The river press., 1882-05-24
FROM CENTREVILLE TO HELENA.
Bedford, and the New Railroad Town al
the srokane-GradiDg on the N.
P. Railroad.

After crossing the Missouri river at Moore's
ferry, near Centerville - where Smith &
Co., branch of Raleigh & Clarke, Helena,
have established dry goods house since
my last VISIT drove on to make my first
visit in the new town of Bedford. This
town was exceedingly lively last WINTER
while grading for the Northern Pdci fic road
was going on near by; but things are rather
quiet there now, since the graders have
moved on towards Helena. However, Bed
ford will not fade away, like many rail-
around it. and although never a very large
town, will be always thriving little village.
The railroad store Of Fyhrie, Dunn & Co.
was being moved to the Spokane while
was there, but Court Sheriff, formerly of
Canyon Ferry, and Mr.. Puett are putting
in new stocks of goods, and will divide the
mercantile business with Miss Minnie Gal
lagher, who has nice store with very fair
the Bedford Touring mills, owned BY Gavin
Johnson, who is q thorough, practical miller.
There are swo hotels in the place, one kept
by Mr.. Baker and the other by widow
lady whose name could not learn. Mr. B.
also runs livery stable, and a Mr.. Reed has
a frst-class stable at the other end Of town
Geo. Mcknight and Dan Sullivan are the
blacksmiths here, and John Fisk, at the
shop of the former, does all kinds Of wood
work, from putting up shelving to making a
new wagon out Of an old one. The Cra-
han Bros. and party by the name of Muir
ray ''sets EN- up" for the boys now, and a
Mr.. Skinner intends to be helping them out
in this line at an early day. These are about
all the business houses in Bedford at the
present time.
From Bedterd drove 10 Van Il. Fisk's
ranch (Cloverdale). near Antelope Springs,
where 1 found the jolly ''Judge' (an old
typo and formerly the Herald travelling many
with hayseed in his hair, and all she other
outward and visible signs Of contented and
prosperous granger. The road from here to
the Beaver Creek postofice (Clif Reynolds)
Se0s AAAS
had made it very heavy, so halt was made
to feed and yest. Mr.. Reynolds keeps good
stopping place, and is firss-rate man for
the business. About a mile further on the
house formerly kept by Mr. Rodgers has
been leased by p. s. Nelson & Co., who keep
stopping place on the road and are inter-
ested in fue horses. They have in their
stables the fine English thoroughbred stallion
| True Blue, winner of the Great Eastern
Railway handicap, at Newmarket, in 1871,
and of several other important races in Eng
land Another animal in their stables is the
trotting stallion Hambletonian Pilot, by
| Menelaus, by Rysdyk's Hambletonan.
the great sire Of trotting horses. These are
very fine animals, and valuable acquisl.
| ton to the stock interests Of the Territory.
| Four miles further on is the Spokane
House, SO long kept by Pat Moran, bat now
leased by Tom B. Warren s. Co., and which
is being renovated and the accommodations
improved. Quite little railroad town is
| springing up here In addition to the hotel
and large barn and stables, the railroad store
| of Fyhrie, Dunn & Co. is now open, their
building being put together in sections, so
that ii can be taken down and loaded On
wagons when they desire to move. 1t is
| about 3Ox8O feet. A saloon and . black
smith shop have also been started.
From the Spokane to the Half- Way House
three miles Of wet, rocky road had to be
travelled. Here Henry Miller. who has
made this one Of the most popular way
stations in Montana. 10 still found, and is
| keeping up the past reputation of the house.
Near him, little off the -oad, our old
friend John O'Neil and his pleasant wife
made me most welcome, and invited me to
par,ske OF an excellent dinner. JohnnY's