The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1884-08-23
BUTTE, MONTANA, Aug. Is, "a.
Editorial Correspondence

Dropping into Butte, after an absence OF
quarter of decade, one is astonished at
the wonderful development of this mining
camp-more especially if the writer had
for years been engaged in writing up and
reporting the mining developments OF the
Butte District The mining matters pre-
scented and the material development ex-
hibited on all sides, are too great to be
treated in single letter. The tiourishlng
condition OF the Butte camp arouses the
pride of a Montanian-even if he be an
outside resident of the district. No time
in the history of Butte has the mining out
look been so fattering as at the present
time A camp that contributes nearly
$12,ooo,ooo year to the wealth OF the
world is certainly in booming condition.
Butte City, containing about 1000 in
habitants, is comparatively quiet in day
time. A large business is transacted in
day time, but the throng on the streets,
while the sun shines, is not more numer-
ous-considering the sizes of the towns
than in rural Dillon. When night comes
then comes the multitude and the princi-
pal streets are black and alive with people.
The crowd on Main street is mixture of
humanity, strange to behold. Elbowing
ones way through the crowd, one runs up
against the bloated bonanza owner, the
quartz king or sharp, and the honest miner
on dress parade, just off his day shift, and
next is met in the compact mass, the dude,
the hummer, the hostler, the rounder, and
the fiail creatures who should never be
mentioned except for PHYS sake. An
evening dress parade on Main street is
something to look upon, but not write on.
The immense mines and mineral re-
sources of the Butte District cannot be but
bar ely touched in condensed correspond
ence The magnitude of the mines is won
derful. The output is enormous and the
margin Of profits is enough to boom the
camp and push it ahead until it becomes
the first producing camp in America. All
of the leading mining properties are divi-
dend- paying to-day. To mention the pay
ing companies, in detail, would occupy too
much time and fill too much space. In
the mines it is estimated that two thousand
men, miners and laborers, are daily en-
gagged in extracting paying ore. This
force of men, with modern appliances and
apparatus for the purpose of working the
mines, gives monthly yield that figures
up in astounding proportions. 1t is signif-
cant to say that the monthly pay roll in
this district over runs 100000 per month.
OF the city itself much might be truth
fully said. Improvements of permanent
and costly character are noticeable every
where. The new court house, a monument
of enterprise and an indicator Of prosper
ity, looms up conspicuously. 1t is mag
nificent ediice, standing in central posi-
ton and attracts the attention of the visi-
tor, as we'll as being the pride of the citi-
zen. The court house, thus far, has cost
$4,000 and when finished and furnished
it will take $4,000 to foot up the entire
bill.
The improvements noticeable in differ
ent parts of the city are on an equally
grand scale. The splendid block now be-
ing erected by Messrs. Hamilton & Pfouts,
on the corner Of Park and Main streets, is
the finest building now in course of con-
struction in the city. Other buildings, OF
lesser pretensions, are in process of erec-
ton, and the improvements of the streets
and public thoroughfares indicates that the
people of Butte are wide-awake and pro.
gressive.
The moral condition of the town is fair
to middling-mostly middling. 1t is said
that the Christian religion does not flour.
ish in town where the people are ben,
and intent on mining and money making
This, seemingly, is true of Butte. Elegant
and commodious gospel.shops are located
on inviting sites, but when Sunday even
ing comes these places of worship, in most
part, have empty pews, while the saloons
| beer halls. gambling places, and dens o.
iniquity generally, are filled to overlooking
1t is enough to say this, without painting
things red. Politics are quiet 1t used te
be anything to beat Maginnis." Now il
is getting stewed down into "anything te
beat the East Side" The West Side i.
not consolidated and without consolidation
nothing-Democratic or Republican-car
be accomplished.
The funeral bell i tolling. That il
enough to make one drop his pencil ane
| think of the imm0rfalifv called the sexreo