The Red Cloud chief., 1892-07-29
THE GREAT " EST
As Seen by the Rev. T.. T.. k;iy ,
Of this City.
ARTICLE Secomdl

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ARTICLE Second)
l promised last week to tell the
readers Of The CHIEF something oil
Helena, but before doing so, I think
| will say something Of Butte City.
This city enjoys the distinction Of
being the greatest mining camp in the
world, not excepting Leadvillc. How.
ever, in speaking Of it as a mining
camp, one must not take it as a place
where the buildings are of canvas OF
rough boards, but, on the contrary, IL
has many fine brick and stone blocks,
and in this respect will compare fav.
orably with any eastern city Of equal
size.
1t has q population Of about twenty
to twenty-five thousand including the
other camp situated close by and
which are oil connected by the cleo.
trio car lines.
Its altitude is 5,4S2 feet. Coming
into it from the north one gets the
6rst view Of IL when several hundred
feet above il, and as tho train winds
around the mountains and through
the gulches, making q rapid descent,
it presents an exceedingly picturesque
view.
There are many mines here, the
largest Of which has q hole 10 the
ground about 1900 feet deep. The
shaft and hosting works are on the
top Of q hill and down perhaps 100
feet from the top a tunnel is dug
where the tramcars run out from the
shaft with the orc. These are run on
narrow tracks perhaps about 30 inches
10 width, and there are two Of them,
the cars running out on one and back
on the other. As | had no acquain-
tances in the city and was alone, l
new it would be useless to try to 20
down The shaft, but while peering in.
to the tunnel l became possessed with
a desire to explore it as far as it went.
At the entrance, apparently to keep
such tenderfeet as myself out where
there is less danger Of being run over,
there was q somewhat antiquatcd but
lusty son Of Erin. l asked him if /
would be allowed to 60 in. His reply
was NAV, not unless 70 have impor-
tant business" so | stood and watched
the cars 60 in and out for q few mo-
ments, each Of them in charge of a
man, and the temptation became ire.
sistablc, and l dropped in behind one
going in. AT the end Of the tunnel
is a space perhaps Is or 20 feet square
where the cars are run off the eleva-
tor on the rock floor, then rolled on
tho track and out.
l had not yet got my eyes fairly ad-
justed to the sudden change from day
light to lamplight SO l could see com-
fortably, when a miner bounced me to
get out Of the way. l went over to
the other side when up came another
elevator and I saw l was going to get
another invitation to get out Of the
way, SO I concluded they weren't Civ.
ing me . very cordial reception, and,
dropping in behind the outgoing car.
I soon saw daylight again. The man
at the entrance said, swell, you went
in, did you," and then went up to the
works above and gave m quite a good
deal Of information about the mining
business.
There is a fine system Of street cars
and water works, but no sewers and
tic drainage is bad, and l think ]
never saw mud SO deep us on its main
street.
One is struck with the sigat OF
hundreds of men standing on the
streets, particularly in the vicinity Of
tho great gambling house. The men
work in the mines in shifts Of eight
hours each, and as there are about
400 working at q time the crowded
streets are easily accounted for.
As in all the western mining cities
prices are high. Street car fare is II
cents. paid rs cents for a shave,
While sitting In q restaurant Of which
there are some excellent ones, / made
a memorandum Of some prices on the
bill Of fare: sandwich, 25c; eggs
10 for 2; porterhouse steak, Gee tt
$l.25; oyster stew, 75c; pie, 15c fol
q piece; radishcs, l5c. But, while
prices are high, the quantity Of fooc
furnished was in due proportion. A
man at my side ordered a sirloin steal
and it was at least < 10 inches by ,
in. thick. lie was hard at work wher
l left, trying to get Soc worth out o
it, and l have no doubt succeeded j
his jaw held out.
Probably in no city Of its size, in
this country at least, is there so much
of crime and lswlessness to be seen a.
here. The saloon, gambling house
and brothel run day and night, sevet
days in the week, without fear Of pc
lice interference.
Whom wo consider the class Of mel
generally found in the mining town
Of the west and consider that th'
monthly pay roll here amounts t.
nearly 100000, it is easy t. SCI