The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-31

The coach for White Sulphur Springs i.
picturesque, il not as elegant as n Contra
Park drag. as it stands before the door o.
the Townsend hotel. Six we'll fod and en-
ergetic horses are ranged in two lines aheaf
OF tho canvas-covered box. The POOL il
filled with trunks, bags and boxes tied Will
endless cords. The pile continues to the
top of tho coach until but one scat is left
1t is much sought for rs the most comfort.
able place on the coach. Within ak passsn.
gers are found on the leather padded seats
They are wrapped in heavy oyercoats, fol
the air on the divide is chilly and an over
coat will prove a very comfortable article
of clothing until the Smith River valley is
reached. Uncle SANS bag is caught from
the postofdce, the drivers rough bas'
voice calls ''all aboard" and with
a chirp to the leaders and y
lash Of the whip we roll down the road for
the springs. 1t is a pretty sogne. About
IN every side like a rugged chain are the
mountains. Old Badly, snow-capped and
alone in its lofty grandeur, stands like q
great giant over the others. Recent rains
awe brought a dainty covering Of verdure
"AASA kAA0SCAAo ~ - NSANCu AASOA phSU
the fast warming rays of the morning sun.
In quiet contrast il the darker green Of the
thousand stately pines on the hill sides. AS
the coach rattles on, the meadows of the
valley, rich with promises of harvest, add
to the effect. The ranches along Deep
creek fairly shine with prosperity. The
fields are clothed with early crops. Here
and there a we'll arranged irriGating ditch
catches water from the stream ready
for future use. The early spring
rains have thus far made artificial
irrigation useless, but with the heat of sum
NOR the welcome waters of the creek will be
there to continue the work. The stage stops
for a moment, and Il busy ranchman finds
time to grow enthusiastic over the results
of irrigation SO far as his experience goes.
Then the long climb commencesi in earnest
and soon we are in the heart of the Little
Rockies. The coach threads its way over
a good road constructed under many diff
c%ulties. At one place it fairly hangs over
the mountain side, and we gaze over the
narrow edge down a perpendicular wall
800 feet high from the swift waters of 'the
busy little stream below. Then an easy
grade is reached and the six animals dash
down into the canyon beneath. In the dis
lance, miles beyond, the road appears like
a new picture with Old Badly al
ways in tho background. 1t is q
new canyon more rugged than the
others; another mountain with its own pic
turesqus features ora new stream. Here
and there is u hole to tell of q prospector's
pass the prospector himself headed for the
now famous camp of Castle or one of the
many smaller camps within a nelghboring
radius. Londed with blankets and pick
md dressed i'll miners costume, he is a
picturesque figure. 1t is noticed that we
find no miners returning. The procession
moves but one way in this country. AT
noon the coach whirls down the mountain
side into a pretty glen, where we stop for
dinner. AS we stop the coaches from White
Sulphur and Castle arrive and discharge
their passengers for an hours rest. The
scene reminds one of an old picture of Eng
lish coaching days. The drivers stand to-
changing professional gossip and
the passengers become acquainted
without .tormalities. Several commercial
travellers OH their way home from the north
talk of improved trade and hattering pros
poets for fall. One of them has visited
White sulphur Springs and Castle for the
FIRST time and he can hardly find words to
express his enthusiasm over the future of
these two towns. Dinner is finally over,
fresh cigars are lighted and the coaches
scatter to different destinations. 1t is Il
hard climb to the top of the range. The
horses toll from one hill to another until
tbs next station is reached. Here the ami
mails ara glad to exchange places with those
who have enjoyed a days rest. While the
change is being made the passengers are
enjoying n view unusual in this altitude
i'll May. They see q scurrylng of clouds
and y gathering mist on the mountain tops
a few miles away. This spreads
n gray mantle and then a
few fakes Of sno find their way to the
road. Another minute and the weather.
beaten old coach is wrapped in a vigorous
snow storm which lasts but a few minutes.
The altitude here is higher than on any
other road in Montana, and as q conse-
Guence, the atmosphere is decidedly chilly.
The chilliness. however, quickly wears
away with the downward descent. The top
of the divide ~ reached II few miles from
the station. The distance is quickly COW
cred, for the road il fairly level.
Than another hill is turned, and, 10! and
behold, what a panorama awaits the trav-
eler's eye.
Like the drawing of 4 curtain the valley
of the Smith river appears as . vision of
prosperity. The view from this
mountain height is worth the fatigue of Il
DOZEN journeys like this. For twenty miles
in either direction the valley stretches its
vcrdure before ones vision. It's width varies
from q few miles to the foot hills beyond.
The river, hedged by banks of willows,
threads it's way tor miles through the pref
test valley in all Montana. 1t fairly smiles
with evidences of prosperity. The ground
where antelope were grazing a few years
ago il now dotted with ranches and trans
formed into ono of the richest agricultural
sections in Montana. In a direct line from
tho divide ia the oity of White Su! phur
Springs. 1t Is act in the valley like a gem
a velvet cushion.