The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-09

lowing us closely as we pass these
scenes In quick succession. find them
equally so.
After leaving Garrison - proudly
named in honor Of William Lloyd Gar
rison, the eminent anti-slavery leader
the railroad passes along the Deer
Lodge river and we get fine views of
mountain scenery, especially on the right
hand, where the snow-mantled peaks
of Mount Powell appear. This entire
region Is noted for the richness and ex-
tent of its placer mines. Southwark
are the Gold Hill mountains. where the
diggings are especially profitable and
the valleys of Rock, Willow and Squaw
creeKs-whose streams, which flow into
the Deer Lodge river. have produced
and are producing large quantities of
fine gold Three miles distant is Gold
creek. where, in 1862. the first discov-
cry of gold was made in Montana; and
at the mouth of the stream we see
enormous bars and powders produced
by the hydraulic and sluice washing in
the region above.l Placer mining Is
now done on this creek by the Indians
and Chinese withpaying results. 1t is
claimed that nine millions of dollars are
annually taken from these creeks.
Remarkable Celebration.
Gold creek in September, 1892, was the
scene of q remarkable celebration-the
uniting Of the two ends of the track Or
two divisions Of the Northern Pacific
railroad. This celebration was attend
ed by the noted railroad magnates of
England, Germany and America. The
eastern officials with their foreign
guests, came from the Unsalted seq in
four immense trains, to join hands with
those who came from the Pacific coast
,1 tr 1,.tv, AhA lnp
pleting the iron band from the Allan
tic to the Pacific oceans Instead of
gold-the iron spike used in the con-
struction of the railroad was used as
the last spike" and was driven by
Henry Willard, then president of the
road.
Near here on the right is the famous
Box canyon, noted for corralling game
of all kinds, also cattle horses, etc,
which, once entering here. are virtually
boxed in, safe from intruders and rare
ly escape. At Drummond is another
branch of the Northern Pacific which
leads to Granite Mountain Mines, thir-
ty-one miles distant, noted for its rich
ore. We were told that vein of ore
there six feet wide and assaying from
1876 ounces to 1000 ounces Of silver to the
ton. was being worked, the output
reaching 100000 per month. Twelve
miles distant on the main line is Bear
mouth. ,239 miles from st. Paul, the en-
trance OF Hell Gate canyon. This Is
not narrow pass as it's name would in
dicate, but a valley two or three miles
wide and some forty miles long to the
junction Of the He'll Gate river with the
Big Blackfoot river. Below the mouth
Of the Little Blackfoot the Deer Lodge
river changes It's name to He'll Gate
hn
rows Its breadth for seven or eight
miles to one mile wide, with mountains
on the right and bold bluffs on the left.
He'll Gate River.
The Bearmouth hills are of. volcanic
nature and Hot Springs are seen along
the He'll Gate river remindful Of the
Bad Lands and even Yellowstone Park
for brilliant formations of pinnacles,
precipices, ETC.. continual changing
scene. He'll Gate river Is a Deep swift
stream and quite clear. except where 1t
receives the muddy, murky waters of
its tributaries, which are always cof-
fee-colored from the gold washings "or
silt" In the mountains. Its largest trib-
utary is Big Blackfoot, which comes
through valley eighty miles long and
at Its junction here very wide. Logs
are floated down the river from the
slopes of the main divide of the Rocky
mountains. We noticed several large
sawmills In He'll Gate canyon, and RATS
of logs that are mainly cut into sup
ports to the roofs Of the various mines
in this section.
A noticeable feature through this
canyon was the wild flowers, so beauti-
ful, so luxuriant, even fragrant. At
some places the forest sweeps down to
the waters edge and sometimes the
slopes were covered with mountain
grasses and wild flowers, red, pink, blue,
purple, in color were seen on all sides
They even peeped out of the ravines
forming the most interesting and beau
tiful floral combination we ever wit
messed. Our ladies not satisfied with
seeing. embraced every opportunity for
piucking them as souvenirs of the trip.
Tho City Of Missoula.
Emerging from this famous canyon.
which is also called the wec:.ern gaiya-
way of the Rocky mountains, we leave
behiTd us the frowrI,ng rocks and pir,e-
clad slopes, the oone-rointed trees ard
beautiful willt flowers, for the magnDa-
cent plain at ehe fcclt of the Blh.er
Root valley; the He'll Gate river ccrn-
binting with the Bitter Root sweeping
majes,l.cally across 1t and now under
the name of the Mlssoula, flows wes.-
ward until 1t enters the Columbia.
Here Is a great opening in the noun
ta'ns of triangular shape, say six miles
or more wide. Here is "a site for a city
unsurpassed. Here Is the city OF Mis-
soufa, nterarlly hemmed in, laid out
and buiit up In perfect harmony with
Its location.
Alighting from the train to stop over,
what do we see? Immediately to tine
northeast is hare hill that Is striking
in its resemblance 'to an animal. 1t Is
a huge elephant, whose hind quarters
form the northern end OF He'll Gate
canyon, around which THE railroad
curved as we emerged from 1t. This
mammoth is fitly named Jumbo. His
head racl.nes ito the north; his trunk
stretches out before him; one eye Is
plainly seen. and one hind shoulder Is
equally visible. He Is gazed at with
ordinations of surprise by every one
Hooking southwark up a valley whosc
gulches are filed with snow Is Lolo
Peak of the Bitter Root range. This
overhangs Lplo Pass. the scene Of many
between Indians and through
which Chief Joseph came in his famous
retreat from General Howard in 1877,
which terminated In the battle of. Bear
Paw mountains. Oct. 5. 1877. where the
brave chief and the rest OF his tribe
wore CAPTURED Within reach of freedom
across che Canadian border. At the
southern extremity of the valley four
miles d.ellar.., on .he banks of the Bit
ter Root river, the range forming the
stands Foilt Msseoula, a
United States MILITARY pcet of three
of cclcred infantry emil q
band; In all 213 officers and men. East
ward Is Mount MGasoula, a perfect frog.- |
ed cone, piercing the sky, while behind |
us are two ridges. the lower one and |
also nearest, ds grass covered. but with |
scarcely q, ttree TO be seen, while farther |
back ard higher up their sides are COW |
cred and black With frs and pines, |
their SUBMITS either being well round |
ed, or high with rocky crags.
A Bustlinv Western Town.
3 Missoula IA beautifully located on the |