Year: 1867

The following letter was written by W. T..
Harris, Esq, to gentleman of this town,
who, although not intended for publica-
ton, has kindly permitted us to lay it before
our readers. Mr.. Harris is well known in
this vicinity. and his many friends will be
pleased to learn that he is still in the land
of the living. His description of the coun-
try. mines, etc., is highly interesting:


VIRGINIA CITY, MONTANA TERRITORY,


January 4th, 1867.


FRIEND -: The old adage of better
late than never will do in some cases. and
l hope it will apply to my present writing.
My unsettled, transitory condition has Teen
the principal cause of my long delay in writ
ing. Upon reaching the Big Bend country
my disappointment and disgust were so com
plete, that felt distrustful of finding any,
thing in Montana worth travelling after; but
regarding that country as the next best, we
decided upon seeing the thing out. So, ac-
cofdingly, after a sojourn Ofabout woweeks
in that delectable region, took a final adeu.
| think forever, of British Columbia. l shall
not now attempt description of the country
as you have no doubt heard it fairly repre-
sented by others of our Mokelumne Hill
friends who were sold by the same auction
eer as myself Well. we soon reach
ed Colville, 270 miles down the river, where
we procured horse apiece and with many
other disappointed pilgrims, trudged along
our weary way. There are as fine indications
OF gold in the Colville region of country as
have seen since left California. The cit
liens told me that colors could be found eve
ryWhere, but no prospecting had been done
to amount to anything. My brother and 1
reached the Elk Creek country about the
loth OF June, where | got work and stopped
until the first part of September. E k Creek
is one of the tributaries of the Big Blackfoot
River, aud the first mining town we came to
III approaching this Territory from the west
great many of the gulches there would pay
well with sufficiency Of water to work them
to advantage. which is not there and proba-
bly, never will be. The placer mining in this
country is confined exclusively to the gulch-
es and small creeks, and they are scattered
here and there in localities over a great ex-
tent OF country, from dozen TO fifty miles
apart-and frequently only one or two
guches in district will pay. At Virginia
City no profitable mining of any consequence
has been found outside of the bed. banks and
bars of Alder gulch, or as it is sometime call
ed creek !; but that has been rich. The sur
lace OF the country seems to have never un-
dergone as great changes as California has.
There are 10 hill diggings here-no lava or
sedlmentary formations like Stockton Hill
and the gold has generally not been removed
great distance from where it has become
disengaged from its mother quartz. A new
mining camp was struck, last Fall, on the
head waters or source of the tributaries of
the Salmon River. about 125 miles west of
10 tod -,
good paying district, and more extensive than
any previous discovery made in this Terri
tory. There will be great rush made as soon
as Spring opens, for that district l think
shall go over which. if l do, will keep you
posted on its development.


Quartz, throughout the Territory prom
ises well. In every district where any trial
has been made of the Lodges. they have been
found to be rich, and greenbacks by the bush
el are being sent here from New York and
other Eastern cities, for their development.
The most of the mills will be brought fl ON
California. Eastern mills, so far in almost
every instance have proved d complete fail
ure. Possessing as she does, lodges unsur-
passed in number richness and extent with
the pest of mill sites in every direction. and
plenty of fuel, the future prosperity and
greatness of Montana, as mining country.
does not admit of doubt, and it has not
the worst of all climates. Stick lives and
keeps fat here the year round without having
to be fed. But little snow falls in the valleys
along the river, and what does seldom lays
over few days at time, and the grass hav-
ing dried up in the Summer, remains in a
good, sound condition until the next crop
comes on. Large crops of wheat, barley, po-
tatoes and other vegetables can be raised
when The country escapes the ravages of the
grasshoppers, of which you have doubtless
heard. think Montana presents, at the pres
ent time, the best opening for money making
in business way, OF any country 1 was ever
in. Merchants are reaping a rich harvest
Business is done pretty much altogether on
cash basis, with enormous profits, which is
bound to continue as long as transportation
is so slow and difficult. But let me say to
those who contemplate coming here without
money, expecting to dig out fortune in a
Summer that they will generally find them
selves badly sold in the Fall yet, as in all
other mining countries, it not unfrequently
occurs hut fear we will have to leave North
America to find another California as it was
in days OF yore.