Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-26
Correspondence
AoxsoN, Montana.
I'LL 1E&L 1900

\
/ July 18th 1888.
4. Z. FoNTAINE, Dear Sir.-This beng
one Of the days Of rest and somewhat
distant from society, 1 take the liberty
Of addressing you q few lines. NV
camp is situated at Tuscor, seventeen
miles from Heron, which is in Wash
ington Territory, and one hundred and
thirty-five miles from M1ssoula, Mon
tana, and two hundred and forty miles
from the main peak of the Rocky
Mountains. Yet in the range of the
rockies at this point our camp is 'front.'
ing on Clark's fork of the Columbia
river and the population consists Of my
outfit which ranges from fifty to one
hundred men and the cream of all
camps in Montana. Our division is the
Rocky Mountains and our superintend-
ent, F. w. Gilbert, roadmaster, NJ.
Dillon, all pleasant men to be associated
with. Our work since I came here is
new work, such as changing grades,
ripraping and a general improvement
Of track and road bed. The time is not
far distant when the Northern Pacific
will have as fine a track with q complete
stone ballast as any line in the east.
The general manager, J. NJ. Buckley. is
a competent railroad man in all respects
commencing from the bottom OF the
ladder and has worked his way up. The
business of the road viii speak for it.
self, there is no end to shipments of
istocS of al kinds, train after train, and
it begins to look as if Wisconsin would
have to come to Oregon and Washing
ton Territory for It's wheat. when I tell
you from 40 to go bushels per acre is an
average yield. The mills at Missoula
and Spokane Falls are doing q splendid
business. There is one thing which
seems impossible and that is the tim
othy. 1t is nothing strange to sec it
from to feet high and all self sown
during the construction Of the rail-
road. Timber Of all kinds in abund-
ance here. The Wisconsin lumber men
would be pleased to smile on q log
which would scale fifteen hundred feet,
they would have to get some new
machinery to handle them. There are
no pike poles sawed into lumber here.
Potatoes are q grand crop, from 6 to s
hundred bushels per acre and price one
and one-half cents per pound. Green
peas and new potatoes are q thing Of
the past now, and ell products Of Mon
tana. My camp is five miles from the
once famous mining camp at Trout
Creek, which in time to come viii be
one Of the best mining camps in Mon
tana. I VIII send you small piece of
ore which is good sample of a large
piece that came from the top of the
vein. This vein is regarded, for the
amount Of work done on it, rs being as
good a prospect as ever found in Mon
tana. It viii go sos per ton. I do not
speak only Of one; but there are others
as good. There is no excitement what
ever. Among the many things here,
there are plenty Of timber and water for
aIl purposes. Should you have half
day drop in and see US and will make
it as pleasant as I can for you.
Mr.. D. o. Fisher and Master George
spent two week with me at camp and
they seemed to enjoy our style of life.
Hoping this may reach you in due
time, shall return to Grand Rapids in
time TO put in a good big vote for Cleve-
land 6. Co.
Yours respectfully,