Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-08-01
JACK MONROE'S
LIFE BRIDGES
GLAMOROUS GAP
CONTINUED from Historical Page

Continued from Historical Page)
Since 1927 Monroe has resided con-
tinuously in the hills. He Is an author
ity on the history Of the Sweet Grass
hills, and he has an amazing store
Of information packed away in his
memory.
1t is known to few people in Toole
that the late Jim Hill, president Of
the Great Northern, bought an inter-
est in the hills in the shape Of
marble claim, now in Liberty county.
At the time Of his purchase, Hill had
it In mind to run a branch line north
of the present High-line but this plan
was never realized.
Apparently the Hill interests vet be-
heve the property is worth hanging
on to. because to date the taxes have
been paid year after year. The marble.
according to Monroe, is a beautiful
product whose quality compares favor
ably with that from Vermont.
Mining always has soft place In
the old gentleman's heart. He said
that Frank Smith, Sweet Grass. resi-
dent, put in q stamp mill a decade
ago at the time the old Gopher mine
was opened. After operating for some
eAA4Nf Az Wcao oAAQb aOHAls
Boosted Copper Mine
With the present day interest in
metal for the governments defense
program, 1t Is intriguing to know that
at one time the hills boosted Of a |
copper mine known as the Brown Eve |
Queen. 1t ran for some years but was
finally closed. An enormous pile Of
taiings was later worked over by an
hills resident and some
$500 or $500 was gained from what
had been considered a refuse spot.
A few Of this county's residents who
have climbed far above Pratt's canyon
have run across the remnants of q
crude gold crushing stamp mill that
was constructed by Monroe and two
brothers known as Gratz This is what
s termed an arrastra, a Spanish term.
Horses supplied the power with the
animals going around and around.
pulling q large rock while water
washed over the crushed quartz. It !
vas fairly successful, but an avalanche
ore the apparatus out and no repair
work was done on it.
To date, Monroe explains. all gold
rom the hills has been Of the placer
variety and he points to this as an
Indication of the real wealth below
he earth's surface.
Monroe has dug in all parts of the /;
Sweet Grass hills in search of ores .
md he asserts that DR.. Cady, Kan
as university scientist, while a viSi- i,
or in that part of the country, found
Indications of radium. At the present :
ime there are spots in the hills where :
he snow, no matter how deep the fall, !
emains but very short time. Cattle :
nStinctively recognize these places as !
source Of warmth and make for \
hem.
Theory Substantiated :
Dr. Cady said these are all indica- !
ions Of uranium ore from which ra- :
ifum comes. Not content with this y
eneral opinion, the KanSan made sci
nttfic tests that substantiated this i
heory to a reasonable hypothesis !,
afterwards DR.. Cady went to Texas, -
There he discovered the famous !,
elium wells. y
Not very far from Monroe's is a 3
Medicinal spring. The water has a
trong sulphur taste and to a new =,
omer this is far from inviting. Upon =
drinking of the liquid, one n
cquires a strong liking for the fluid. q
he health-givfng properties of the -
BRING are well known to many Of the =,
ld-time Sweet Grass hills residents. +,
T. Cady said the unique thing about y
he water is that 1t has properties that 4
ome only from radium, a singular \,
arity. y =
Monroe looks back upon his life =
18th deserved satisfaction, content y,
} have bridged the gap between Mon y,
mas pioneer days and the present. D
II