The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-07-30
PEN PICTURES OF A LONG TOWN.
The Era of Prosperity Gets i'm
It's Work, and Hope Dawns
upon a Once-DesOlate Camp

The mining camp of Barker has
put on more cityfed airs within the
last few months than ever before
in her eventful history. The gener-
al activity of the various mining
companies and owners gives great
confidence that that camp has seen
her worst day, and that a new era of
progress is dawning upon the dis
trict.
Barker is the longest town in the
United States. 1t begins at Nc
Gees ranch on the Dry Fork of
Belt and runs to the 7. w. mine al
most to the summit of Niger Bal
dy. More properly however the
town is only about four miles in
length, and is artificially or rather
historically divided in three sections,
contemporaneous with the ancient,
medieval and modern world. In
fact there are many indications in
the ancient portion which seem to
link its prehistoric inhabitants to
those of the stone age. The few
people who now tramp earth's stub
born soil in ancient Barker, or what
was once the old postoffice of Glen
denim, know nothing of the history
of the place, or the origin of the
long row of conical adobe huts
which mark the preadamic glory of
the village. 1t is natural to suppose
that the most ancient inhabitants
here wore fig leaves, stole peaches
off the tree of knowledge, and earn,
ed their bread by the sweat of their
brow. VIM. Roach, Bob Wedlock
and the rest of P. B. Clark's men
who reside here were interviewed
upon this point, but they feigned ig-
norance and declared If Adams in
iquitous peach trees ever grew on
Galena creek, they have all quit
bearing fruit.
The ground around the old Glen
denim smelter has been leased by
Charles Thaler, recently of Neihart,
and the results of his work are quite
satisfactory. He has found consid-
erable pay in the old Stag dump,
finding a great deal of pure bullion
lead and silver He will be through
with the work in about six weeks,
and will ship six or eight cars of the
gleanings. He employs four men.
He is digging up the surface earth
about the old roasting furnaces with
good remunerative results.
LOCATION OF THE MINES.
The Barker postoflice stands near
the confluence of Gold run and Ga
lena creek. The mines of the camp
are strung along Galena creek
from this point to its head. But
some prospecting has been done on
Gold run with promising results. |
Sam Kirkey and Van Oyer of Nei-
hart are developing the klondyke
claim on Gold run, about one mile
east of the post office. Tom Nc
Grath and Byron Smith are also in
terested in the claim. They have
run drift tunnel about so feet and
have taken out some very good sui
phide ore. The vein is strong and
the pay streak wide enough to give
promise of stake.
The Silver Bell mine is in the
base of Barker baldy. In 1890 it
was rich producer but on account
of mismanagement it closed down
for a time. Louis Pfaffenbach of
Barker and a Mr.. Smith of Butte
have leased the mine and are now
developing it upon new lines. They
have bright prospects of making a
winner.
PRIDE OF TIE WEST.
Further up the canyon lies the
Pride of the West mine, the proper
ty of Paris Gibson, ]. 7. Arlington
and Jesse L. Henry. 1t is devel-
oped by tunnels and shafts and is
looked upon as one of the best as it
is one of the oldest prospects of the
camp. 1t is now being opened up