The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1886-08-21
A Mountain Town.

just where the river emerges from its first
or lower canyon, flowing north from its
sources in the National Park, and turns
abruptly to the eastward Here the river
Is cold, pure, swift stream, rushing along
over boulders and pebbles, between banks
fringed with cottonwoods and. willows.
Two of the grandest groups of the Rock
les look down upon the valley-the Crazies
on the north and the Snow or Yellowstone
Mountains on the south. Emigrant Peak,
the loftiest summit of the latter range,
having an elevation of about 10000 feet,
is seen through the mouth Of the canyon,
and Old Baldy, almost as high, reaches
with its foothills down to the valley close
to the town. On the west the horizon is
bounded by the near range of the Belt
Mountains, less rugged and impressive
than its neighbors, but showing consid-
erable altitude of bare rock above the
timber line streaked and patched with
snow as late as June.
No town on the Northern Pacific rail
road has such advantages for the study of
Rocky mountain scenery as Livingston,
from the fact that three different ranges,
each with its own peculiarities, are con-
veniently near for excursions and climbing
expeditions. Mountain climbing is pas
sion but little cultivated as yet in America,
but it will gain votaries year by year, until
clubs are formed as in England, France,
Germany and Switzerland, and all our high
peaks are scaled and named. Then Liv-
ingston will be the rendezvous of numer-
Gus companies of bronzed tourists equip
ped with alpenstocks and hob-nailed
shoes.
The town was created by the railroad
company in 1853, as repair shop and di
vision headquarters point, and the place
of divergence for the Park branch, which
runs southwark tifty-one miles up the river
to Cinnabar, near the boundary of the
park. The main line bears off to the
north after leaving Livingston and begins
to ascend the Belt range to the tunnel
under Bozeman Pass A season of rapid
growth and feverish prosperity was en-
joyed by the new town, but it was brief,
for with the cessation of railway construc-
ton and the general hard times prevailing
throughout the country the pinch of ad-
versity came In 1884. Many of the IN
hab1tants left the place for want of occu~
patton. Numerous fires destroyed scores
of the cheap board structures. Agloomy
feeling prevailed, but in the fall of 1885
the town ''got down to bedrock, to quote
the expression of one of its most active
citizens, and since that its progress has
been steady. The burned buildings are
fast being replaced by brick structures.
No fewer than eleven brick stores have
been built this summer. Ranchmen are
fast taking up the neighboring valley
lands for farming, the cattle and sheep on
the ranges are increasing in number year
by year, the pleasure travel to the park is
constantly growing and brings more and
more trade to the town. A six-foot vein
of coking coal has been opened in the Belt
range, few miles distant; the gold and
silver mines of the Cooke City district,
and of Emlgrant Gulch and Bear Gulch
are worked with constantly improving re-
suits; the railroad shops are employing
more men; new county is to be created
next winter with Livingston as its capital.
In word, Livingston, which has caused
so much disappointment, Is on the uphill
road now, with circumstances in its favor.
1t will soon develop into well-bullt,
prosperous place.
The summer climate is delightful here,
the heat of the warmest days being tenn
pered by draft of cool air blowing
through the mountain gorges, while the
nights are always cold enough for blank
Its. Trout-fshing, hunting, and base ball
ire the masculine diversions There are
families enough permanently settled in the
place to make an agreeable society; the
churches are represented by two congre-
cations, and public education by large
Prick school house. A beer garden in
yrove on the river bank is an evidence
hat the German element is strong among
he population; two banks bespeak i'm
,ortant financial transactions, and the ex-
enslve railroad shops give promise, when
he needs of the road shall require their
uller use, of adding hundred good me-
hanics and their families to the next
ensus of Livingston. | am informed
hat there is room for more cattle and
heep on the ranges tributary to the town.
Is an illustration of the profits made in
took raising, the case OF a rachman in the
alley above Livingston may be instanced.
Four years ago he put a thousand head of
;attle on the range; now he has ten thou
and head, the gain being wholly from
atural increase.
Norton Appointed Clerk.
We take pleasure in announcing the ap-
lOinfmnnt Of r II NOrfon nc clnrk of the