, 1888-02-09
AoIt-Ga Correspondence.
GREAT FAILS, Montana.

DEAR ARGUs:-Iu answer to the
c.Uiyoyaut glance of one Of your
many eyps. | would state that the
many duties incumbent upon new
tiria Of such dimensions as thIs--the
necessary attention to the building
o. the .frst church, with many other
duties too numerous to mention, have
so filed my time that even British
toiumOluns nave had cause of com
p!aint against ne. Now the rust
Is somewhat over so [ will greet you
with cordial greeting and best wishes
for 1888. May your face be bright
your eyes" need NJ spectacles and
your bodily presence still increase
i'll size and vigor, Although it has
been my pleasure to gaze upon many
a "iCcaI' since | left your fair city,
yet l can trutbfuily say that 10 more
newsy and interesting sheet has fal-
len into my hand than THE PoRr
TOWNSEND ARGUS" arrived here in
August 1856 after a 20 hour stage
ride that was considerable Of an ex
perience"-now dashinS away
from Helena at Z, and with coach
loaded to the muZZle my own dear
SELF hanging by rope that bound
numerous big boxes, little boxes,
band boxes and bundles to the top of
the coach-then swinging down a
creek bottom nearly over; saved 'sr
this time said " Fat jim" rs with
lame horse we got safely through
again trottiug through Prickly Pear
Canyon with the sun at 120 in the
shade, feeling overpOwered in one
way with the heat, and in another by
the majestic scenery-it cannot be
fully described, it must be realized to
understand its wild magnIfcence At
midnight We Were crossing the Bird
Tail Divide where our blood chilled
and we went "rattle-te-bang" down
the eastern slope we felt thankful
that we should soon reach lower lati
tudes and feel little more comforta-
bic don't forget it was 120 in the
shade at noon of that dayD Finally,
between 10 and II o'clock on a bright
Wednesday morning we stopped at a
little station called jamestown, on
the western bank of the Missouri
river whose silvery waters glide with
gentle flow down to the BLACK Ea-
gle Rainbow and Great Falls" of
which more hereafter. As we stood
waiting for the ferry to convey Us
over to Great Falls village Il stranger
said, looking across the half mile of
water, what do you think OF Great
False" - Six and half houses
with mill thrown in," [ said. When
l got over and had to pay $40 week
for board, l thought it wasa " too
muchee" (although washee John is
not, so far, allowed in here) and in
desperation got 10x12 shak with a
2X2 window and several ventilators.
portfolios, etc.-here we habitated
until a house could be built. In
course of time the ranch fever"
struck the family, and so it comes to
pass that We spent all the balny
days of suHamer under our own
vine and fig tree" receiving numer-
GUS visits from friendly mosquitoes,
who came to sup with US, and caused
considerable conversation! My wife
has had but one spell of sickness and
Jessie Townsend is growing out
of knowledge, whilst the farmer has
been hale and hearty most of his
days Forgive so much personal!
Now as to the six and a half
houses" l found good many peo-
pie lived in the villages, and that
miners talked about I" big things"
and meant business.
Paris Gibson, and some others.
who had lived here for years, had
some fine day dreams about rail-
roads, coal, iron and gold mines; at
first it was considered visionary, but
now it Is believed these dreams will
be realized. Nearly 1900 people,
railroad nearly finished. smelling
works viii be built in the spring,
coal, gold and silver mines are close
to the city, and land that was prairie
three years ago is worth thousands.
Some Michigan gentlemen having
paid $4,000 for lots to build on IN
the spring. Large stone and brick
buildings show the solidity of the
enterprise. [ will finish this de-
scription in my next, when hope to
give you some faint idea of magnifi-
cent falls, and other "liops" of this
neighborhood.
Permit me to compliment the
progressives of your city -by-the-
sea for their enterprising spirit, and
they may rest assured that 1888 will
bring material prosperity to them
and theirs. Only few days ago a
Southern gentleman, desiring to in
vest, asked me "all about" Port
Townsend. l have also referred
some Dakota parties to your region
as promising district.
Yours in Faith, Hope and Charity,
JoANNEs REIDUs.