The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-08-14
DEER LODGE.
LIKE AN ALPINE VILLAGE IN THE
SWISS YALLEYS.D


In all Montana-rich as this great Terri
tory is in grand and lovely scenery-I know
Of no landscape more charming than the
view of Deer Lodge from the neighboring
hills. It is perhaps the human interest In
the picture which makes IL so pleasant to
the eye; for in the midst Of green valley
trimmed around by noble mountains, and
traversed by swift, clear river, lies, half
hidden In foliage, pretty home-like town,
recalling strikingly some ALPINE villages In
the Swiss valleys. The church spires rising
out of the trees, and the tall, red walls of the
college buildings, speak Of the culture and
intelligence of the place, and little decks of
white amid the mass of verdure are hints Of
quiet homes where peace and contentment
reign. Nor is the town disappointing on
nearer acquaintance, like many others. The
better you know it the better you like 1t. 1t
is neat, orderly and respectable. Its people
have come here to live with intent Of perma.
nency, as shown by their lawns and flower
gardens, their shade trees, their wellkept
streets and comfortable houses. A rapid
rivulet, full fed from mountain springs and
melting SHOWS, goes racing through the
town, making so many detours and curves
that you come upon 1t in the most unexpect-
ed places. No matter what street you may
select for your morning walk, you are sure
soon to cross 1t at foot bridge; and If you
have mind to throw line and try your
luck for tro ut, you need 60 but few rods
from your hotel.
. Deer Lodge is called an old town in Mon"
tana, "old" meaning here something like o
SCORE of years. The first settlers were Next.
cans, who gave to the streaIn the name of
Spanish Fork, but they soon drifted away
into forgetfulness, leaving the charming
locality for permanent American residents.
With the early days of Montana mining.
these saw the advantages Of Deer Lodge val
ley for agriculture, and believed that there
would be a surer profit in raising food for
the miners than in digging for gold. The
first American pioneer was Capt. 10. lie
Barge, a famous steamboat man in the early
days of navigation on the Upper Missouri.
He died not long ago. He came to Deer
Lodge in 1862. Other early pioneers were
the Stuart brothers. who, If i mistake net,
Granville Stuart is now a cattle king, over
in the eastern part Of the Territory, near
Fort Maginnis.
Deer Lodge never had boom period. 1t
grew in steady way from the trade of the
mining country and the rich agricultural
valley close at hand. 1t had no railroad un-
til the narrow gauge road of the Utah &
Northern reached 1t in 1888, and went on to
make connection at Garrison, twelve miles
u;,A 10 IL
greatly disappointed when ths Northern Pa
cIfic did not build over the Pipe Stone Pass
and come into Deer Lodge valley at Butte,
instead Of crossing the Rockies at the Null.
Ian Pass, north of Helena. No Deer Ledger
fails to tell the visitor of the great mistake
he thinks the Northern Pacific Company
made In leaving Butte at one side.
The town had got its growth before the
narrow gauge railroad came. and its later
development has been not 30 much in the
way Of additions to its population as in that
of increasing its educational facilities, and
putting up pleasant and substantial homes
Many of the original log cabins are still
standing, their dirt roofs oyergrown with
weeds, and their roughness changed to pic.
| half conceals them. These old-time struc
lures, one of which our artist has sketched
make a striking contrast with the handsome
houses of the wealthy citizenS. Speaking oil
the educational facilities Of Deer Lodge, II
| Is but fair to say that this is the recognized
school centre Of Montana. 1t has the only
| college in the Territory. 1t has, besides, .
girls school, conducted by the Sisters Of
Charity, and excellent public schools, newly
housed In fine brick structure. The college
is incorporated, and receives some aid from
the Presbyterian denomination, and also {
small endowment given by a wealthy citizer
of Brooklyn, N. Y, Mr.. AlaIson Trask. It
energetic president, DR.. Mcmillan, has bull
it up from small beginnings into an impor
tant institution A second building, fol
dormitory uses, Is being added this year. A
school of mines Is to be established, some
thing greatly needed In this q inning country
and the presidents plans include librar,
building and an observatory. The site Is ar
admirable one, the buildings standing on I
high plateau overlooking the town and thu
valley Of the Deer Lodge river, and facing
the gigantic snow-capped peak of Noun
| Powell.
| Next to the college the public school build
| ing is the most conspicuous structure In Dee
Lodge, and then the school and hospital o
the Sisters of Charity. The Territorial Peni
Tertiary is Q more prominent object thar
could be wished. 1t brings some trade Il
the place and the Deer Lodgers would no
like to give 1t up. But the thought of q hun
dred strong men cooped up within Its walls
many of them for crimes committed in tn,
wild, thoughtless life Of the mining camps
| is not pleasant one to dwell upon. Stall
there are other school towns that are ais,
the sites Of penitentiaries-Sing Sing ant
Auburn, N. Y, for exampIe-which hav'
large educational Institutions. The Wardei
Of the Deer Lodge Penitentiary sometime
says, in joking way, that the College is pre-
pairing young men for his institution, where
at the College people reply that his estab
lishment Is an antidote and preventive o
crime.
The largest church in the town belongs {,
the Christian denomination, the one o
which the late President Garfield was
member. This sect used to be called Disci
pies by Its members in Ohio, when was
boy, and Complexities by other people, from
It's founder, Alexander Campbell, Of Beth
any, VIVA or late years IL seems, by ger
eral agreement to have settled upon th
simple name of Christian, rejecting all spe
cial applications. The other churches ar
the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal an
4 Catholic.
OF the largest mercantile establishments Il
the town, that Of K. L. Bonner & Co., "
give an illustration. Business architectur
here, rs In most Montana towns, seems I
have been copied from that Of Californis
which got its original impulses from Mexico
The stores, although very large and substar
TALLY built, are rarely more than one stsr
in height. Mr. Bonner Is Northern Ne,
Yorker by birth and o pioneer In Montans
His firm has also a large establishment i
Butte, and Its sales are SO extensive that on
Of its partners resides In New York City an
Il constantly engaged in buying goods. NJ
Bonner Is President Of the Montana In
provement Company, which has five sa'
mills along the Hellgate River and control
nearly all the lumber trade In Wesfer
Montana. f.s
Another illustration in connection wit
this article Is OF the Western Brewery, owl
ed BY Jacob e. Van Gundy, one of the olde.
and most successful Of Montana brewer'
He commenced operations In April, 1s7.