The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-08-05
"WESTLAND TRAILS
(By H. C. REAGAN)
All rights reserved
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Continued

in Cooke a corps of engineers anC
biologists who represented the U S
Geological Survey from Washington
They came to survey the quadrangles
including the country between the
quadrangles of Big Timber and Gran
dial, which had been already surveyed
This quadrangle would include the
New World Mining District, also the
quadrangle which would include the
Red Lodge Coal Mining District. A
peculiar feature was that these two
quadrangles had been left open SO
long while others surrounding them
had been surveyed and mapped. Again
there was some excitement in the
camp. This report would convey to
the outside world the wealth that lay
in the mountains, also the timber and
water power. Spencer and Hartz be-
came acquainted with the corps, as
also did the old miners. The informa
ton given was of great value to the
engineers and geologist. Spencer tool;
the chief up to the smelter and showed
him the results of it's operation, also
the damage done the dam. The chief
was impressed with what he saw and
also was surprised to find power
plant on the Clark's Fork River, and a
three hundred ton coke smelter erected
but no in operation. Fuel was too
high to get it into the camp. Yes,
electricity was the key to the situa-
ton. The amount of ore on the dumps
and the work that had been done by
the old fellows and there was water
power in abundance. Spencer had
written the director of the U. S. Geo.
graphical Survey several years back
for report on the New World Dis
trict. The answer was that they had
not reached that yet but report of
water measurement on the Clarks's
Fork showed one and five tenths
second feet flow. Actual measurement
showed six hundred and sixty-second
feet. The general conditions were
taken up with the chief and he said if
possible, Spencer should take the mat
ter up with the government and see if
he could not get an appropriation to
build a large electric smelter on his
plan, also electrolytic tanks as current
would be cheap; also upon his return
he would take the matter up with the
Secretary of the Interior The rail
road survey was also shown him. 1t
set him to doing some deep thinking.
The idea of getting to congress APP
pealed to Spencer. Maybe it could be
done easier than getting capital. He
had the support of the chief. He and
Hartz talked it over. Where was the
money to come from? 1t was hard
struggle with Hartz. There were five
little mouths to feed now besides him
and his wife. His good old Christian
mother was with him to cheer and
comfort them all to share in the hard
ships and poverty that was to come,
before relief would take away the
sting of hunger and cold. His wife en-
couraged him so that he felt stronger
A Ia hail, 10 bic 10 +,,
keep the wolf away from the door.
Always with the hope that he would
reap his reward from the hills in
which he had pinned his faith. Dur
ing the time Spencer has been east
Hartz had run the tunnel on the Cop
per Glance and intercepted the main
eight hundred feet below the surface.
The point at which it cut through
showed ten feet in width, with the
hanging walls three to four feet on
each side highly mineralized. The
gangue carried copper, gold, silver,
lead and zinc. Plenty of wealth in the
mines.
Spencer received word one day from
Winnie that Uncle Jim had died and
he should come down at once. Leav-
ing camp he went to Yankee Jim's and
attended the laying to rest of another
one of the old pioneer prospectors.
Gradually, but surely the Grim Reap
er was calling them away from the
dreams OF their youth and the hopes
of their manhood. Uncle Jim, true to
his promise, left his property to Win
ME, who saw a ray of light that might
help Spencer, who had told her of his
future plans. She told her parents
that she would be away for week or
more and not to worry about her; she
was going to visit some friends in st.
Paul. During her school days she be-
came acquainted with very charming
young girl whose people were well-to-
do and had often visited at their home
She had made up her mind to see if
she could get the young girls father
to loan her some money on the prop