Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-01-31
DRUMMOND.
A Railroad Town that Promises TO
Become a City of Importance.

Rocky Mountains upon a broad sweep OF
prairie, which slopes gently Down to the
Deer Lodge river is located the new rail-
road town of Drummond. The place Is
distant from New Chicago three, from
Helena seventy-two, and from MlssOula
fifty-three miles.
Mr.. Ed Stone, of the Northern Pacific
land department, is certainly to be con-
graduated upon his selection of this spot
as the site of the future city. The loca-
ton commands a far reaching prospect
of mountain, valley and rolling bench
lands, which must awaken the admiration
of every beholder. To the north rises the
low but beautiful range which separates
the Deer Lodge from from the fertile fields
and grassy meadows of Nevada Creek
valley. For many miles to the south the
eve wanders over the highly cultivated
farming lands that border Willow and
Flint creeks. To the east and west stretch
away the broad acres of the valley proper,
the value of which is attested by the ex-
tensive Improvements and spacious dwell
ings that are everywhere seen. To the
south, east and west stand the mountain
ranges in stately splendor. Basking in the
soft light peculiar to our climate, their
mighty crags and peaks, mantled in the
crystal garb of winter, or rejecting the
ioyous humor of the summer season, they
present scene of magnificence and gran
deur which must charm the most stolcal
mind.
Sixteen years ago Mr.. John E. Edwards,
a representative pioneer, who had made
the dreary pilgrimage across the plains In
'49. had sought the tickle goddess" in the
virgin gold fields of California and sought
in vain: who had drifted nOrthward with
the tide of emigration to the pine forests
of Oregon, then turning toward the east
had penetrated the dark defiles and savage
Businesses of that mighty mountain range
so aptIy called the Iron hearted" found
himself upon this spot, and decided that
his wanderings should cease; that at this
place. whether for better or for worse, his
destiny should be wrought out. what
prophet at that time could have toretold
the changes which have since occurred! :!
Who so bold as to predict that through the
wild stretches OF mountain, park, and
prairie lying to the east the iron horse
would one day come? But the spirit OF
the age has more than realized the dreams
which fancy pictured sixteen years ago,
for that lonely ranch is destined to become
the scene of bustling business, lite-the
home of a prosperous community.
During the past three years so many
towns have been plated and sold along
the line of the Northern Pacific railroad
that at present people are more cautious IN
making investments than formerly, ana
require substantial reasons for believing
that their money will be returned and with
a handsome profit In this fact Drum
mond has nothing to fear. The region
tributary is extensive, has been settled for
MANY years, and is rapidly increasing In
wealth. The Flint creek valley varies from
five to twelve miles in width, and is one OF
the best farming sections in the Territory.
The same may be truthfully said OF the
lower Deer Lodge, though these facts are
so generally understood as scarcely to
require mention. A considerable trade
from this section has annually gone to the
town of Deer Lodge, because of larger and
more varied lines of goods from which
selections could be made This business in
the future will center in the new place.
In some respects the situation is analogous
to that of Dillon, which sprang up IN
Beaverhead valley. Before the arrival OF
a railroad that valley only supported two
small country stores. Now, after lapse
of three years, it provides business for
town of nearly one thousand Inhabitants
As Dillon purchases the oats, hay, butter,
and other produce of a large surrounding
region for shipment to Butte; as 1t for
wards the wool and bullion to eastern mar
kets and reduction works, so Drummond
will purchase supplies for Helena and Mis-
soula and handle the output of the mining
districts lying at the head of Flint, Willow
and Boulder creeks, of which Phillipsburg
:, -. ,,ro.a,,+ +La p,oC+ ip,portant Already
hay is being shipped in bales to Missoula,
and other products of the farm will soon
follow.
Nevada creek valley is rich district
that during the coming year will pay
tribute to Drummond. 1t has long been
settled by a prosperous and well to do COM
munity Of farmers and stock men. Dairy
ing constitutes a prominent industry, and
the butter made has long had an estab-
lished reputation for excellence in the
markets of Helena.
Large quantities Of oats are annually
raised and the butchers of the West Side
look to this section for considerable por-
ton of their beef One great obstacle the
settlers have had to contend with in the
past has been that they were between fifty
and sixty miles from their nearest source
of supply. In consequence, and also owing
to the fact that for several months in win
ter the surrounding ranges are nearly i'm
passible, it has been the custom to make
but one or two trips from the valley each
season, when provisions were purchased