The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-18
GOLD In THE RIVER
The Yellowstone Is Being Prospscted
Near the City of Livingston.
FROM HORR TO ALDRlDCE
Proposition to Build Wagon
Road Considered by the Commits
sIoners-Sam Hilberg Exam
med as to His Sanity.

Special Correspondence of the Standard
Livingston, May 16.-For years it has
been known that gold existed on the
bars of the Yellowstone, from its source
ITO its mouth, but in the search for dig
gings of fabulous richness, the amount
of gold contained in the sands of the
Yellowstone has been too Insignificant
in the eyes of fortune seekers to in
duce any particular effort at placer
mining along this river. 1t has. there
fore, become accepted as correct by
most people that gold does not exist in
the bars of the Yellowstone in paying
quantities. Hence the people of Liv-
ingston, even, will be surprised to learn
that McLeod's island, not more than a
mile from town, one man at least is
being rewarded for his labor in sluic-
ing the gravel by saving a considerable
quantity of the yellow dust.
The gentlemen referred to is Newton
Bailey, an old miner of 40 years expert
ence, who has been operating on the
island for the last few days. His APP
paratus for recovering or saving the
gold is of simple construction, yet so
thorough is the work that practically
all the gold is saved, scarcely a color
being found in the tailings. By the
means of a pump he raises the waters
from the river into the dump box con-
tanning the gravel, and this is then car
ried through the sluice boxes. The
latter are lined with pieces of carpet
or rags, upon which is deposited the
gold washed from the gravel.
The dust secured is all flake gold.
In a two hours run there was quite a
shining accumulation, but just how
much, could not be accurately estimat
ed, because of the deceptiveness of it's
flaky character. Mr. Bailey Skins off
about three inches of the sand and
gravel. below that dafNth there iS not
much pay dirt. He will make a clean
up Monday, and upon the result OBJ
tanned will depend his future opera
tions. If the ground he is now work
ing Is not productive of good returns
he will prospect the Yellowstone all the
way down to it's confluence with the
Missouri, provided he does not come
across paying diggings before he
reaches that point. Last year he work
ed on the Missouri below Benton, and
will return to this point If unsuccess-
full on his Yellowstone expedition. He
is a very conservative man and says
he prefers to underestimate rather than
exaggerate the richness of any strike
The may make as he does not care about
starting any fruitless stampedes.
The county commissioners met in
special session to-day for the transac-
ton of road business. Chairman
Chambers, who has been up to Horn in
vestigating as ito the advisability of
granting the petition for a road from
Horn to Aldridge, reported that the
need of such a road is imperative and
its establishment Is generally asked
for by the parties in interest. The peo-
pie of Horr assured him that enough
money could be raised by subscription
there. which added to the road tax paid
by that district. would be sufficient
to build the road. The report was ap-
tsr-Ouad and the following road review
ers appointed to meet May 2l: b. l..
Lloyd, Lawrence Link and Hugo b,
Hoppe.
Commissioners Roth and Cuisine,
who had examined the bridge con-
structed over the Yellowstone at Car
ter's, and which was completed this
week by Contractor Peppard of Mis-
soula, reported that the bridge be ac-
copied The report was ratified by the
board.
The petition of taxpayers for the ex-
penditure of $500 by the county to aid
in constructing a road from Cinnabar
to Bear gulch was considered. The pc
tftion set forth that the citizens of that
section had expended $1,000 in con-
sitructing a wagon bridge over the yell
lowstone. The petition was laid over
until the regular June meeting.
The retail liquor house of Frank
Beley closed its doors to-day. The
proprietor decided upon TINS acllon IN
order that he might give more time to
his bottling business in this city and his
branch establishments in Belt and Big
Timber.
Sam ]. Hilberg of the suicide club
was examined as to his sanity Thurs
day before Judge Henry and a commits
sion consisting of Drs. w. L. Shawh
and w. II. Campbell. He speedily re-
covered his speech when brought into
the court room and appeared so ra-
tional that no commitment was thought
necessary. pass will be secured for
him Monday and he will return to the
Park branch TO work on the extra crew
of Theodore Adams. In the meantime
he occupies his old cell in the Jail.
c. Cushman of Anaconda was regis
tered at the Albemarle yesterday.
W. w. Beasley. the stockman, re-
turned last evening to Big Timber.