The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-04
THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON.
A GROWING TRADE CENTER.
Section OF Fertile
Farming Mining, Stock Growing


Livingston is situated in Montana's park;
a park that has more natural grandeur.
higher mountains, more abundant streams
and rivers, taller trees, beautiful valleys
and waterfalls than the famed Yellowstone
National. The geysers of the Yellowstone
park are perhaps the one feature that out
ranks the county which has been appropri-
ately named Park county. It is park
seventy eight miles in extent, north and
south, and about the same east and west,
and embraces an area of 5000 square miles.
With it's present dimensions it is the most
mountainous section of the empire Of Mon
tana, yet 1t contains large area of the
choicest farming and grazing lands in the
ton of the Yellowstone region, and it has
often been remarked by tourists why the
government did not embrace at least half
Of this county in its national pleasure re-
sort. The Yellowstone river, which has its
origin in the park. and which forms a por.
the county, flows about sixty miles
to the north until it reaches
Livingston, when it turns sharply to the
east, traversing the county fully 12O miles.
It passes through what is known as Para
disc valley. The northern portion of the
much grazing lands, where sheep and cattle
roam in thousands. To the extreme south
east, on pan handle is the town of Red
Lodge on the Rocky Fork river, where the
greatest coal beds in America have been dis
covered and are in operation. To the north
tract of territory with many rivers and
streams running through it, and which is the
most favorable farming lands in the state.
At this point it is fully sixty miles wide,
and it is only question of few months
when it will be thrown open for settlement.
claim to the richest and most productive
farming region in Montana. But the most
important feature of Park county's many
and varied resources are its mineral and coal
fields. 1t has more coal than any similar
section in the world, and it's resources of
mountainous section. ..'he Yellowstone
mountains, whose majestic and snow
capped peaks are the admiration of all,
have within their bosoms; the greatest and
most diversified deposits of minerals yet
known, but of these, description more fully
appears in another column. TO the south,
in the Boulder mountains, isanother extern
siye mineral section, while to the northeast,
along the beautiful Shields River valley,
are the Castle mountains, whose beds of
gold, silver ana 1eaO Only aWdlI tne d0Vent
Of the iron horse to transport them to the
Golfers of the world. 10 the west is the
Belt range of mountains, a spur of the
Rockies. These have the coal mines of
Cinnabar and Horr and Cokedale,
which are now very extensive, and
9s s9seped the n the eay sta sekn for coal &
lance of 40 miles east, and beyond the pic
turesque Crazy mountains, is farming
and stock-raising region. where thousands
of people look back to Livingston for their
supplies.
Such is the location of the city of Livings-
ton, the gateway to grand, extensive and
immensely productive area. It is alone in
its field of commercial, financial and rail-
road prominence. Nine years ago there
was no Livingston, but in 1882, when the
Northern Pacific railroad was pushing west
ward. its builders beheld beautiful spot
in a small and picturesque valley. It was
their mission to build up the northwest and
so many were the natural advantages sur
rounding this point that it was determined
to locate city, and it was called Livingston,
after one of the directors of the Northern
Pacific railroad company, Livingston is
ciic, and it has grown to be one of the best
business points along the great transconti-
mental line. 1t ia now in the second stage
of its growth, having already experienced
visit of the fire fend, but elegant and
costly brick and stone business blocks have
taken the place of the rude shanties that
were first built in the development of the
town. It is most natural point for a
fiourishing city and its growth has been re-
markable, having started from nothing, to
growing metropolis of 5000. It il des-
tined to be city Of future greatness. Its
people are men of thrift and energy who
realize the Importance of the place as a
distributing center and which will become
the great commercial and industrial center
of eastern Montana. 1t possesses water
power equalled only by that of Great Falls,
and it's mountains of coal and timber will
make simple the carrying on of extensive
manufacturing and ore reducing enter
prises.
Livingston lies under the shadow of
Mount Pauline, or better known as "Old
Badly" It is seven thousand feet high
and the name of Badly" is attributed to it
on account of its perpetual head of
ton Of 1850 feet. Probably the one thing
that will convey the most correct idea of
Livingstone growth and prosperity, is that
last summer more than $35O,OOO were ex-
pended in the erection of business blocks
and residences. and the work in contempla-
ton for the season will be nearly as much
and probably more. The famous Yellow
stone river has it's entry toward Livingston
lin q CANYON three miles west of the city,
where it dashes and splashes down gorge
of the Yellowstone. turning sharply to the
east with great velocity and forming two
forks. One of these forms the southern
boundary of the city limits, and along its
banks is level plateau, laid out in blocks
with wide streets, with good walks on every
street, while thrifty young trees and attrac-
tive lawns surround the many beautiful cot
tages. Near the entrance of the Yellowstone
there has been laid off a tract of land upon
which it is intended to erect large smelt-
ing plant as soon as the projected branch
ines from Livingston to the several rich
mining districts tributary to it. are COM
pleted. A portion of the great water power
has also been reserved for this purpose.
Lower down the river and about half a
mile from the business center of the town
is an island. About 800 acres of this is
nothing less than beautiful grove which
some day will either become site for sew
eral beautiful homes or else be re-
eeryed as park for the city,
and this latter idea would be the
most commendable, as even now it is the
resort OF men. women and children, even
in its rough and native state, Around its
banks trout fishing in season is unex-
celled. The island is not more than two
miles IN extent and its greatest width about
half mile. With the abundant water
power that flows around it. this place must
some day be the scene of manufacturing
Industries such as wooden and Touring
mills.
Livingston has started out in the right
way to build mp the city-that it is proposed
70 make one of the richest and most hour
shing in the northwest. Nothing can
prevent it from becoming a populous in