Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-25
III COLUMBIA GARDENS
: RrsORr WoRrHY OF THE GREAT
METROPOLIS or MONTANA.

in the immediate vicinity of Butte q resort
at which people could spend an afternoon
in genuine enjoyment. Messrs. Gordon &
Richie last fall decided that there should
be one worthy OF the liberal Electromagnetic
an enterprise of its extent deserves Butte
may be termed q mining camp BY the out
side world. but as q matter OF TACT it is a
populous city inhabited by prosperuu.
workers, in all DEGREES Of life, and most ol
them men of family. / eretnfore they have
had no place to which they could resort for
recreation. unless at an exorhitant ex-
pense. This want Gordon & Richie have
aimed to Gil in the purchase and fitting up
OF the Columbia Gardens. The spot ID
eligibly located two and q half miles from
the city. and is not only . pleasant drive
for those who can afford the luxury of u
team, but ID reached by the metur line in
elegantly appointed excursion ears at a
moderate cost. Past busting Meaderville,
over the valley and through the the
ride 10 q pretty OF 9, well worth taxing, and
besides it is not tiresome.
TUE GARDENS.
Columbia Gardens are what may be
called the most natural pointfor q pleasure
resort e Butte. Nesting in the valley,
they have an abundant growth of trees and
foliage. Never-endins springs that ~outpoul
in various directions and feed in bountiful
manner the surrounding country and keep
the grasses green, and the atmosphere conf,
are one of the main attractions. Nature
has done much to make the gardens an at
tractiye place, but the proprietors have in
many respects improved or nature. In the
Innovations they have made they haveno'
attempted to destroy amy nj the natura
scenery, but by iudicious pruning and this
creation OF walks, paths Snd aicoves. mad,
the surroundings easy OF access and pleas
ant to the visitors.
TIE IMPROVEMENTS.
To be q resort, there must be some ut
traction for visitors, and a. caterers t.
the public taste Gordon & Richie hav,
filled the bill. In order to make the gar
dens worthy OF patronage they have ex
pended SIS, 600, and are daily adding Il
the improvements. The main portion o
the grouHds are inclosed by q substantial
picket fence seven feet high. Alightine from
the motor line, there is a pretty Gothic
cottage mat does duty as a ticket Office
and then you enter the grounds. In from
of you is q park arrange for the tieing O
teams, and to the left Columbia's lake. oil
which are a number of row boats for tn
use of those who enjoy that sport. PRO
ceeding from the entrance, the visito
naturally seeks the main building
or. as it is called. tn
museum. This is SOx125 fert
and is surrounded by IA piazza, fitted witt
tables and chairs for the benefit Of guests
At present the museum consists of one :,
the finest collections of wax figures in tn
country, a set OF mechanical moving exhi
billions representing the Brooklyn bridg
with cars and vehicles in transit, the steam
ers Bear, Thetis and Alert OF the Polar ex
petition, q genuine lea serpent, the sleep
ing beauty, d miniature representation G
salt works. a set OF sterioptical pictures G
the battles OF the rebellion, a moving re
presentation of the sICop Jeanette and it
officers, and other attractions.
AN OVERFLOW.
Adjoining the museum and opening from
it is q spacious show room fitted wit
stage aud chairs, in which it is the inteu
ton to give light entertainments, such u
the Marionctte. and Punch and Judy to b
repeated every fifteen minutes.
The main show place, however, is a man
moth tent with a seating capacity of 300
people, and a stage 40x26 feet. The seat
are arranged in amphitheat tire style, and a
can get a good view of the performance.
The hotel is o substantial two-stor
building, 45x65 feet, with piazza, and wi
be fitted and conducted in first-class style
The dancing pavilion has a fine floor, is en-
closed, circular in form, and in dinner
sions is a. feet in dia meter. One of til
essentials to the establishment is a build
ing fitted for a ladies' parlor, an
retiring room, which will always be il
charge oil a female attendant. A must
stand that will accommodate thirty mu
~sicians, q shooting gallery. a. ca
rousal run by steam, swings of all kind
for little ones, a handsome fountain, an ic
cream booth, and a well appointed bar ar
features of the place. In the menageri
line there is Il bear pit, with three bears
two black and one cinnamon, four noun
tain sheep. a mountain lion, an elk park
with two fine specimens, a kangaroo, pal
OF eagles. a nest OF fancy pigeons, pea
cocks. two buffaloes, foxes, and other ami
mails.
On the grounds there also iron waite
baths with separate accommodations TO
ladies and gentlemen, and it is theintentiol
OF the management to erect at once O hal
mile race track and lay out a base bal
ground.
Such, in brief, is a sketch OF the Columbi.
Gardens. The proprietors guarantee thai
the best OF order shall be maintained anC
the rights of all guests respected. An ad
mission fee OF so cents will be charged anc
that entities the ticket holder to see any
thing and everything in the enclosure. The
enterprise is surely q deserving one and
should meet with proper patronage and en-
couragement.
The gardens are 10 open and the pub
lie are cordially welcome, but the formal
opening with exhibitions and performances
will occur Sunday. On that day the
motor line will be running in good shape,
all the attractions will be ready for visit.
ors, and a pleasant afternoon is safely
guantsed to all who honor the garden with
their presence.