The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-04
Hope Clinging to the Mountain Side
and Overlooking Pen
d'Oreille Lake.
KOotenay's Growth From a Rail-
road Station Into Place
of Business.
brisk Times at Sand Point Getting Out
Bridge Timbers, Telegraph Poles
and Railroad Ties.

Especial Correspondence of The INDEPENDENT
HOPE, Idaho, April 27.-Hope is built on
three terraces. the first one wide enough for
the railroad yards and depot buildings and
the upper ones barely wide enough to nc
commodate single street of very narrow
width, there being room for buildings only
on one side of the street. So abrupt is the
mountain slope that the back yards of the
houses are higher than the roofs. Hope is
now two years old, contains some eighty
houses and has about $50 inhabitants. II ia
the western terminal of the Rocky Noun
tain division of the Northern Pacific and
therefore is the home of an operative force
OF train men and yard men large enough to
make pretty good sized town themselves
The little town clinging to the mountain
side and looking out upon Pen d'Oreille
lake has most novel and enchanting ap-
pearance. This lake is one of the most
beautiful to be found on the American
continent. Its length in about thirty-f We
miles and its width between six
and seven. It's waters, lovely green color
along the shore change to q deep blue as
they deepen away from the beaches From
the southern extremity rise the most per-
pendlcular cliffs of lofty range of noun
tains. 10 the west the mountains are con-
slderably lower and less rugged. The
Clark's Fork river enters the lake from the
south between the cabinet range and the
steep, pine-clad slopes of the Cceur d'Alenes.
The entire country surrounding Hope. be it
lake shore, river valley or mountain side, is
covered with forests of timber. Therefore,
Hope has large lumber resources which as
yet are undeveloped except the operation of
shingle mill east of the city. Northeast
of Hope some forty miles, is the Kootenay
river. heading far up into British Co
lumbla, flowing in southeasterly
course into Montana and then making
loop in the Flathead region, re-
turning to the dominions of the Britishsr,
Much of the trade of the Kootenay mines
and ranches now come to Hope and the
little city will thrive in the same ratio as
that extensive mining region. Across the
lake are located the Chloride group of
mines at Lakeview; also the famous
Webber mine,
times meted out in q peculiar manner at
this place. On last Wednesday one of the
"hobo" fraternity took to himself a spring
overcoat flom passenger car, the property
OF west-bound tourist. He was soon
found up town promenading Hope avenue
with the coat on his back. Several rail-
readers took him to the boat house whore
kangaroo trial WAS held and Harry Vivian
Hopes disciple of Blackstone, was sent for.
Mr. VIVIAN. upon appearing, said: "Citi-
zens OF hope-l am your attorney at-law:
will act as justice of the peace, ana
appoint Mr.. Jones constable an d court officer
Mr.. Smith clerk of the court and six of you
plebeians, as jury and we are now ready
to proceed. We will try this man; there is
no doubt of his guilt. He stole tnat coat.
S4tiatie1 ha did Wa isb
him in the usual legal manner, because the
gentleman owning the coat has departed.
We will the efore give him bodily punish
ment-" The jury agreed, and Mr.. Hobo was
taken to the lake shore. placed across a
large log, tied thereto and an inch board
worn out on the seat of his pants. after |
which he was released, the jurors taking
him and throwing him bodily into the lake.
The tramp proved to be a good swimmer,
and thus escaped drowning.
Last week another worthy of the hobo |
tribe, while intoxicated struck an old gen
tleman with rock. He was summarily |
dealt with. Conductor Tom Collins and |
several railroaders who had noticed the oc-
currence grabbed the fellow and fired him
into the lake. He also proved swimmer, and |
thereby postponed balancing his accounts
with his maker. Some two months ago |
several ladies built shanty and opened up
m alson de joie' near the lake front, |
west of the Railroad hotel. They were told |
to pack their freight, but refused. Upon
their leaving the shack one afternoon for a |
stroll through the avenues of Hope, the
railroad boys procured a rope, block and
tackle and switch engine. The result may
be lmaglned-the house is not there now.
Among Hopes enterprising business
men are to be mentioned: W. J. Quirk,
general merchandise: S. Cohen, merchant
tnilor: f. Nagle, Prescott House and saloon;
Geo. II. Brocklagen. saloon: G. A. Beck
man. BARRIERS, L. Martin, druggists W. l..
Linley, restaurant; H. Barlecke. shoe
maker j. W. Jeannot, Exchange saloon;
Arthur Asselin, Lake View saloon; and w