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

The next day we return to Helena, anu
rest ourselves preparatory to making al
ascent of Mount Helena or the morrow.
At eight o'clock in the morning, lunch
basket in hand, We leave the hotel and take
the motor to the nearest point for beginning
our climb. We were to go up on the west
side and descend to the city. Leisurely
we make the ascent. stopping now and then
to explore some cave. to look
evergreen. Those perpendicular rocks that
would seem but a slight obstruction to a
person looking at them from below, are in
reality several feet in height and cannot be
s~urmounted. We Jake a circuitous path
and at the end of three hours we have
reached the summit and selected a shady
spot whereon to pitch our camp. The
lunch basket is Invested of it's contents and
as We sit and MUNICH sandwiches, we talk
over our Montana experiences. After the
lunch is disposed of we stand up and take
horizon is bounded by the Rockies which
ever way we turn. In graceful fluctuations
they rise from the valley below, presenting
activities so gentle that natural roads
run over them by easy grades at
many points. The more lofty peaks
are covered with snow. the
stands out in bold relief and running toward
it like a broad ribbon is the wagon road
leading to the Gate of the Mountains To
the north and at the base of the mountains
lies a most beautiful valley studded with
fine ranches, stock farms and pleasant
homes. Although seemingly but a narrow
strip it is twenty-five miles in width. The
large building you see is the Montana uni
~versity, a short distance west of it is the
poor house and its adjoining buildings.
Looking to the west and back of US are the
Broadwater plunge, the hotel and the pretty
little lake. Two street car lines and the two
railroad tracks lie in hat direction. The
large brewery and its pleasure park seem
but a stones throw from us.
At our very feet spreads out before us the
city of Helena. 1t covers ground enough
for a second Chicago but unlike that great
city the people here have plenty of breath
ing room. The court house towers above
its sister buildings and we can but admire
is composed. The magnificent dwellings, the
fine business blocks, and the comfortable
homes all impress us with the wealth and
stability of this gem of the mountains. To
the east are seen the smoke stacks of the
East Helena smelter and upon a miniature
easterly addition of Helena. The houses
here are all less than a year old, but there
have many handsome ones been erected.
To the south is the city reservoir. How
cool the water looks to Us us we stand look
ing down into it and longing for a drink of
the crystal fluid. In the same
direction is Chinatown, with its nu-
merous smoky shops, laundries, and
vegetable gardens, and over and above us is
heavens vast dome of liquid blue. The
suns slanting rays fall across our pathway
we silently follow the road leading down
ward, here and there lighting up some large
bowlder as with a flame of FURNISHED gold
and casting the opposite side in the dark
est of shadows. How like our lives it
seemed, the shadow ever accompanying the
sunshine.
Tirel. at last we reach the city and go
to a restaurant fo- supper, after which we
take the electric car for our hotel.
We had been told of the pretty drive to
the old mining town of U%nionville. so en-
gage a carriage for thenext day. The drive
is we'll worth your trouble. 1t is a constant
delight to you the entire way, a distance of
four miles. 1t is through a deep CANYON.
the road in most places SO narrow that
should you meet a carriage coming from
the opposite direction, one of the vehicles
would have to roll over the e~mbankmeut to
allow the other to pass. A great part of
this canyon was at II time placer-mined,
and here and there can be seen tho fumes
they used and mining tools that have out
lived their usefulness. A tiny stream
meanders through the gorge, and cattle nre
seen browsing AVA up the mountain sides.
Roses and sweet syrinia skirt tho roadway,
and ground squirrels run across the path
30 tame they scarce get out of your way.
KNOXVILLE was once one of the richest
mining camps about Helena. Here were
the famous Whit!atch mines. 1t is now
almost deserted. The majority of the
houses are log shacks, with their outer
walls whitewashed.