Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-01-27


sprang up and mining became the
chief industry. The live stock indus
try followed as lands were opened up.
Markets were remote. land plentiful,
farms few and near local markets;
stock raising and mining engaged the
attention of the pioneers.
Lure Of Gold Brings Settlers.
Montana was isolated in the early
days by the presence on it's eastern
borders of large tribes OF hostile
Indians. Its mineral wealth was
discovered by prospectors who enter
ed from the west and early immi-
grants came into the mining camps
from the old Oregon trail. Later
others made the slow and periluus
voyage on steamboats, up the Mis-
sour river to an old fur trading post,
and thence by stage to the scenes ui
Of mining excitement. Large parties
We're conducted through constant
dangers from the Platte to the Yel-
lowstone and thence to the mines.
All sought the glittering gold.
The placer mines were wonderfully
productive. and rich quartz mines OF
gold and silver were soon discovered
and worked. The wonderful deposits
Of copper at Butte were afterwards
found and developed to the extent Of
making it the greatest mining camp
on earth. causing great city to grow
mp and around the mines, helping to
build two other large cities through
the location in them Of the smelters
to treat the copper ores, giving EN-
plOyment to an army Of men taking
ont timbers for the mines, and fur
nishing Il local market, only in part
supplied by home grown products,
for products of garden, and orchard,
and farm. Hour by hour. day by day
munth by month, year by year, iii an
,nending stream, the mines OF Butte
yield up their riches. and the supply
OF ore fails not and, in the opinion OF
experts, Will last for generations.
Prices Of metals and quotations on
shares of mining vary, but the pay
roll is always working.
Placers are still turning out their
treasures and there are mines of gold
and silver and lead, besides those of
copper in other camps than Butte.
and mines Of sapphires and rubies and
garnets. Ores OF iron and manganese
IN large and rich deposits await de-
velopment. The coal fields of Mon
tana cover an area SO extensive that
a number IF states could be lost in it.
The mining industry OF Montana.
so great, so long producing and so
profitable, promises to wax greater
as future years shall witness increas-
cd prospecting, discovery and devel.
Opment.
Ideal for Stock Raising.
The pure air and water and nutri-
tiOus grasses everywhere abundant,
made Montana an ideal stock grow
ing country and the industry prosper
ed exceedingly. Live stock bought
in less favored regions are fattened on
native grasses and Montana range
stock bring top prices ut the stock
yards. The industry is in Il flourish
ing condition and will so continue
owing to the causes which built it up
pure air and water, a climatic un-
friendly to diseases, the quality of
the native grasses and the vast
areas of lands that will ever be de-
voted to grazing there will prob
ably be Il change from ownership of
great herds and tlocks by one man or
company to ownership by great num-
bers Of farmers OF small herds and
tlocks. resulting in their being better
cared for and in an increase in the
number and an improvement OF the