Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-08-20
New Type Prospecor Uses Automobile Instead of SoMoving
Burro But Under His Skin He Is Same Old Time Pioneer

old Chev, 1925 model, had seen bet.
ter days, and he had kept It looking
| good and running satisfactorily. Hg
probably paid SIS for It ia Spokane
sBut It's got a 1928 engine in IT," hi
explained, rather proud Of the old hy-
brid. when got It the engine was
way, they said It was 1928 engine"
Inside the car were his goods and
chattels, and room to sleep.
do you live in the car all the timer ?"
mo, I've got q little tent, an when
locate I pitch that. But when I'm
Just stoppin' along sleep In the car.
It's purity comfortable"
Likes the Hills
I'm stoppin' here because I come
over too early" he continued. That's
the trouble with me. I like the hills.
CANT wait in the spring to get out.
I spend the winter around Spokane, an
then when things begin to turn green
out there I get anxious to go.
I've got q little prospect over on
Rock creek that looks purity good"
(which one?"
'SThat's right, there's lot Of Rock
creeks amt they Well, this ones over
by Philipsburg. But CANT get In there
till about July. So thought I'd come
country. Maybe I can spot somethin'
an come back to it after I try out the
Rock creek prospect"
Just then Al wilkins, pioneer of the
Fort Benton country and the upper
Yellowstone valley, who was with our
picnic crowd, came over. He still talks
enough mining lore to make interest
ing conversation. He and the pros
pectOr discussed plaster" mining, as
the stranger pronounced it, and talked
Of locations, Of kidney" gold and the
like.
Grubstakes naturally came into the
talk.
Il worked long time in the loggin'
camps, an that played out with the
hard times. Then went to prospectin.'
Last winter I cut cord wood out near
Occur d'Alene. I've got enough to go
On this summer, but I'd like to find |
some money. guess can get cord
wood job again next winter, but I'd like /
10 find enough so could lay off q /
winter or two"
do you always 60 out a1one?"
Eyes, like it best that way. I've /
mad partners. They always make me
mad. When we team up they pretend to |
Know q lot. but when we go to work
hey don't know nothin.' They CANT
sven cook, let alone hunt for pros
poets. They're just lookin' for vaca-
ion. So I'd rather go alone. Then I
AN do as I please, an keep my
emper."
Doesn't it get rather lonesome?"
II never get lonesome In the hills." "
The first evening had seen him he
vas huddled over his camp fire as
hough he were dreaming. looked
Ibout now to see what he had to read.
Don't you ever read?"
81 CANT read when I'm In the hills.
We got too much to think about. In
winter read all the time, but when
IN in the hills I Just sit by the fire
N chew tobacco"
Then we talked about the thousands
# men in the hills of the west--Sans
he burros which long ago disappeared
rom most Of MontanaS prospecting
country; the automobile and passable
Dads and trails have brought the pros
Dects nearer to civilization. They're q
lardy race-these fellows who scorn I
elief rolls and public charity-eking
ut grubStake by hard work and care
I'll economy so there1l be beans and
aeon and flour for summers trip to
he hills where hope springs eternal |
hat, with the next shovel of gravel or ]
be next blow Of the pick, there Will [
ONE the promise Of good money, not TO
ay riches. For wages or a little better I