River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-08-28


mushroom city. The buildings are
all new, no trees, wooden sidewalks.
aud it seems as if one-fourth of the
city was composed of buildings in pro-
cess of construction. was told that
there was great lack of good me-
chanics, carpenters receiving from
$3.50 to $500 per day. Where but
two or three years ago there was moth
ing but poor dry ranch, they are
now selling lots for $3.50 to $500 each.
The streets are laid out parallel to
each other, due north and south or east
and west, and numbered from a cen
trial avenue and from the Missouri
river. They are known by nothing
but numbers.
reached the city at 3:05 P. NJ. and
expected to start out on the rest of
my journey that evening, but | soon
found out different. / was told that |
must wait until . A. NJ. the next day
an then travel 145 miles by coach. |
made the best of my time by obsery-
ing the city, doing little purchasing,
and paying 75c for shave and hair
cut. At Q next morning | was ready
to start and so was the old stage coach.
1t was queer looking concern. 1t
had but two seats, one of which was
covered and entirely skut in by can
vass. The whole box was hung on
leather straps and had therefore no
springs to break. 1t was peculiar
experience but not an unpleasant one
to bob along in such vehicle. We
were soon out of the city and out on a
plain inhabited chiefly by prairie dogs.
They are a curious sight as they sport
over the ground or sit up by their holes
ready at any moment to disappear.
We had travelled far among these
prairie dog towns but were still within
the limits of Great Falls. By and by
we crossed Thirty-frst street, which is
now the limit of the city on the south.
The land is slightly rolling and the city
was no longer visible. Far to the front
of us could be seen mountain tops
which, as yet, were entirely covered
by snow, in some places they say to a
depth of over twenty feet. One range
that we saw must have been at least
one hundred miles away. The first
twenty miles were made about two
O'Clock. 1t was all over plain. but by
two we came to beautiful green val
ley, at the bottom of which was a large
creek and little village which seemed
perfection for quiet retirement, but on
reaching it, it turned out to come far
from our ideaiity in that respect.
The hamlet was composed of garden
or two, a bridge, three or four dwelling
houses, a stable, blacksmith shop, a
store, hotel and five saloons, one of
which was in tent with large sign
painted on top, saloon Again, the
driver told us that one of the bar
keepers had just committed suicide by
cutting his throat with an eye-glass
while in a kind of lookup to cure
him of drunkenness. They needed no
church nor school houses here for they
seemed to know everything without.
We had to wait for change of hor-
ses, during which time we took dinner
at the hotel. While eating l could not
help but notice that we had little boy
and a middle aged lady as walters,
Chinaman for cook, and negro woman
who seemed to be dish-washer or some
helper about the place. After dinner
l saw my chance to visit one of the
numerous coal mines in the neighbor
hood. went to one which lay along
the stage road. 1t was merely bin
with pile of coal above it.. At the
top of the pile large hole was dug into
a steep hill. | eyed this little at first
and then proceeded to go in. 1t was
dreary looking passage. had no light
but went along as far as daylight pene-
trated. L heard some one hacking
away far in the interior. 1t was no
Paradise. Close at my side were walls
of coal, above me and 50 low that /
was compelled to stoop as l walked
| was the black ceiling, under foot an
uncertain car track, while water was
dripping down from above and ran out
in little stream at my side. | went
along by finding my way with my feet
and the steady hacking, and now a
| faint lamp-light was also guide. 1t
ended in a still smaller passage where
the water was in pools. One lonely
man was working there with whom
had short talk and who told me that
| he had worked there several years,
that we were in about $50 feet, and
that he had other side passages that
led still further in. got out of the
place as best ! could and started for
the quiet CD hamlet, but met the stage
before got there.
Our course was now along long wind
ing valley which finally ended on the
plains. We stopped for supper at build
ing of peculiar construction. 1t looked
| just like long covered bridge. 1t was
perhaps IA by 90 feet and had gravel
roof. The well which supplied them
with drinking water was about 81 inches
from the stable We staid there perhaps
an hour then started on our nights
travel. Two of us got inside and pulled
down all the flaps slept less than half
the time, it being so uncomfortable. The
wind blows past our heads in spite of the
stage covering, and sitting upright in your
sleep you could find nothing softer to
bump your head against than the frame
| work of the wagon top. | tell you there
was but little fun in it. | was not sorry
when this experience came to an end
and right heartily did / welcome the
suns warm rays. At daybreak we came
to little village where the COW boys had
assembled and from whence they started
to count and brand the cattle. They
camped out in tents like soldiers, while
some of them were yet in the saloon, like