Year: 1867

accessible for machinery until year ago. and then
only by the periOus overland route or tue almost
equally perous waters of the Missouri it is wonder
ful, indeed, that human energy could have accom-
plished what it has accomplished here. IL is not
strange that its quartz mining is most imperfect in
both machinery and management, and thereby rem
dered comparatively unproductive. NOthwthstand-
ing all these obstacles, Montana is second only to
| California in her yield of gold, and will this
year go up to fully twenty millions of treas
ure, with gradual increase from year to
year as legitimate enterprise is displayed in her
mines of almost boundless extent and bewilderng
wealth, doubt whether any part OF the world will
yield such large returns on the same capital and
labor as Will Montana in time. just now the best
SCIENTIFIC talent is directed to the mastery of


Rocky Mountain ores; each year will simplify and


cheaper their reduction; capital and energy will
come. armed with the improvements science may
Offer and make Montana with but four years of
history the great center of the production of the
precious metals on this continent It has the expert


enee of the older mining Territories to profit by, and
its almost impossible mountains have been wall OF


protection against mad speculation and the waste OF


millions to paralyZe legitimate operations. Colorado
is cursed by speculative corporations, which have


not vitality enough TO iye and not sense enough to


die, and they sit in dleness and bankruptcy upon
valuable mines; but Montana is open TO practical
business enterprise, and will well repay those who
thus come to develop her surprising richness


La addition to the vast mineral wealth of Montana
the production OF breadstffs is quite equal to
the consumption. Wheat, barley, oats and rye, and


most vegetables, are raised here in the valleys in


wonderful perfection Ii will startle Eastern farmers
to read that wheat fields in Montana have produced


80 bushels to the acre, but it is certainly true Corn
cannot be grown here as the season is too short.


Cattle Craze out all the Winter IN the valleys; and


usually keep in excellent order. Last Winter, how
ever, many were lost by the uncommon severity OF
the weather but during any ordinary Winter the
cattle will sustain themselves comfortably on the
grass Even as far north as Fort Benton they Craze
their stock all the year. The finest agricultural por-
tOn of the Territory is still unnhabted save by the
saVages. The Yellowstone region has the most salu-
bri0us climate north of the Platte, and il must soon
he surrendered by the red man, and blossom with
beauty and plenty, TO reward the husbandman.


The eirreguarity of the mails to this Territory is
terrible OF The TRIBUNE, 30 copies OF the daily
are now due me here and have received but two
OF The Times, sent me sem-wcekly since the lst OF
MAY, have received but one number. Letters or
papers mailed in Wells, Fargo II Co.'s maD-bags
come promptly. At Salt Lake received papers and


letters through that channel before the same dates
had reached Denver by mall The Government pays
Wells Fargo Co. 81 100000 or so to carry the mails,
but they manage to delay and lose SO much mall mat
ter that business men are glad TO pay them treDle
postage, in addition to the Government postage 10
insure prompt transmission of papers and letters.
They carry than half the letters from Salt Lake


mont 70 s With Wells Fargo Co stamp on
which are bought and used TO guard against the loss
permitted to have special mails, earned at large
extra profit they have every lnducement 10 confuse,
delay aud lose the regular mails, so az TO
compel correspondents 10 pay them, III ad-
dition TO their Government compensation, twice
or thrice established postal rates and they nave NOT
been slow TO avail themselves to the utmost OF this
advantage. IL they can carry letters and papers
through in regular time III their own special mails


why cannot they bring the regular mails through in
the same time They have contracted 10 deliver
them promptly. and, save when stopped by public


enemy, their failure 10 do so must be the result OF
careessness or want OF the necessary coaeh-roOm
and teams all of which they have obligated them
selves to furnish. / found at different stations on


the way tuns of mails piled up and sometimes mall


bags are scattered along the road apparently dropped


have the Far West supplied promptly with mails for
which an ample sum is paid now, the right to com
! pete with the mails must be taken from the Com
he enforced


coach has been captured by the Indians on the pains


this Spring and yet tuns of mail matter have been
| lost Where is il VIII the Government make the
inquiry in earnest


grant that the line has been interrupted Wells,
Fargo IL Co. scattered their crippled horses for some
300 miles the most exposed part of the line tfrom
Fort Saunders TO Laclede) turned them out 10 Craze
on the snow and the Indians, thus invited. came in
daily and gathered them up, until some 200 were
taken. doubt whether there would have been an
Indian attack west of Fort Saunders If Wells, Fargo


q CO. had stabbed and fed their stock as the season
demanded. for there was no grass on the mountains
adequate 10 support them. As | stated IN former


letter on this subject M 1t ever reached you'll there
was not a horse or mule taken from the Company,
west of Saunders out of stable, nor single stable
captured while it occupied. Yet for these horses.
or for good horses claim will be made upon Congress
Will Congress foot the billf If so, they VIII pay
Wells, Fargo Co. premium for delaying anu ue-
strOyng mails, and for supplying Indians with their
exhausted horses. , ,...


have. as yet, no means of knowing the condition
of things on the mountain line between Denver and
Salt Lake but beg leave to suggest to the military
and stage authorities that they test the safety OF the
route before they expose travellers hereafter as mere
| tofore Let Mr.. Ben Halliday, for instance, take
passage i'm coach at Julesburg, or Junction, for


Salt Lake with Lieut. Gen sherman as escort. Les


them have the best of horses for changes along the
line and invite visits from the friendles by turn


ing the advance teams out TO Craze so that sherman,


Halliday & Co may exercise themselves, as DID; In
helping TO catch their teams at the stations. They


would doubtless need some hair restOratives before
they cot through but it is their business to pro-


tect and carry passengers it would be equally ther
I'm SlOud III.
The rone once thus travelled and officially reported
upon could thereafter be held out to the public as
thOroughfare merting patronage. Unfil then pas
who do not prefer to be swindled scalped.
had better stay at home select some other route
A. X. NJ