The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-07
GOSSIP OF Hi TOWN.

The sapphire hunter is very busy these
days. He has located every bar, every IN
claimed patch of gravel, on either side Of
the Missouri river from Townsend to the
mouth of the Dearborn during the past few
weeks. The greatest excitement prevails
in the neighborhood of the Ackley and
Gleason ranches, four miles northeast of
Wolf Creek station. Late last fall the
owner of the first named property found
several stones of a greenish color while
sinking a well OF his premises. Believing
these stones to be of some value he brought
theu to Helena and showed them to a
ieweler. The latter examined them and
pronounced them sapphires of q fair quail
ity and gave the finder an open-faced silver
watch for them. Ihe ranchman, however,
did not think the discovery of much i'm
%portance and soon forgot all about the cir
cumstance. Quite recently, while on a
visit to this city, he CHANGED to meet an
old friend who is something of a gem ex-
pert. In the course of the conversation
the friend said that he was engaged in min
ing for sapphires on Spokane bar and was
doing we'll at it. This remark brought
back to the recollection Of the rancher the
fact Of the discovery Of these gems on his
his own land and he told his companion
abovt it. But 6 very short time elapsed
before the fact of the discovery of the
gems on the Ackley ranch was known to
every sapphire hunter III Helena, and the
consequence is that every vacant spot OF
ground In that region has been located. Sc
eageg are late corners to secure land that
they have staked the foothills for miles
back from the river.
There is also some excitement in the
neighborhood of Bedford, twenty-five miles
west OF Helena. Thousands of acres oil
land have been located within the pas
three weeks. The gems are small, but cleal
and brilliant and of a good color. A rumo1
is current that a diamond had been PICKED
up on the bank of the Missouri river nea.
Bedford. Ihe story runs that the fnde,
had sent the stone to a celebrated gem ex
pert of New York, who pronounced it to b,
a diamond of the purest quality.
An effort is being made to solve the ser
want girl question in the northwest, AM
every housekeerer and employer of domes
tic help in Montana will wish the project
ors SUCCESS. About three months ago Their
was formed IN Portland a syndicate o
twenty families, the purpose being to SEN
down south and secure competent colore
girls as house servants and cooks. Fac
member put up enough to pay n girl
fare and an agent was sent to secure til
girls. He succeeded, chartered n tours
sleeper and took the party through, tn
girls doing their own cooking. The ven
ture proved q successful one, and a secon
delegation passed through Helena about
week ago. The girls we're secured in Wash
ington, and pay back their fares. Duk
Dutrieille is seriously considering the sam
sort of an enterprise, and if places for
sufficient number of girls can be secured j
Helena to make it an object. he will under
take the contract of providing them. l
order to get reduced fares the part
must number at least twenty-five, and tho
will have to be guaranteed situations b.
fore they can be prevailed upon to lea,
the enst. The maximum wages promise
is S25 a month.
1 O. 7. Chisholm, of Bozeman, was in Hell
q ena during the week. in attendance on I'll
sessions of the executive committee of ii
National Mining congress. He is inte
ested in mines, but at the same time he is
great believer in agriculture and the benz
fits resulting from irrigation. He took
prominent part in the State Irrigation COZ