The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-27
CITY NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Where Many Of "Price's Left Wing"
May Be Found in Mon
tana To-Day.
An Old Miner Discusses the
Chances of Silver Against
Gold In the Future.
How the Resources tributary to Helena
Strike the Eastern Man-The Mys-
tory Of 1t All.

tory OF II All.
10 steamboat navigation Of tho Missouri
river from st. Louis to Benton, which
reached its greatest period of development
during the years Immediately following thu
war, ia attributed the invasion of Mon
lana by the left wing of Prices army
The Missourians who had followed the for
tunes and misfortunes of "Old Pap" who
with bare and bleeding feet had crimsonee
the snow in marching from n field O.
splendid heroism to another. were left n
the surrender with ne resources but theii
ragged uniforms and an energy and de-
termination reaching beyond the con-
fines of any state. Their burned homes,
devastated fields and murdered families
and kindred we're reminders which they
wished to flee from. The open river, with
stories Of riches of gold, came opportunity
to attract them and the gallant remnant
came, onoe more to hew out q fortune.
That they have carried out their determi-
nation is amply attested. From bullwhack-
ing teams, washing plaoers and other hum
Bile omployments they have advanced to the
leading positions in all Montana commu-
mites. In tho prosperous lawyers, bankers,
mine owners and cattle barons, ~reveling in
well-sarned opulence, one may find the vet
Grams who contested in many hard-fouGht
battles with the vast armies Of the greatest
power of modern times.
Said an old miner yesterday: 'The gold
bugs, constituting the creditor class, who
sel6shly desire that money be made scarce
BY an arbitrary Limitation of tho silver
coinage, may run across a dissgreeable sur
prise in their advocacy of gold rs the only
standard. In 1850 when gold was in gen
erous supply compared to silver, there was
great apprehensions that it might thereby
lose its value as a medium of exchange,
and decided leanings were shown for
its decentralization. but the subsequent
exhaustion of the California and Aus
tralian fields and discovery of the
silver lodes of the Rocky mountains created
a revolution in favor of yellow metal which
has gained impulse with time. The exist
ing excess of silver is due to the newly de-
: vissd methods of reduction and not to any
superabundanos Of deposit. The relative
quantities IN sight are largely in favor Of
gold and 1t only requires the development
of some means Of abstraction, not o
known, to reverse their relative values in the
market. The soil underlying and surrounding
Helena for many miles il richly auriferous.
In the high bench lands between this city
and the Missouri river, a distance of forty
miles. gold can DO found in almost every
square yard ana the estimate of quantity
~inclines up to a thousand million dollars.
The im%pregnation reaches into the neigh
boring mountains which stand with other
embosomed hundreds of millions waiting
for mans ingenuity to secure it without the
use of water. Gold usually exists in
a free state and within reach of
hydraulic dilution and is easily o%btairable,
while silver is az q rule locked up with re-
f~ractory elements requiring expensive re-
duction plants. It is therefore within the
range of probability that with the advance
of science, gold may once more, in supply,
forge ahead of its companion metal, Great
ing In the minds Of the ~bondholders an affec-
tionate regard for silver. and a correspond
ing disgust for that which is now the object
of worship"
An eastern gentleman who has spent sew
eral weeks in and about Helena expresses
his utmost surprise at the extent and va
riety of resources tributary to the town
''You have" he said, within a radius of al
hundred miles around Helena the richest
section in the world. The mountains are
ribbed with gold, silver. "copper", lead, iron,
coal, building stone and slate. There are
immense deposits of the finest clays for
every use. Sand for building purposes con-
tests the gulches with placer gold. Tim
Der is in ample supply. Great
valleys of ~exhaustless fertility, each with
attending water supply furnish soil for
crops. Natural grain equal in nourishment
oats, seed. The rivers run over sands
of gold and precious stones, every view is
grandeur of scenery, and over it all shines
a sun so bright and rests an atmos sphere so
exhiliarating that simply to breathe and e1-
list is a joy. The o~verpowering mystery is
why you do not now have a city of at least
100000 people. How is it possible that
more of the 10000, COO in the east lave not
found the actual and real Eldorado. There
does not exist anywhere on the earth's sur
face suoh a combination of all ths elements
ID prosperous life, and | predict that when
the facts become known there will be built
In the Prickly Pear valley a city which will
not only contest for supremacy with Den
yer, but quickly pass her in the race.
Croakers in such a town deserve the atten-
tlon OF a vigilance committee"