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lation of 10,000, 5,000 acres under cultivation, 2,500 miners employed, and 

 8700,000 in gold. Bj the auditor's report it appears that upon December 1, 

 1865, there were in the Territory: oxen, 4,325; horses, 1,207; mules, 464; 

 cows and calves, 1,876; sheep, 1,769; hogs, 249. Total value of property 

 taxed, including capital in merchandise, manufactures, &c.,' $2,679,039. Num- 

 ber of acres of land claimed, 82,706, valued at $128,369, 



The chief wealth of the Territory consists in the mineral deposits, which vie 

 in richness with those of California. "The whole of the western half of this 

 Territory is one vast mine of gold." Silver is found both iu a metallic state, 

 and also disguised as chlorides, sulphurets, &c. Two kinds of mining are 

 practiced : one by washing sand and gravel for particles of gold; the other by 

 crushing the auriferous quartz and employing the process of amalgamation with 

 mercury. The latter is the most remunerative when conducted upon a large 

 scale. The mountains are crossed by parallel veins of quartz containing gold, 

 silver, copper, and lead. Iron also exists iu large quantities. Masses of pure 

 copper have been found similar to the ores of Lake Superior. One immense 

 lode has been discovered called the "Big lode," some fifty miles long, and vary- 

 ing iu width from fifty to one hundred feet. It assays $40 to the t(jn of rock, 

 and it is supposed that all smaller lodes will eventually be traced into it. Over 

 four thousand lodes have been staked out and recorded. They assay from $30 

 to $1,000 per ton. Few mills have been started, but those in operation pay 

 respectable dividends. The average yield is $1,000 to a stamp per week. 



As would be expected, prices are very high. Goods are necessarily trans- 

 ported across the plains, from Omaha, at great expense. The trade from Salt 

 Lake consists chiefly of flour and salt. Tea and sugar are brought from San 

 Francisco by water to Portland, and thence through Hell Gate Pass by pack 

 animals. Soon a line of steamers, running up Columbia river as far as the Pend 

 d'Oreilles lake, will afford better means of communication. A road is building 

 from Helena to the mouth of the IMuscle Shell river, the head of steamboat 

 navigation on the Missouri river. A road reccutly surveyed from Sioux City to 

 Virginia City will afford a ready communication with the States, when Indian 

 hostilities shall cease. 



The first reports of the wonderful wealth of Montana caused a great influx 

 from all quarters. The offscourings from California, Xevada, Colorado, and 

 the Boise Basin, poured in in alarming numbers. The roads became unsafe. 

 Men were murdered in daylight. The "road agents" were so bold and united 

 that they would even ride into stores, empty their revolvers at the crowd, and 

 gallop off. Neither property nor life was secure, and business was seriously 

 impeded. At last a few resolute men formed a vigilance committee and began 

 by executing five of the leaders — desperate ruffians — at East Bannock. After 

 frequent repetitions of this summary method of treatment, order was restored, 

 and has since been maintained. 



Our correspondent closes with a glowing augury for the future of Montaua. 

 Alluding to the fixct that but a small portion of the gold territory has yet been 

 prospected; tliat but a fraction of the richest lands are under cultivation; and 

 that the many other sources of great wealth, together with the unequalled 

 climate and natural advantages, have not yet received due attention, he scfys: 

 "When our facilities for transportation are improved, and the screaming loco- 

 motive is heard in our valleys and along our water-courses ; when permanent 

 villages spring up on every hand, with their churches and school-houses sowing 

 the seeds of righteousness and truth in this most wonderful region, then the 

 older sisters will be proud of this addition to the Union, and will acknowledge 

 as the Queen of the West the peerless, rock-embraced, snow-crowned princess 

 Montana." 



