rocks, both in sheets between stratas and through fissures made in the stratas. To a certain extent some of these intrusive sheets and dikes were mineral bearing, and gradually these minerals were deposited in the fissures caused by faulting or otherwise. Through denudation most of these mineral-bearing intrusive rocks have been removed, for it is apparent that several thousand feet of sedimentary formations have been removed, reducing the range to its present low but sharp razorbacklike aspect. This conclusion is reached from the fact that in the fissures caused by faulting is found in pockets silver-lead ores. This is especially noticeable in the region about Flathead Pass. In the gneiss and schist veins occur carrying gold and copper, and in cases some silver. The range has not been thoroughly prospected, due to some extent to the ruggedness of some localities and to the more profitable regions of the State other than this one which attracts prospectors. Numerous locations have been made along the west slope and in the north part of the range, but there are no producing mines as yet, holders of claims in some cases alleging that the low price of silver and lead renders working mineral deposits in that region unprofitable. The lands classified as nonmineral comprise all the lands east and north of the range up to the base of the mountain. They are made up of the foothills of Bridger and the rough, broken ridges and narrow valleys which drain in the Shields River, Sixteen Mile Creek, and Bridger Creek, and a few square miles of the Dry Creek drainage. The few narrow valleys are well watered, affording scattered ranch settlements. This nonmineral land is, however, considered good stock-range country. There is also considerable fine timber in the foothills of Bridger and on the ridges east of it. The formation of the nonmineral lands is practically all of a post-Cretaceous period, the exception being the "red sandstones" and the coal-bearing Laramie stratas which outcrop in the foothills of Bridger Range. The Laramie sandstone and shale, except the outcropping noted, is covered with an immense thickness of volcanic and aqueous débris tufa and ashes, thin bands of sandstone and shale, topped with conglomerates derived from the denudation of Bridger Range. In such formations metalliferous ore deposits can not exist except through local cause-through the intrusion of igneous rocks in sheets or in dikes and the aqueous deposits of auriferous sands in the streams and gulches. But an examination of the lands shows that those local conditions do not exist as to the lands classified as nonmineral. CERTIFICATE TO EXHIBITS A AND B It is hereby certified that the foregoing report, Exhibits A and B, of the lands examined and classified by the board of commissioners for the land district of Bozeman from December 1, 1896, to and including December 31, 1896, together with an abstract of decisions, the evidence filed, etc., is a true and correct record of the proceedings had during the period specified, both dates included. ANDREW WEAMFULL, Commissioners. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, I hereby certify that the annexed copies of reports, Exhibits A and B, dated October 1, 1895, are true and literal exemplifications of the originals on file in this office. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the seal of this office to be affixed, at the city of Washington, on the day and year above written. [SEAL.] D. K. PARROTT, Acting Assistant Commissioner of the General Land Office. EXHIBIT A DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE, Report of certain lands within the land grant limits (or within the indemnity land grant limits) of the Northern Pacific Railroad Co., within the distr ct above named, examined and classified in accordance with an act of Congress approved February 26, 1895, entitled "An act to provide for the examination and classification of certain mineral lands in the States of Montana and Idaho." 1 In case any tract described in the foregoing statement was classified after consideration of testimony offered by witnesses, under the head of remarks should be made a reference by page to those portions of Exhibit B containing the testimony and decisions relative to the particular tract. The following exhibit is submitted as additional and supplemental to the detailed lists of lands examined and classified by the board of commissioners, shown on Exhibit A, of even date herewith. During the month of September, 1895, the commission has received ex parte affidavits in reference to the mineral character of land lying in township 31 north, range 33 west. Notations in red ink are made by the commission. These affidavits show the character of section 19, township 31 north, range 33 west, and will be fully referred to hereafter. The affidavits are as follows: TOWNSHIP 13 NORTH, RANGE 20 WEST This township lies southwest from the city of Missoula. Much of the land has been patented, all of which is excluded from this report. In a few instances we find notes on the tract book in the Missoula land office that a certain tract of land is in contest and can not tell what disposition has been made of the contest or whether disposed of at all. The local officers say these notes were made on the records at the time this office was established, and that there is nothing in the office to show how they have been disposed. In all such cases we include the land in this report. The southern portion of this township lies in the foothills, and the surveyed portion of section 31 lies well up in the mountains, but the greater portion of it lies in the valley of the Hell Gate and Bitter Root rivers and is level and is used for farming purposes. Our investigation shows no mineral development. The country being level and free of timber, we were able to see it quickly. We hereby classify all the unpatented odd sections as nonmineral land. TOWNSHIP 14 NORTH, RANGE 20 WEST All the odd sections in this township except section 1 and the N. 1⁄2 NE. and NE. 14 NW. 4 of section 3 are surveyed. The township is almost wholly void of timber. The northern part of the township extends into the rolling hills. On section 11 is a coal prospect which is all the mineral we were able to find or learn of, and as under the terms of the grant, coal land passed to the company we do not consider this in making our classification. The same difficulty exists here as in township 13 north, range 20, last above mentioned, as to contests instituted before the Missoula land office was established, and in cases of doubt we have thought it safer to include the land in this report. Many patents have been issued. Our minute book contains a correct description of the patents issued in each section, and all patented land is excluded from Exhibit A of this report. We are of the opinion that all of the unpatented, odd numbered sections and parts of sections in this township is nonmineral land, and the same is hereby so classified. |