Year: 1865

~ AhC AOitONiuS lcttcE lTOLn MI
,hn House, late of Gall;polis, now {
resident of Montana Territory, may
be interesting to persons who con.
template emigrating to that region
The statements made correspond
with those from other persons and
may be relied upon.


4 VIRGINIA CITY, Montana Ter.


April 2, 1865.


I l to-day received your welcome
letter of Jan. 9th. 1 was truly glad
to hear from the outer world once
more, as we have been showed in
here for the past three months, moi
r, ceiving any news from any source
whatever The snow has been twen-
ty feet deep on the mountains, and
ten in the Vallies; hence you see we
could not expect much mail matter
over such country as it necessarily
has to pass. This has been an ex-
ceedingly long and cold winter. The
mercury has been down to thirty
eight degrees below zero several
/ times.
Notwithstanding there has been a
considerable number OF new dyings
discovered, among which, are some,
said to be very rich while others will
not pay for working, at the present
high prices of provisions and labor.
But think in the course of a few
years, they will all be worked
Among those that are creating the
most excitement is, the Black Foot
and Last Chance Clutches. The
Black Foot Gulch empties into the
little Missouri river. Last Chance
Gulch empties into the Deer Lodge.
These diggings turn out well from all
accounts. They prospect from forty
five cents to four dollars. TO the pan.
If this is so, those Clutches Will pay
as well as this { (Fairweather) ever
Edid, and l believe they will.


The Silver Bow, German, Confed-
crate. Grizzly and McClellau G Gulches,
are all reported to pay we'll. There
are new discoveries beingmade every
day, and those that are being discov-
cred low, are reported to pay the
best. The Quartz Leads have crea-
ted great excitement here. There
has been any amount of Leades dis
covered, some of which have been
testeds and prove to be very rich
Some Of them have turned out as
high as nine hundred dollars TO the
cord of quartz. Their are some five
or six quartz mills in operation -
There will be more than n hCndred
put IN operation in the course of the
summer There will be employment
for all that come to this country, and
they can take their choice of work,
and at large wages, from five to ten
dollars per day. You have no doubt
often heard of the song of Niger on
the brain. 1t is little different here,
it is quartz on the brain.


The cultivation of the soil is now
all the talk. On all the different
Ranches they are making prepare
tions for getting in their seed. There
will be several thousand acres of this
golden soil titled this season. 1t has
been proved beyond a doubt that
this is good farming county
Good wheat and potatoes were raised
here last season, besides vegetables
OF different kinds. l have seen as
good cabbage, onions and cucumbers
as ever saw IN the States. Corn
does not grow well here on account
of the dryness of the weather, during
the summer. The land has all to be
irrigated to make the ground produce
any thing.


| have understood that there is
machinery on the way here for a
large Touring mill, which is to be
erected on the Gallatin river which
is sixty miles from this city There
has been better pay discovered in
this Gulch this winter than ever.


Should there be any of my friends
who intend coming to this country
this season, perhaps a little ADVICE
from one that has crossed the plains,
will not come amiss.


In the first place he wants a good
supply of good coarse clothing and
at least one years provisions, and do
not forget good supply of sweet
meats, such as canned and dried fruits,
also butter will come in good play.
In fact any thing that you can find
in your house, you will find it will
come very handy on the plains.


Yours. JOHN.