The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-08
IuBILAMT MONTANA.
The Fourth In Helena -. New
Railroad s... Other Matters
of Interest.

Of Interest.
WHITEHALL, MONTANA, Aug. 25.-
Since writing you last, many import
ant events, at least to Montanians,
have taken place. First of note, was
the double celebration on the 4th of
July, at Helena City; that of our one
hundred and seventh Anniversary of
the Declaration of American hide
pendence; and the completion of the
Northern Pacific Railroad to the
capital of Montana. 1t was my for
tune to have special invitation as
well as the great pleasure of partici-
pating in the celebration. ] would
like to give you full account of it.,
but for want of time and space must
decline, though will say it was a
grand affair. Some $4,000 people
were present, a procession of one mile
in length made up of all manner
of yehicles-omnibusses, fine car
riages, buggies, wagons, mule freight
teams, miners with pack animals,
most of the various industrial estab-
lishments were represented, also the
Masonic and other orders; Helena
Board of Trade, early pioneers, Cos
tilo's Circus performers, mounted and
in full costume, led by his (Costilo's)
band. We alse had in the procession
the Helena Silver Band and the Mil
itary Band from Fl. Shain But the
most valuable, if not the grandest
sight was at the N. P. r. r. depot,
where we found, awaiting orders to
move, thirty eight splendid new box
cars. containing 1,112,500 pounds
bullion, all of which was the product
of two of our silver mines near Hele-
ma, and the result Of less than three
months run. So you see we have
here in Montana an abundance of
silver and gold, as well as bunch
grass. The thirty-eight cars were
started from the depot at precisely
high twelve, by order of the Presi-
dent of the day, E. W. Knight. They
were drawn by two of the most pow
erful locomotives belonging to the
r. R., and will run through to New
York without change or breaking
bulk. 1t was truly Cat least to an
old Montanian) grand and sublime
sight. Mid the roar of cannon, the
continuous whistle from the never
firing steam ire-engines, belonging
to the city, which, / forgot to state,
were in the procession, the several
bands whose music was for the time
being completely drowned, by the oft
repeated cheers from two thousand
strong human lungs. The engines
drawing the train were tastefully
decorated with flags, buck and elk
horns, and with other Montana en-
blems.
The connection between the cas-
tern and western ends Of the great r.
r., which have for some time past
been approaching each other with
such rapid strides, will take place
few miles west of the great tunnel
under the back bone of the Rockies,
in few days, though | am informed
that. the finishing stroke, that of
driving the golden spike, is not to
come off until about the Sth of Sept
when several hundred invited guests
from Germany and the United States
will be present.
We have had this season (for the
first time) two shows, a real circns
and Robinson's menagerie, which is
said to be the largest travelling col
lection of wild or trained animals
known. They each reaped an abun-
dent harvest. / am informed that
Robinson sold, during his two exhi-
billions in Butte City, seven thousand
tickets at one dollar each.
Well, rs we expected, the compile
ton of the R. R. has benefited some
of our people and damaged others.
The owners Of mines will be bene-
flied, while farmers and dairymen
will be damaged. Flour can be ship
ped from the east and from the west
of us, cheaper than it can, at present,
be produced in Montana, and so with
butter and cheese; the western states
can produce it cheaper than VIC can
do SOFAS long as we have to pay from
forty to forty five dollars per month
for help. Butter has declined from
fifty to twenty-eight cents per pound.
Some dairymen have gone out Of the
business on account Of the decline.
We have had during the past sea-
son some extremely hot days, Goth,
9th and 2Sth of June, the thermom-
eter stood 100 to 107 degrees in the
shade at Whitehall, and several days
last week 100 to 1O5. l don't see
how you folks that live, as it were,
down in the basement of the CONT
nent, can stand it. l think you are
only about seven or eight hundred
feet above the level of the sea, while
we are five thousand above. Your
nights are hot and sultry, ours are
cool and invigorating. 1t is always
comfortable here at night under
blankets. Here we have during the
months of June and July II hours
of daylight out of the "a. The s
hour systom has not arrived here yet.
On the morning Of the 10th heavy
frost nippcd some of the late sowed
grain, and on the morning Of the 22d
ice was formed in all our valleys, SO
you see we have extreme cold as we'll
as hot weather. but the present wear