The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-22

enough to h0at large logs, and ne thought
he saw in it cheap mode Of transportation.
forests, tho crash of falling trees and mo-
notonous music Of his saw as the trunks
were cut into the proper lengths. Then the
steam saw, new thing in tho form of huge
RATS of logs; and nimble, desp-chested
men, who guided their movements with q
dexterity equal to that Of cowboy in cor
railing the unruly steer.
And that man you saw mounted on
sorry cayuse and leading another, the lat
ter weighted down with -four, bacon, picks,
spades, frying pans and tobacco, what has
become of him? Let me follow him as he
Boulder. through the wild glens into that
grassy glade, through which a mountain
stream dances SO merrily. Is he there for
his health? Not much. His cabin is al
ready built, he has struck a prospect and is
patiently digging away, day after day, with
him. The next stroke of the pick may re-
veal it. Several of the boys have struck it
rich and why should he fail. res. there is
good ore in the Boulder district, which will
soon be giving up its treasures.
With the sheep, cattle, mining and luna-
Der industries farmers have also got in
their work, which is seen in fertile grain
fields, comfortable homes. He too finds at
Big Timber good market for his products,
for the railroad is there and forwards them
to the great mining camps further west.
IN DUE TIME.
Thus is shown the causes which naturally
and necessarily compelled the transforma-
tion of spot, formerly favorite camping
ground for Indians into the brisk, busting,
wide-awake town of to-day. It could no
more escape the process of evolution than
the waters of the Yellowstone can avoid
their ultimate absorption in the Gulf of
Mexico. When the waters of the deep were
divided from the land. when the rivers of
the earth were given their courses, and the
mountains set in place, then it was decreed
that, in the history of the ages, the day
would come when intelligent man would
require it as market place. The day was
long in coming. The various tribes of
man upon the European continent had
first to pass through the slow process of
development, from savage life to civiliza-
ton. Centuries were to live and die before
America should be discovered. Other
centuries were to wax and wane before the
m odern pioneer should spy out the land
and possess it. But the day and the hour
have come.
For the future, psophesy is uncalled for.
So surely as Big Timber is live town" so
surely will it in the near future become
wealthy city. And in this matter of devel-
opment it may be we'll to state that life is
not in this day of steam and electricity
live faster than their fathers. Not in the
sense that they appreciate to greater de-
gree than did their ancestors the flavor of
wine when it is red, but in the fact that the
mechanical appliances of this day and
year of grace give to mind control over
matter that it is hardly possible to appre-
olate. It is only twenty years ago that st.
Paul, Minnesota, boosted of population Of
twenty five thousand souls, and Minneapo-
lis her rival for honors was reluctantly COM
PEELED to admit that of the two she was the
smaller by five thousand inhabitants. It is
tiful valley of the Yellowstone was the alb
solute property of savages. Ten years
since upon the site of Big Timber buffalo
were shot, aud the safety of mans scalp
depended upon his ability to defend it.
1t is therefore safe to expect much for
and herds must increase at certai n ratio,
which throughout section such as finds
it's natural center at Big Timber can be
very accurately calculated. But an acceler-
ated growth must soon begin. Already
small supply stores have been established
point as convenient one at which to sup
ply depleted stocks. AS a consequence.
many of the merchants of the place are en-
gagged in both wholesale and retail trade.
RAILROAD EXTENSION.
It is believed by many that in the near
future railroad lines will be constructed
along the line of the same old Indian trails
that have already been mentioned. A line
from this pointuto the north could be
constructed by easy grades through rich
and now we'll settled section, tapping the
rich mineral belts, that during the past few
years have attracted SO much attention and
are already producing so largely. That a
line will be built up the Boulder to the rich
mineral district at its head. it almost a Ger
tainty. So important have been the dis
orally acknowledged by mining men to be
field of great promise and one that must
speedily become larger orc producer.
The ores found are principally free mill
number of prospeetors seeking this hidden
treasure are constantly increasing, and
many Helena and Butte mining men are
investing largely. At least one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars will be invested
in developing properties before snow flies
district has already been made and a. fe sa
BILE route. discovered. Cook City.
distant from the termination Of tins
survey can be easily reached, and as con-
Rress seems unwilling to grant the right of
way through the borders of the national
park from Cinnibar it is more than prob
able that solution of the difficulty will be
found in adopting the route by the way of
the Boulder to q connection with the
Northern Pacific at Big Timber. This
would open one of the most extensive min
ing districts in Montana, and ultimately
result in the erection of large concentrat-
ing works and shelters. For such enter
prise Big Timber furnishes unusual facil-
tiles, being supplied with an abundance of
water. which may be obtained from either
the Yellowstone. the Boulder or Big Timber
creek. Fuel would be obtained at almost
nominal cost from the great forests that
are as yet practically untouched, while
limestone and iron for fuxing purposes
exist in great abundance, and may be had
for the taking.
GOOD SPORTING GROUNDS.
For some years past sportsmen have reg
ularly gathered at Big Timber as a conyen.
lent headquarters from which to embark on
expeditions in quest of game. 1t is unhap-
PLY true that the buffalo have gone forever,
but deer. elk and antelope still remain. and
under the fostering influence Of our game
laws. seem to be increasing in number.
This ID more particularly true of antelope,
that on the FIRST advent of steady immiRfa-
ton we're slaughtered without mercy and
In countless thousands. Fortunately, their
peltS were OF email commercial value. 10
which u probably due the fact that they
sacepsa total annihilation. Uneu diaacy.
80 IL sziaiAs oonAition 4 a1aiEs ear