he blasts out a
car Of ore ship it to one of the several
convenient mills and either sell it by
sample on the car or have it ''milled'
on percentage. or at so much per ton.
just as the grain owner gets his ''griSt'
ground and pays the miller his toll
The placer-miner no longer clears
up the crevices of bedrock" With an
old iron spoon. totes" the gravel in a
sack mile or two TO the nearest creek.
and there, knee-deep in mid-stream,
''tOsses" the shallow Cold-pan as the
thrifty housewife manipuiates the old
fashioned fiOursifter; but, instead, he
has either quit this branch of mining
entirely, or has constructed "dume''
to his gravel-bank claim from some
point sufficiently high up stream TO give
him the desired fall, and then. with a
large, stout hose, connected at one end
with the flume ana at the other teTmi-
mating in a two-inch nozzle. he is pre-
pared to do 4 scientific job of hydraulic
mining.
Acquiring Claims.
As the general government gives a
homestead OF 100 acres to every needy
farmer desirous of establishing a home
for himself and family in any of Mon
tana'S fertile wales where unOccuDied
agricultural lands are to be found (and
there are many SUCH, jdst so it has re-
membered the mineral ''prOSpectOr" OF
limited means by giving him placer
claims, lode claims and water rights.
which become his by right of discovery
and selection, and to which he can ac
quire absolute title by the expenditure
of few paltry dollars in fees and the
performance of sufficient development
work" To indicate his bona fides.
Many labor under the impression that
to become a successful mineral pros
pectOr one must possess an extensive
and accurate knowledge Of minerals
This is not the case. Many Of the min
eral claims which today rank among
MOntamna'S richest mines of gold, silver
and copper, were originally discovered
and located" 10y Eastern ''tenderfeet, +"
who knew absolutely nothing of mines
or minerals, but who possessed pluck
and perseverance in degree sufficient tC
buoy them up in their long trampS over
the mountains in search of quartz veins
and ore deposits, and just enough in
Quisitiveness to impel them to have ar
ASSAY" test to determine the presence
| character and value of mInerals) made
OF the divers and sundry samples oil
promising" rock upon which their pry
| ing eyes CHANGED TO fall.
The Large Cities.
Helena, The capital of the state. was
away back in the sixties, the place
camp OF the then territory, and every