P a g e 3 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r an early morning's move to some new discovery, although Blackfoot proper continued to be the commercial center. Blackfoot City was regularly laid out in lots, 40 by 112 feet house lots selling for $125 each, and corner lots for $50. During its first year it boasted among its population seven good traders, two blacksmiths, two doctors, a combined carpenter and coffin maker, a Chinese laundryman and several liquor dealers, as whisky was considered a staple comparing in importance with flour, bacon and beans. Prices were high. but not as high as in many other camps. THE CHIEF COMMODITIES: Whisky, candles, flour and heavy boots headed the list for selling value. Freighting charges were at first exorbitant, but decreased considerably with competition. A customer, who in answer to his question as to why he should pay 40 cents for a small needle received as an answer that he was paying nothing at all for the needle, just for freight. Classed as in Blackfoot City territory, were many gulches and bars. Some of the more important ones were the famous Carpenter's bar, located about two miles from Blackfoot City in a rolling prairie enclosed by mountains and hills. Washington gulch, about 12 miles from Blackfoot City; Jefferson gulch, three miles west of Washington; Madison gulch, two miles west of Jefferson; Crevice gulch, located on the north side of the Blackfoot range and heading opposite Jefferson; McClellan gulch headed opposite Washington and received Crevice as a tributary. Within two or three miles of Blackfoot City were Prairie, Ohio, Buckeye, Illinois and New Hampshire gulches and nearby were Jefferson, California, Nevada, McClellan, Crevice, Lincoln, Keep Cool and Poor Man's gulches. Eureka and Tiger were also a short distance from the town and farther off was Snowshoe gulch. Carpenter's bar was a bonanza in its own right. Its wealth was incredible. Here gold was deposited over a 20 - square -mile surface. A belt of leads on the north side of this auriferous range ran to Snowshoe gulch and it was from these mainly that the gold was deposited. In order to obtain the gold, the miners found it necessary to simply wash away the surface of the country, a continuous and tiring job which consisted of digging and then shoveling into the sluice boxes. The bed rock appeared to be from two feet six inches, to four feet from the surface, pay dirt being found everywhere through the dirt. Men worked night and day on Carpenter's bar, were always on guard against claim jumpers and declined to give out information concerning their claims. Snowshoe and Deadwood gulches ran from the base to the summit of the mountains with a belt of auriferous leads connecting them with the town of Blackfoot. A party sinking a prospect hole in Deadwood dug directly down to a $3,000 nugget. In this vicinity was located an unusually rich lode. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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