176 MONTANA 19 U 



and one that wiU, in time, mean millions in dividends and millions paid out 

 for Montana supplies and Montana labor. 



Now comes the metal, the quest of which forms one of the most 

 rornlantic chapters in Montana's history. We can only touch on the early- 

 day gold mining- in Montana, for we have arrived at a fast moving age 

 when gold mining in the Treasure State has been outstripped 

 The Fascin- ^Y the mining and milling of baser metals, such as copper 

 atingHunt and zinc. 



for Gold. Gold brought the Montana pioneers across the plains. 



Gold built uip the state's first camps — Virginia City, Alder, 

 Bannack, Deer Lodge. Helena and other towns. Gold invited the men to 

 Montana who became a part of the territory's life and worked through 

 the dark days that it might grow into a young, but strong and virile state. 



In those early days placer mining was the method used to gather gold. 

 The gulches containing the yellow metal were carefully worked, the sands 

 being panned for the gold dust. Alder Gulch in Madison county was by 

 far >t!he biggest producer. And this gulch is being worked today. Dredge 

 boats now do the work of the miner with his pan. A California company 

 is also interested in prospecting for the mother lode in Alder gulch, which 

 has never been found. This prospecting is being done by means of bore 

 drills and the company is sparing no expense to find the original source 

 of Virginia City's onee great mineral wealth. 



That the pioneer miners did not work for nothing in the rugged days 

 of territorial life is evidenced by the fact that within twenty years after 

 the first rush to Alder Gu'lch $200,000,000 had been mined, principally in 



gold dust. Of this amount Alder Gulch produced approxi- 

 Gold Bullion mately $150,000,000, which gives it the distinction of being the 

 in Carload biggest gold producing gulch the world has ever known. 

 Lots. Last Chance Gulch, the present site of the city of 



Helena, produced its millions, and Bannack and other placer 

 miiining districts produced their share in the early days. And when the 

 sands became lean and failed to give up tlie fabulous profits in gold dust 

 attention was called to lode mining. Marysville, Radersburg and other 

 camps attracted the mining interests. One of the state's most famous gold 

 mines was the Drumlummon, of Marysville, which produced for its owners 

 many millions of dollars. This mine was closed through litigation several 

 years ago and is now idle. In the old Radersburg district the Keating 

 Gold and Ohio Keating mines are making money. In the Scratch Gravel 

 district, a few miles from Helena, Thomas Cruse is working the Franklin 

 and the Prunell property is also active. Madison county has several gold 

 producers and scattered about the state are gold mines that are being- 

 worked, though none on a very extensive scale. Much of the state's gold 

 is now produced as a bi-product, along with other metals. 



Gold mining is carried on quite extensively in Fergus and Blaine 

 counties. These counties lead the state as practically exclusive quartz 



-Montana is the playground of the nation. 



