P a g e 4 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 Nearly all of the hanging walls of these coal beds are of strong sandstone and the roofs are so inclined as to need but little support and slight expense, which latter is readily supplied by the abundance of timber in the surrounding neighborhood. H. Bush in the Stoping of the Sowash Mine By the inclination of the beds, one-third more coal is found than in horizontal beds. The seven beds have an average thickness of 70 feet, yielding more than 46 feet of solid, workable coal. The coal is free from all injurious substances, such as the sulphides of iron and lime; but some of the beds contain small masses of native resin, like amber, which increase the flame and heat, while some of these coals will cake and make a good coke. Building brick and stone are found in abundance in various localities along the bench lands. It can be obtained in quantities sufficient for the demands of any city. Limestone is prominent in the western wall of the lower canyon of the Yellowstone, about four miles above Livingston. Here can be seen a solid wall of it one mile in length and one thousand feet in height. The lime produced is of a superior quality, exceeding that of any other locality in eastern Montana, and by its location on the Park Branch railway it promises to be the main supply for the various active mining districts. Fire-brick and tile are found in large deposits at Cooke City, or the New World Mining district, Horr and near Livingston. It is equal in character to the Starbridge, England, product. These deposits have only been worked to a limited extent, and are only waiting for the demand to waken their slumbering resources. Marble has been discovered in the foot-hills of the Yellowstone, or Snowy mountains just opposite Cinnabar. It is susceptible of receiving a high polish, and has been developed sufficiently to prove its value, should an effort be made, or capital secured for its development. BEAR GULCH About five miles east of Gardiner and on the southern boundary of Park county is located the most wideawake gold mining camp in the state of Montana today. The first placer gold in Bear Gulch was discovered by Uncle Joe Brown in '66. Placer mining continued to be worked to a limited extent until '84, when Major Eaton put in operation the most powerful hydraulic apparatus for placer mining in the world at that time. The water had a vertical fall of 400 feet through 1200 The Guest House of H. Bush
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