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

As day by day the heavily laden passen-
ger trains go whirling past our doors how
oft the thought arises, who are these
people; whence their destnation2 II is
natural to wish to be one of the number,
that the eye may rest on things new. the
mind be fed from sources unknown to it.
This restlessness is strongest in the heat
and dust of summer, when social matters
and business are at an ebb. If your long
ings are for sight of the lofty peaks of
the Rockies and its beautiful valleys, come
with us.
ITO the kingdom Of the west wind
To the portals of the sunset
Why go farther than Montana for rest,
recreation and for physical and mental de-
velopment? Here you will find all the di-
versities of nature, made still more interest
ing by the broad-minded, generous and
intelligent people you will meet.
With Helena - our objective point and
the focus from which we would radiate, we
left st. Paul for q summer among the
Rockies. Fast as steam could propeI us We
sped across the broad prairies of Mime
sofa and Dakota, glad even to enter the
'bad lands," for the eye tires of the
vast sea of green between st. Paul and
western Dakota. Still ON we go and to-
ward sunset we find ourselves fairly in
Montana at Glendive and following the
windings of the Yellowstone. Our first
glimpse of that wonderful stream was at
sunset, as the rays of the setting sun were
reflected from each rippling wave. The
train wound around the hills and the MANY
|
seem as though the rear car
was going ahead of the engine, ever
following the graceful curves of that beau
| tiful but treaoherous river. The last faint
ray has left the western sky and with a sigh
we draw the curtain and turn toward our
companion for chat and an interchange
of impressions which these new scenes have
had upon US till it is time to "turn
in." After several hours of good.
sound sleep we awake and are soon
out of bed. We are still following
the Yellowstone, the first beams of the sun
are reaching ups ard, wteathing the tops of
yon snow-capped peaks with halo of gol-
den light. AS the train rushes along we
| see the tiny log cabins, or ''shacks" as
westerners style them. standing at the base
of some mountain. and looking like mere
ant-hill in comparison with the oyerhans-
ing cliff.
The poor lone rancher has kindled fire,
and is preparing his early breakfast. In
fancy we catch the appeti2ing smell of
mountain trout and wish we could assist
the cook in disposing of his solitary NEAL
The empty bottles along the track speak
volumes, and their companions, tho tin
cans, showed us as forcibly as all else that
westward the course of empire takes it's
wav.," for bottles and tin cans
are considered essentials by civilized man
travelling in an unknown region, throats
need to be irrigated as we'll as the land. and
tin cans arc but ai,-proof jackets for ma
terlals that sustain and nourish. During
tho night we have passed through Big Horn
tunnel, left Miles City and Fort keogh be-
hind. Forsythe. with its car shops and
round house, and Custer will have to await
our return trip to be seen by us. At day
| light we Puff into Billings, and tho first
| good view of tho surrounding mountains,
the Big SNOWY, is here met with. 10 the
ditch thirty-niue miles long, and capable
of watering 100000 acres of land. Still the
Yellowstone is with us, turbid and rapid
from the yast amount of rain that has fall
en all along its course during the spring.
Beautiful indeed is its entire valley,
sprinkled, with gorgeous wild flow
ers, and the mountains green to
their very tops At times u mountain comes
to the very edge of the river and We wonder
how il will be possible for us to get around
it; but before the thought has scarcely
taken shape We have rounded the curve and
looking back see the black edge ribbon
hugCing the mountain on ono side and the
river on the other. Look off to the south
east and see the snow capped peaks of the
Boulder mountains. How almost forbid
ding they look against the fresh, rich green
OF tho valleys below, but what a wonderful
back ground they make. Here are fine
ranches, vast cattle and sheep ranges and
furnishing towns. One OF the health re-
sorts of Montana lies to the lsft-the Hun
ter's Hot Springs These are renowned for
their medicinal properties and are resorted
to by many pleasure seekers as we'll IA in
yalids. At eight II. IN. the train drew into
Livingston.
This little town nestles among the Belt
range of mountains, while away off in the
distance are tho lofty 81 ow- capped Crazies.
At this point We take the branch road lead--
ing 10 Cihlibur and the Yellowstone park.
ID took us through the gate of the Paradise
valley, covered with broad fields of millet,
wheat, oats and rye. IL ia hard for us to
realize that wo are 50 near the now world
famous National park. 1t has been the
goal of our ambition for several years and
now that ambition is to be gratified, We are