Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-21


ssAIynAL susIeSa WHARF, GOLD IL GAR
EERED II TH1 PORN OF wHEAr-sALooSs AND
SUNDAY eAn1LINs-A REsIoN or BEAuTr.
Correspondence Of TIE EvsSrsa STAR
SPOKANE FALLs, W. T., September 8.
The range Of Snow mountains on the south
OF Livingston, appropriately named, as they
are always covered with snow. extremely
beautiful, grand and inspiring-their loftiest
peaks being at times quite hard to distinguish
| from the light, feecy clouds that surround
| them. Continuing west toward Helena the
road runs parallel with and between two
chains of snow-covered mountains, the Big
Belt and Castle range on the north
and the Snow range ON the SOUTH. Boze-
man, large and Furnishing agricultural town
OF 1850 inhabitants. lies just south of the road,
and was informed by the citizens that no bet
ter farming district than this valley can be
found in the west. They cultivate principally
wheat, barly and oats, and raise from forty to
sixty-five bushels of oats to the acre. They
have three large grain elevators, and every
thing suggests thrift and enterprise. If should
judge OF the wealth of the western men whom
see on the ranches at the stock yards and at
the railroad stations by the size of their
watch chains or the number of their dia-
MINUS "ouiu suppose them all mIllOnalres;
out the renned environment usually surround
ing diamonds in the east is not to be thought
OF among these men. Helena, 1,155 miles from
81. Paul, has population of over 5000 and is
the beginning OF what is known as the Rocky
mountain division of the road It is the capt.
tai OF Montana, Is pleasantly situated on the
eastern foot OF the main chain of the Rocky
mountains and Is the queen city of the noun
tains. In July. 1864, it was settled by four
weary miners who, having been disappointed
elsewhere in their search for gold, stopped here
as their last chance for find. 1t is said that
within fifteen months they all left for the east
having $50 900 each. No doubt ii has been one
OF the richest mining fields of the west. It il
currently reported that over 10000 900 of
gold have been taken from its mines.
WEALTHY CITY.
1t is now the wealthiest city of its size in the
United States. OF its four national banks one
alone has individual deposits of over three mil
lion Of dollars. 1t has magnificent business
blocks and fine residences 1t was at this point
that poor youth, after discovering rich vein
OF gold, sold his mine for 81 $50 600 cash and
returned home wise and exceedingly rich
man. There is one nugget of gold in the vaults
OF the First national bank weighing 1907
ounces. valued at S9l5.80. The city has a terri
torlal library. classical school, good public
schools, SIX churches. the United States assay
office, fire department, electric lights &C. The
ful, rising one above another until the more
distant are lost among the clouds. Stepping
from our car to the platform and CHANGING
south we saw twelve saloons, all located on one
street fronting the station and all within 200
Feet or 1t. Sunday. September l. all of the
saloons and gambling houses were open all
day, and L guess all night. and there were
twice as many people visiting the saloons and
gambling houses and on the streets on Sunday
as on either the Saturday preceding or the
Mnn6aV IN Tha A.,
do three times as much business on Sunday as
ON any other day. Through the city | would
think there were two buildings devoted TO the
liquor business to one devoted to any other
KIND OF enterprise. 1t is quite remarkable
that IN this new country, ali along the line of
TINS road, wherever you find Element the
hrst thing visible is saloon, and often there is
no other building to be seen. At one station
wnere there were three buildings two were
saloons and the third was post office. dry
goods, grocery and saloon combined.
ASCENDING THE ROCKIES.
Leaving Helena we commence the ascent of
the Rocky mountains. The grandeur of this
eastern approach to the mountains cannot be
described. The train, consisting of twelve cars,
was drawn by two monster low pressure en-
gines. Foot by foot the train climbs the noun
tain side, overcoming, one after another, the
gigantic barriers that seem to forbid our pas-
sage. We pass under the shadow of great rocks
whose perpendicular sides seem b lead up to
tops that pierce the clouds, and at other times
along precIplces Ga glance at whose great depths
makes one dlzzy), over rocky shelves through
deep cuttings and across rayines. and thus our
train continues winding back and forth. con-
slant ascending, the great engines putting and
blowing like creatures of life laboring with a
great burden. At last we reach the highest al
atude obtained by the train-5.547 feet-and
enter the Mullen tunnel. which is $3.50 feet
IN N
this tunnel We emerge therefrom and find our
selves on the Pacific side of the Rocky noun
talns. Here We stop to leave one of our monster
locomotives and begin the descent on the Pa
clhc SIDE. Some Of the views coming up the
mountain on the east side were the grandest
have ever seen. Nothing in the Alleghanies.
Green or White mountains compare with them.
As looked upon the great giant mountains of
rock bathing their brows in the clouds, l could
but think that these are but a few of the grand
yet silent monuments that God has reared To
remind US OF his power and presence
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
The descent on the Pacific side is quite ro-
mantle and beautiful. The train follows the
valley of the Little Blackfoot, passes between
grassy hills and over fertile fields and valleys.
and suggests more frequently agricultural in
terests than Rocky mountain scenery, Passing
along for some hours We finally enter upon the
famous Lake Pend d Oreille and Clark's Fork
country. For about one hundred and forty
miles the road follows the course of the Jocko
river. beautiful stream through a beautiful
country. 1t is near Arlee that we approach
the first Of those beautiful streams. whose
gathered waters subsequently spread them
selves out into one of the most beauti-
full lakes of the west. The Jocko
and the Flathead rivers, united with
the Clark's fork Of the Columbia and the
Missoula river supply the current of water
that forms the lovely Lake Pend dOreille.
one of the most beautiful sheets OF water have
ever seen, comparing quite favorably with
Lake George III its charms of water, beautiful
islands and loyely scenery 1t Is about $40
miles long and in width from one half to II miles
and is beautifully surrounded by mountains
1t is abundantly supplied with trout, bass and
salmon aud anglers in few hours will catch
so or 60 pounds of choice fish. The surround
ing country is filed with game, and every
where along the line of the railroad
in western Montana and northern Idaho we
see camps of Indians.
WAS IT BEAR OR MULE?
forgot to mention that when climbing up
the Atlantic side of the Rocky mountains I
discovered coming down one Of the gulches in
the mountain side. several hundred feet above
Us, what l and the other passengers Except
my wife) declared to be a real live. wild bear,
but my wife said it was a little mule. Her eve
sight is not good. however, which may account
for her mistake. Passing by scores of other
points OF interest we will for O moment look
N. r1rlnn Sr.<.t apa Ealta v..,I1