west, on the Helena line, is the junction of the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson rivers, commonly called the Three Forks of Lewis and Clark, the head of the Missouri river. At Whitehall a branch line extends to Twin Bridges, where the State Home for Orphans is located; and the famous Alder Gulch and Virginia City, where in the early sixties there resided over thirty thousand persons and over ninety-five millions of dollars were taken from its placer mines. At the present time Virginia City has numerous rich gold producing quartz mines, and the patriotic citizens are beginning to realize prosperity as in the days of yore. Also on the same line is Sheridan, where there are a number of valuable gold mines; the town is advancing rapidly.
At Whitehall I again take the train branching off at Sappington on the
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