The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-03
AWAY OUT IN THE FAR WEST
Glimpses of Life as It Is Seen and Lived
in the Capital of Montana.
The Diary Of an Indianian in Helena-High
Prices for Common Things-The Million
aire Wedding"-Mixture Of Races.

ARE wedding Mixture OF Races
The following extracts from several letters re-
ceived by his son, from Maj J. J. Palmer, for
merly of this city, written from time TO time
during the past few weeks, while at Helena,
NJ t.. may prove of interest to our readers.
The Major has recently secured the contract for
the erection OF the courthouse at Helena, the
total cost of which, when completed, will aggre
gate nearly 100000.
HELENA. NJ. r., Feb. 2S.--I arrived here last
night on time. being three days and one night on
very comfortable hotel. by the way, after bus
ride of mile and half from the depot The
main street was right up a broad gulch, and the
side streets run up hill each way. where the res
licences are located. High mountains branch off
to the east, west and south, and are covered
with stunted pine. cedar and other evergreens,
while roads run through the valleys
in all directions, to the mines, mills,
ranches, etc. To the north it is fairly level
and mostly under cultivation, many mills and
manufactures also being located in that direc-
ton. The city is lighted by electricity, and the
principal business street presents quite a brill
liant appearance. There are some handsome
stores and business houses, the best buildings
and residences being of brick and granite, and
everything looks solid and substantial Speci
mems of ores from the various mines are to be
seen in all the hotels and business houses, and
everybody seems on the rush, making money
There is mixed community here, of nearly all
nationaities, ''niggers and Chinese" prevailing
to a large extent.
The trip from Livingston was very interesting
and the scenery simply grand. Leaving the
edges of the mountains at the junction of the
Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers with the
Missouri, the road runs through one Of the most
beautiful and fertile valleys on the continent.
nearly every acre being under cultivation. A
little further down we enter the grand canyon of
the Missouri. Mountains several thousand feet
the road running along the edge
of the mountains. The water in all the streams
is as clear as crystal The rivers are all open, q
little floating, thin ice only running in the Mis-
souri,. Leaving the canyon, we passed through
the bottom lands of the Missouri which are as
thickly settled and cultivated az those of the
Ohio or Wabash. There was a heavy snow
storm night before last in this Vicinity, and the
thermometer was about zero. There had been
blowing and gardening going on for two or three
weeks, SO that it was not as pleasant as I had
hoped to find it.
MARCH 3.-Speaking of news and newspa
pers, etc, have seen nothing later than a
Saturday Tribune, which l bought for ten cents
mo papers sell for less than ten cents, not even
the little local papers. Everything here is about
double prces-boot backing, 20 cents; shaving,
% cents; meat, Is CENTS flour, from 81 to So per
barrel, ETC.; common laborers. 81 80 per day;
Chinese servants there are no others) $40 to $50
per month. took tea and spent the even
ing with Eb Sharpe and family, and
had very pleasant time. The chill
dren have grown so much I would not
have known one of them. Tom the Oldest son,
is young man grown, and is in the bank with
his father. The next son, eighteen or nineteen,
is out on a survey, and the younger son, about
ten, and daughter, Belle, good-szed girl of
fourteen or fifteen years, are at home
Eb and Mrs. Sharpe look Just the same; in
deed, think Mrs S. looks younger than when
at Indianapolis. None of them have been sick
since they have lived here-since 1S80-and are
perfectly delighted with the country. There
seems to be a fascination about the country and
enterprises here that so take hold of the people
that they don't seem to care for any other part
of the wosld. Every man who can raise little
money gets an interest in the stock business.
The raising. of cattle, shesa or horses and the
mining interests absorb the wealth and brains of
the Territory
The fascination and prospective profits are
great, so the young men who enter into the bus
mess and are willing to stand the work and pri-
vations incident thereto for two years, seldom
leave it, and find themselves at the end of five
years, where they start in with only small
capital, worth from $4,000 to $4,000. They
have intelligent and very good society, and mach
social enjoyment, but it costs a pile" to live.
Yesterday went over to the cathedral to see
the millionaire wedding" The ceremony
performed by the bishop (Roman Catholic), and
was the most elaborate affair OF the kind l ever
witnessed. The groom is about sixty-fve years
of age and the bride twenty-five. The bride was
elegantly dressed, and the groom probably had
on the first broadcloth suit and white kid gloves
he ever wore. The ceremony occupied just one
hour. and after that they held a reception at the
hotel to which everybody was invited. Wine
of half dozen different brands and punch flowed
like water. The tables were spread till midnight,
free for all who chose to eat and drink.
The wedding present to the bride was $500, 600
in United States bonds. The groom is small,
plain-looking, ignorant Irishman, who can just
write his name. He worked on his claim eight
cen years before he got more than enough to
keep body and soul together and often had to
borrow enough money to buy a meals victuals.
Now he is ''reckoned" one of the richest men in
the Territory. He was always respected for his
honesty and industry, and was a generous and
good-natured fellow among his associates. He
sent invitations to all his companions of early
days, and welcomed them more heartily than
any of the newer and weather. friends who
called upon him to offer their congratulations
The mine that he sold a portion of, for one and
half million, Is said to be the largest body of
mineral ever discovered on the continent, being,
so far as developed, fifty seven feet of ore In
thickness and of unlimited depth, much run
ing 81, 900 per ton. He gets nearly $1,000
month for his share now.
MARCH 5.-Your letter of Sunday only re-
ceived this morning though 1t is poStmarked
here the Sd. at the Office yesterday, but
didn't get it. for some unaccountable reason
However. l was glad to get 1t oday.
1t seems a month since / left home,
and I only realize the distance by
the length of time it takes to get letters or pa
pers, which always three but generally four
days old There is no question but that this
will be a large and growing city, and as to
wealth, why, there is more of it to the popula-
ton than any city in the country, and there are
no poor people here Eb Sharpe told me they
cot ND a charity fund last year in his church