The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-10-13
MILES CITY.
Our Travelling Correspondent Tells us Some
thing About the Great Cowboy Town
of Montana.

There is an apology due the RIVER
PRESS from its travelling agent for not
having contributed something from his
I pencil relative to the various points he has
/ lately visited in the interest of the paper.
He started out with the very best ssinten-
tions' in this regard, but found it extreme-
ly difficult to do two things at. once. A
newspaper canvasser, soliciting business,
finds little or no time for writing. He is
fully occupied with the work in hand and
however. strong the disposition may be to
quit one line of work and seek another,
his mind is In no condition to do IT, 1t is
too much .sscattered,o as it were, and the
task OF getting the pieces together in pre-
sentable shape seems almost impossible.
The trip from Benton to Helena was
pleasanter than was anticipated. Fortu-
nately the wind blew just strong enough
to keep the dust away; the vehicles were
comfortable, the teams good, the sJehuso
kind and accommodating and good time
was made; all of which tends to make a
long drive OF this kind endurable if not
pleasant.
/ A nights rest in Helena was gratefully
enjoyed. The next morning we were in
one of the comfortable coaches of the
Northern Pacific railroad, eastward bound.
At Bozeman divide an extra locomotive
was attached to the head Of the train to
assist over the heavy up grade. Passing
up the mountain side we were eating dim
ner in the elegant dining car. Approach
ing the tunnel the lamps were lit, and the
meal was continued through the noun
tain and far down toward the Yellow
stone river at Livingston. Billings was
passed during the supper hour, and at
about 2 80 the next morning we reached
| MILES CITY,
the great sseowboy" city of the Yellow
stone valley. We must acknowledge our
surprise the next morning, after q few
hours rest, to see such a substantial and
thriving city. We had been led to be-
/ lieye that it was principally a sswooden"
town. The first structures were, but after
repeated fires the wooden buildings have
been replaced with many substantial,
costly and elegant brick blocks that would
be a credit to any city, east or west. There
were churches and many pretty and COM
Portable dwellings, and some very elegant
and expensive residences. The school
house is a large two story and basement
brick, and must have cost $4,000. The
court house, with Jail in basement, and
two stories above. is OF brick and stone,
built in modern. style, and cost Custer
county the sum of $4,000.
! The newly appointed judge, Z. g. Bach,
Of the magnificent 4th district, opened
court on the 9Th of September. Though
Judge Bach is very young man and this
his first experience as judge, he immedi-
ately won the respect and admiration Of
the bar and the people. The fourth dis
| trict will have no cause to regret the fact
that he was assigned to it.
The surrounding country is devoted
largely, almost exclusively, to cattle rails
ing and other stock interests consequent
" the streets Of Miles City present that
animate and peculiarly picturesque ap-
pearance that can only be seen where the
lively and Whole-souled cowboys fresh
| from their unlimited ranges ssmest do con-
gregate.' = To say that things were live
ly" family expresses il. But during a
stay of several days, with the town over
flowing with people Of all..classes, the DEM
ocratic county convention approaching
and politics warmly discussed, we do not
remember ever to have seen more order
| ly, or better natured community. While
to use a western phrase everything WENT
and all games were played wide open, =
the most timid eastern dude need have
had no fear among the widest of the
"prairie rangers either ON the streets or
in the crowded concert halls and saloons.
Miles City is s'lively" ia the full sense Of
the word but it is orderly. Her business
men are substantial and enterprising; they
are building their town on firm founda-
ton and they may well be proud Of it.
Everybody in Montana is more or less in
terested in
ARTEsIAN WELLS.
Miles City is the only town in the terri
tory to make a success ofthem. There are
now some eight or nine Of them in Miles
and vicinity, there depth ranging from
$50 to 40 feet. The cost of sinking,
which is done by contract, is four hum
dred dollars for the firsttwo hundred feet
and fifty cents for each additional foot.
There are two parties engaged in the bus
mess, either Of s. hom will make contracts.
OF the wells now floWing four OF them
have inch pipes and The others have
inch pipes. The rise of the water is from
8 to 24 feet above the surface. The latest |
we'll finished was one on the farm Of Mr..
"a HI -. d s @.y