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Show 48 FROM BRIDGER'S PASS are fast abandoning the country, either to search for the precious metal in Idaho or Montana, where it abounds in the beds of streams, as formerly in California, or to return to their homes, as was the case with those we met. They informed me that there were thousands of families who re mained in the State only because of a want of means to enable them to leave it. Disappointed miners were not confined to those of Cali fornia only, but the newer regions had theirs also. About the time of which I have been writing, I met the very ex tensive effects of a defunct mining company returning from the new gold region of Montana. It consisted of a train of elaborately constructed wagons, on which the bright red paint was yet comparatively fresh, and conspicuously let tered upon each was " Montana U. S. Gold Mining Co." With them were a large engine and boilers, and the whole was en route for Denver City, where the effects of the company had been sold. I got the following bit of history from the gentleman in charge of the train. Some time ago some shrewd individuals from Montana called upon capitalists in the East, and portrayed, in very extravagant terms, the immense wealth of gold lands where they represented that they had established claims j but for want of means were unable to work the mines successfully on their own account. They exhibited specimens of rich gold quartz, with elaborate charts of the country in which the gold lands were represented to be located. Without a survey of the country, or inspection of the mines, and en tirely upon the representations of these- men, a company, with a capital of $ 200,000, was immediately organized, and the outfit to which I have referred was the result. After a year's explorations and researches, not only did they fail to produce the gold which they expected to pour like a stream into their treasury, but were unable to find even the land they had purchased. This may strike the reader as an improbable story, but I give it upon the authority of an intelligent gentleman who was in charge of the property. |