The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-06

into it daily and 100000 gallons of oold
water are required to reduce 1T to tine
proper temperature for swimmers. The
water is brought into the bath over an
of granite boulders. 1t looks like a nina
turs mountain washed smooth by the rains;
A walk of ten feet surrounds the bath and
100 dressing rooms open from 1t. The tenn
psrature Of the hot springs IL 16O degrees
and the water is similar in analysis to the
famous Hot Springs of Arkansas.
when tho white people who first went to
Montana were afflicted with rheumatism,
dyspepsia or any of the many other diseases,
tho Indians told them of these springs as a
sovereign cure, and explained that they and
their fathers through all the past had look
great medicine god" For days we remained
At this famous resort listening to the music
by night, watching the swimmers. owing
on the lake and strolling in the %neighbor-
hood, We felt 10th to leave so lovely a spot
even for q short trip to other points OF
main here all our vacation we would feel
that our plans had been but partially car
ried ont.
In the middle of the second week a party
of rs planned to visit the warm springs OF
Alhambra and of Boulder, and from there
to go on to the city of Butte. At three
O'Clock in the afternoon we left via the
Northern Pacific railway for Alhambra. At
East Helena we caught sight of the large
smoke-stacks of the smelters and later on
the entire smelling plant was brought to
view. Ore is shipped from all parts OF
lead-colorod metal. At Kirkendall are the
lime rock quarries. The rock is shipped
from here to be used at the smelters. We
glide through a narrow canyon with a
mountain stream flowing quietly at our left.
You will wonder why the water has that
...1lr. r . hos M a., n n -
by the placer miner to assist in separating
the dirt from the gold and the pure noun
tain stream has been converted into an I'M
inviting rivulet. Tho mountains here are
but foothills in comparison with what you
will see further on. Alhamhra is q wee bit
1t has a very good hotel with a bathing
house adjoining, supplied with water from
the hot springs in the immediate vicinity.
With lemons, sugar, tin cups, and a spoon
we set out for the springs, determined to
concoct \ hot lemonade at the very foun-
tainhead. We found the water SO warm we
could scarce drink it. A grotto has been
formed by the bubbling waters and some
humane individual has kindly made a seat
within it so that it forms a lovers retreat
as we'll as being a life-giying fountain. In
q tiny graveyard close by is the grave of q
child that was scalded to death by falling
into one of these hot springs. AS you walk
over the ground and see the miniature hot
geysers steaming and bubbling it would be
q difficult matter to convince you that there
was not q shot placa below" Here are
several charcoal kilns d~eyouring cords upon
cords of the nice mountain pine. The wood
that supplies these kilns is brought by
chutes fifteen to twenty miles long from
away up in the mountains.
Alhambra is a delightfully."- quiet retreat,
and is becoming quite a resort, both for the
health and the pleasure seeker. The
medicinal waters are health-producing, and
the quiet is restful.
for the Boulder hot springs. If you would
have a fine view of the mountains stand on
the back platform of the rear car. Up, up,
up, we 60. Although there are only two
coaches the engine find it hard work to
draw them. Does it disturb YOUR equilibri-
UNI to go over high trestles? If 40, close
your eyes. for you will have numerous
structures of this kind to pass over. some
SO high that looking down you will see
houses that look like pigeon cots, and peo-
pie who resemble Jack the Giant Killer.
Now we round a curve whore it seems as
though a porous plaster would be necessary
to keep the oars on the track. We are still
going up. We look down and ahead,
and note that instead of advancing
we are going back on a different
track but are ascending, are climbing the
mountain as does a snake. When we reach
the summis we can look out and see three
parallel tracks below and we grow dizzy
thinking of what we have gone over. 1t
was a wonderful foresight that projected
the Northern Pacific railroad. The carry
ing out of the conception is little less q
marvel. The difficulties were truly hercu-
lean. How chilly the air feels. The noun
tains round about have on their snowy
head-dresses and it feels as though we were
in the land of Jack Frost. Down we 20
now, the breaks are applied and the throttle
closed. We are going down the mountain
at break neck speed and soon reach level
land.
We see and wonder at the numerous caves
dug into the sides of mountains and ask the
conductor if they are dug there as places of
refuge during cyclones? With q plying
look in his eyes and a smile on his ounten-
ance he tells US they are prospect holes.''
We are no wiser than before, but determine
not to display our Ignorance further.
Boulder valley lies high up on the east
ern slopes of the Rocky mountains, about
midway between the two chief cities of
observation-disclosures and Butte. With the
Elkhorn ang on the north and the Boul-
der range on the south. the basin is we'll
walled in. The clear, cool mountain
stream goes rolling and tumbling through
this CANYON. Below the canyon the rocky
walls recede, and there we fnd the valley.
In the center OF this basin il the pretty
town of Boulder. Three miles down the
valley are tho Boulder Hot Springs-a
group of boiling fountains gushing from
the mountain sides. These springs were
known from the earliest days of Montana.
At that time Montana was spoken of as a
country where beans were a necessity and
dried apples u luxury" Last summer C.
w. Kerrick, of Minneapolis, leased the
prorerty,. including the springs, and
since that timo has erected &
large and handsome hotel. There
ara hfty-two sleeping apartments in the
hodse and twelve of them have private bath
rooms attached. A separate building, fifty
by eighty feet, is called amusement hall.
1t is used for dancing. concerts and theat-
rlcal performances. The plunge bath oc-
cuples q building 32xlo0 feet. and is sup
piled with water from the famous not
springs. The water here as it bubbles from
the ground IS warm enough to cook eggs or
parboil a chicken. The water is in d high
degree medicinal, and no better place can
be found as o resort for people afflicted
with rheumatic roubles or neuralgia. The
hotel offers the best of accommodation for
travellers and the beautiful scenery round
about offers inducements to tourists. The
Boulder river, although a small stream,
loans and dashes along making more noise
than does the mighty Missouri. All these
streams contain the speckied beauties that
so begulle the sportsman.
Two days are spent at this charming re-
sort, then boarding a Montana Central
train we rush on toward Butte. The
scenery grows more rugged and grand, the
mountains, clothed to their tips in vast
pine forests, tower from eight to ten thou
gapQ feet ahDya us Down thai, ,;lo, ,,S