The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1883-08-11
As OTHERS SEE Us'
what the Helena ''llersld" ma" q.
,nnillon and what He Says Aoo"' w.

,nDillon and What He Says ~"
+, the fall Of 1880, on the arrival IN pea.
verhead valley Of the Utah q N ..:.,,,r
railroad townsite was laid out' anu 49, cs..
a few weeks motley collection o. "a
and log )buildings were erected 70 supps
immediate demands Of business. NO o''
had an idea that the town would be perma.
nent. the prevailing opinion being ,"a'
while the railroad remained, while the place
continued a shipping point Tor ne'e"a'
Bohemian, Butte and Virginia City, SONY
business would be done, but as soon As tne
road moved ON the town would move with
It, o..
The road was constructed to Butte, but
to the surprise Of many, despite the popna,
verdict, Dillon still remained at her original
anchorage. Bo,eman and Virginia City
freiehters still rolled in their trains, how
ever, and It was then predicted that VINE"
the Northern Pacific reached the former
city, Dillon must evaporate into thin air.
Boseman at length found herself In direct
railroad communication with the East, out
still this obstinate town refused 10 diminish
or grog beautifully less.
After an absence OF two years. again
found myself within it, limits, and with IN.
finite surprise discovered that business had
steadily increased; that the streets were
full Of hustle, and the people we'll charged
with energy, snap, and ambition. A large
percentage Of the Aimsy structures origin
ally in use have disappeared and In their
stead many costly blocks, both brick and
frame, have risen. Handsome dwellings
surrounded by spacious door yards in
which green lawns and fragrant flower
beds attract the eye and delight the senses,
give to the place an air ofage and stability,
despite its tender years.
The question naturally arises, why were
prophets wrong in their predictions con-
corning this town. The answer is easily
given, for it has been demonstrated beyond
a doubt that L.;lon Is natural trade cen.
ter for large and wealthy region surround.
ing. This fact was not discovered until
after the arrival OF the road, but is now no
longer questioned. The Beaverhead is
one Of the first settled and richest valleys
in Montana and buys annually large guam.
titles of goods. In former years however,
its produce was sold either in Virginia City
or Butte and the supplies required were
naturally purchased at those points. This
also was true Of an immense region Of pro-
ductive pasture and farming lands besides,
which includes Horse Prairie, the valleys
Of the Jefferson, Ruby, Big Hole, Rock and
Birch Creeks. It is now discovered that
this Is q natural distributing depot and
market fer those regions. Here the far
mers from surrounding districts deposit
their baled hay, surplus grain, vegetables,
ect., which are taken by rail to Butte. Here
the wool grower ships his aeecy crop to
Eastern markets. Here dairymen from
Horse Prairie have ready market for their
butter, while many Of the smaller mer.
chants In valleys ajoining find this = con.
vsnient point from which to replenish dep.
leted stocks. In the tributary region, 70
which reference has been made, exist. also
several mining camps, steadily increasing
In importance, which must continue to
swell the volume Of trade. Understanding
these facts It Il not difficult to comprehend
why the town failed to ''move on with the
road" But another factor of mnch impor.
lance in this problem 10 the enterprise ofthe
people. They are '.rusalers" in the fullest
sense Of the term. Not satisfied to quietly
await the gradual increase Of business they
have pushed trade In every direction with
genuine "Chicago enterprise"
The people are united, and when money
Is required for any public enterprise it Il
literally and quickly supplied.
Dillon, every one knows, is the capital d
Beaverhead county and numbers popula.
ton Of over one thousand souls. The ship.
ments Of wool from this point vary from
four to five hundred thousand pounds an.
nually, while the grain trade with Butte
and other places Is rapidly increasing.
1t is true that In the past this ambitious
little city has known periods Of business
depression, but this was largely due to the
fact that there were too many business
houses for the trade. the difficulty natura.
ly regulated ITSELF Some merchants moved
to other points, others retired from business,
and In the end, the financial skies became
clear; prosperity returned.
Personal.
Pat Dempsey Of Bannack was over.