The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1883-11-03
DILLON
Some Random Notes Of the Reaverhead
County Seats

Beaverhead valley. The country was looked
over and the natural location for the winter
terminus and permanent town found to
he on the 43o.acre ranch Of Dick Deacon,
substantial farmer, located on the river,
about four miles this side Of the old Watson
P. o. or "Ryan's Bridge" Mr.. Deacon
started off with asking low price for his
ranch, but appeared to get on" to the fact
that 1t was "a grounding case" with the
r. R. company, and ran his price up to
$ro, 600, which, with his notice to the gra.
ders not to turn furrow on his land until
the right Of way, at big figures, was settled
for, rather unsettled the situation. About
this time B. F. White turned up,as he usu-
ally does when business gets interesting,or-
ganized town company, paid the $4,000
for the ranch, gave the railroad right Of way
free, on condition that the terminus would
be made there that winter, named the town
Dillon, and sold the first day the lots were
offered in the market $4,000 worth. Up
to this time $4,000 worth Of lots have been
sold, and among the purchasers, month
ago,was the original owner, who paid $500
for a single lot.
Dillon to-day has about l 900 inhabitants.
At the last general election it polled 900
votes. 1t is permanent well located town
having large tributary trade in Horse
Prairie, Beaverhead, Upper Ruby ,Blacktail
Red Rock, Rattle Snake, Birch Creek, Big
Hole, and Upper Jefferson valleys, Montana,
as well as Eastern Idaho. These produce
tive valleys have population Of 1000 or
more people, and the crops this year were
good. We met there merchants who had
come sixty miles by wagon for goods and
L. G. Fyhrie stated his sales on the day
previous to our call, were $4,000. Several
ranches Of the tributary neighborhood Of
Dillon have been sold at large prices.
Among Others, that Of Phil Shenon. Horse
Praire, which sold, with its stock, to Bren.
ner Bros, Of Philadelphia, for $4,000, and
that Of Joseph B. Grow, with stock, to DR..
Ames & Co., Of Boston, for $4,000. Since
the REIMBURSEMENT Of the N. p. lands by
the company, nearly all the available land
In the county has been taken up.
The products Of the Argenta furnace are
shipped from Dillon and supplies purchased
there. During the past season about S tons
Of base bullion, valued at from, $37o to $3.50
per ton have been run out and shipped, also
about one hundred tons Of ore ranging in
value from $,,s to $3.50 ter ton, shipped
from the Argenta and Blue Wing districts.
Messrs. Webb & Mathews, Of Denver,
have recently obtained ground in Dillon
and contemplate erecting sampling works
next season.
Among the shipments this year from
Dillon was $50, 600 pounds Of wool, the most
Of it being handled by Sim Estes.
There are some excellent buildings in
Dillon, and the best Of them have been
built this year. The public school house is
large Ave room two story, brick building
that cost $4,000. Geo. w. Darts business
house cost $1,000 Kirk patrick store build.
ing, just completed, has cost $4,000; while
Fyhrie and Eliel's are equally good. All
except the last two named are built Of
cream. colored brick, Of excellent quality
shade between the white brick of Deer
Lodge and the cream colored brick of Mil.
waukee. They arc manufactured by Rife &
White, who this year turned out $4,000,
and their supply is about equal % the de.
mand.
The Episcopal church costing $a.3oo,and
the NJ. E. church, costing $4,000, are frame
buildings, but very good structures.
Mr.. VIC. Orr is just compl, ng $4,000
brick residence, which is nearly'as good as
Nick Billinger's. Rev. Drummond, Phil.
McGough, J. c. Metlen, VIM. Smith, and
number Of others have also built good resi-.
rlancae fl,ie veor The No.or. MA u IL,
a. O. W. W.s,and knights OF p thias have
fine Union Hall, 3ox7o ieet,'in the second
story Of Darts building.
The Dillon court house is not such
building as the county needs for the protec.
ton Of its records, nor architecturallv credit.
able to the town and county. When the
issue was submitted to the voters of the
county whether the county seat should be
to Dillon from Bannack (where
an extensive brick court house had lust been
built), the question Of the expense Of new
county buildings threatened to have serious
weight against the Dillonites, and the
Town Company guaranteed to furnish a
court house for five years rent free. The
two story frame school house, costing about
$+ 900, was secured for the purpose and is |
SO used. But recently the County Commits.
sone1s bought the entire block on which |
the temporary court house now stands. and
It is probable Beaverhead county will ask
authority at the next session Of the Lepisla.
ture to issue bonds for the construction If
suitable, safe and slightly building. We
were fortunate enough not to have occasion
to inspect the interior Of the Jail.
The affairs Of the county are said to be
we'll managed. After the settlement ofI
. t.:; year it is anticipated the county debt
roll this year will show about S,.,oonoo
property as against $I,sooooo last Year.
The tax levy is twenty mills.
Dillon Is evidently destined to continue
good commercial point and to be town
OF substantial business buildings and hand.
some son s,. homes. For its peace, prosperity,
spend the price Of few town lots putting
DOWN gravel crossings and uniform side.