The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-12-10
(Bv MRS. NJ. i. PLAssMANN)

AZ ONTANA is known as the
INE Treasure State, the name being
Ava founded on fact, not fancy, for
here is found wealth untold, and the
end is not yet. At first the news of
gold discoveries here, drew men from
all over the United States, also from
Europe and Asia. The Chinese and
Japanese were as susceptible to the
lure of the yellow metal as were the
white men, and the former accumu-
lated fortunes from mine tailings, the
miners considered worthless. With in
finite patience they wrought, and
were well rewarded for their pains.
Silver, before it's emonetization was
valued almost as highly as gold, and the
silver mines Of Montana were numerous.
Then came the discovery Of copper at
Butte, and elsewhere, which mines are
veritable treasure houses for their owners.
It's many uses render this hOmely metal
invaluable.
Iron is plentiful all over the state, and
promises wealth for the future. Coal is con-
stantly being discovered. In some sections
Of the state, it is said farmers can supply
themselves with fuel by digging for it in
their own back yards, and this is the
truth in many instances.
Natural gas, where supplied, heats houses
and is utilized for cooking purposes, and
0AOnldn1 III CHS L dALA0NGAh5 thC a@b(h
ton of the world. l have mentioned but a
few of the sources of MOntana's wealth,
which entities her to be called the Treas
ure State. 1t would require a scientist,
which 1 am not, to recount her manifold
resources, many of which have not yet
come to light, but the future will reveal.
When the heroes Of Sheherazade'S Won
derful stories enters a cave or valley
filled with treasure, gold figures largely
in the description, to be sure, but becomes
insignificant beside the heaps OF jewels
found with it. Sinbad the sailor is quite
satisfied with the diamonds of immense
size which he discovers, without troubling
himself to look for gold; and others have
their eyes gladdened, and fortune assured
by the gems they find. Precious stones con-
Stitute an important part of MOntana'S
treasures, although but little mention is
made of them. They do not Startle the
beholder by their brilliance, however, but
hide themselves from all who do not pos
SesS the scientific word which reveals them.
There are few living in Montana who
have not heard of the YOgO sapphire mines,
but the knowledge of what led to their
discovery is not so general. In 1879 there
was a report of rich gold finding in the
Little Belt mountains. Those who respond
ed to the call failed to make even fair
wages; some one of the prOSpectOrs how
ever brought back from the abandoned
mines a cigar box filled with blue cOlOfed
stones. These, on examination, proved to- be
6aphireS of a quality unsurpassed even in
the Orient. The development of the mine
was then undertaken, ana work there still
continues, with no indication that the sup
ply of saphires will soon be exhausted
The mine is now owned by an English
company.
After the rock in which the gems are
embedded is brought to the surface, it is
a matter Of years before they are extracted
as the rock must diSintegrate through the
action Of the weather, and being sprinkleC
with water. About four years are required
for this process. The saphires are then sem
TO Il wnhnmn n Enm~ % AInnN n.A I'D
but most of this work is done by peasants
in the Jura mountains, who combine gen
cutting with farm work. The small stones
are used in scientific instruments; il
watches and clocks, and in delicate ma
chimes.
Montana saphires are sold through tn,
world. The demand for them is steadily in
creasing, and their price prOpOrtiOnatel!
advancing.
Like gold mining, sapphire mining is no
without its romance. Evidently, from stOr
les current, there are plenty Of saphires il
Montana elsewhere than at YOgO. In Mus
Selshell county there is said to be a los
sapphire mine, which was known to a sheep
herder by the name Of Jimmy Doyle, wht
came to Montana with the construction
crew Of the c.. NJ. & ST. Paul railway. OF
his occasional visits to town he brOugh
with him a collection of blue stones, whicI
he seemed to recognize as valuable. Whethe
he was able to exchange these for whisky
rs questionable; but he often gave then
20 his friends.
The locality where Doyle ranged hi
sheep is known, and the ground has BEEF
carefully gone over in efforts to find tn
mine Doyle was finally sent to War;