THROUGH WONDERLAND. 
25 
between statements that he may venture to repeat and those made for his 
especial benefit as a tenderfoot. 
He need not, however, discredit such stories as that a four-mule team once 
hauled to Fort Benton, for transportation down the 
Missouri river, two and one-half tons of gold, 
valued at $1,500,000; nor yet, that in the' early 
days potatoes were worth fifty 
cents per pound, and flour one 
dollar, or that oranges were sold 
at a dollar each, and small pine¬ 
apples at seven dollars. These 
are facts not more startling than 
many others that might be quoted. 
In the mining world, at least, truth 
is positively stranger than fiction. 
YELLOWSTONE RIVER, 
NATIONAL PARK. 
and 1884! The annual output now 
ritory stands at the head of the 
The annual production 
of the precious metals in 
Montana has increased 
enormously within recent years, 
doubling itself between 1880 and 
1882, and trebling between 1882 
approaches .$30,000,000, and the Ter- 
gold-producing regions of the world, 
