The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-14
A PROMISING TOWN.
Ahe Advantages which Contribute to Liv-
ingston's Prosperity.

LIVINGSTON April 13, $780, Especial. y
river, at the junction of the Park Branch
with the Northern Pacific and Rocky Noun
tain railway, about midway between st.
Paul, Minn., and Portland, Oregon. and is
GO miles distant from the great national
Yellowstone park, to which it is the gate
way: was first known as a railroad camp
in 1882, but in 1887 Park county was organ
lied and Livingston became the county
seat. It then had population Of about
LOCO. 1t has since grown steadily and
now has fully $500 people. with scholastic
population of 500 and public school build
ing erected at a cost of $4,000. During the
past two years its growth has been rapid,
and many new and handsome business
structures have been erected that do credit
to the enterprise Of its citizens. Numerous
comfortable homes are also notable eviden-
ces of permanency and and prosperity, The
place is we'll lighted by electricity, and an
abundant water supply is furnished by the
Yellowstone, fresh and pure from its source
among the Rockies. The mercantile inter-
ests are represented by the Carver Mercan-
tile Co., Babcock & Miles, G. L. Chambers
& Co., Gordon Bros, Hefferiin Bros,
Kreiger Bros, Alva Mayne, I. Or
schel g. Bro, M. A. Peterson,
Thompson Bros, and others, who
carry we'll selected stocks. and have large
and increasing trade. The Park National,
the Livingston National, and the Bank of
Livingston, represent the banking interests;
and find ready demand for capital. The
two national banks have paid up capital
stock of $1O0,OOO and over $500, 600 of de-
posits. ''The Enterprise and ''The Liv-
ingston POST are bright, newsy, we'll man
aged weekly newspapers; with good and
ious denominations are we'll represented,
have commodious places of worship,
and add materially to the moral tone
and attractiveness of the place.
This is enhanced by the magnificent noun
tain scenery with which it is surrounded,
stream. To the practical mind, cause and
effect go hand in hand, and those seeking
profitable investments or homes naturally
inquire upon what is this evident prosper
ity based, and what is there to support a
place with 5 ,OOO, 600 worth of taxable prop
erty, and to cause it to grow and increase in
Importance? The eastern portion Of Park
and to the south extends valley
length, rich in agricultural products:
Shields river valley, ten miles long and fifty
miles wide. is also we'll watered and pro-
ductive. The mountain sides and smaller
valleys furnish abundant pasturage for cat
tie, horses, mules and sheep, representing
taxable value of $685., $50. The assessed
value of the entire property in this compar-
atively new county, was $3, ,O629OO in 1889,
and will! exceed "a, 100000 in 1880. There is
perhaps no region in Montana SO rich in BIZ
luminous coking coal as that tributary TO
Livingston, Cokedale Horr and Timberline.
This important interest is being rapidly de-
veloped. Ar Cokedale and Horr many coke
ovens have been erected, and while the en-
terprises are in their infancy, hundreds of
laborers find ready employment at remun-@
and the future is full of prom
natural outlet for the Cooke City mining
district, abounding in rich and valuable
minerals awaiting development. Depend
ent upon railroad transportation, in anoth-
er direction is Castle, one of the richest of
the newly discovered mining fields in Mon
tana. Livingston people have large inter
ests here, and it is believed that the time is
not far distant when through the influence
of long-headed business men and natural
causes Livingston will be connected by rail
with these camps, and smelter will be
added to its productive interests ON grounds
already purchased. These facts. from Of
fetal and we'll authenticated sources. ac-
count for the confidence felt in the future
of this place and convince the careful OBJ
server that the pioneers ''builded better
than they knew" and that here is one of
the most promising locations in Montana.