The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-29
SEEN FROM A CUPOLA.
The Beauties Of a Whirl in the Top
Story Of a Freight Caboose. ,
GRAND is NO NAME FOR 1T
"A Journey From Missoula to Hope
Described by a Pencil Pusher
OF the Western Department .se
of the Standard" 80


Missoula, Nov. 2s.-If a man has q
strong constitution and a backbone
with some spring in 1t and desires to
see the country thoroughly. the best
way for him to do IT is to ride in the
cupola of a freight conductors caboose-r
He must be sure before he attempts
the trip that he has the strong consti-
tuition mentioned as q requisite, and
must thoroughly satisfy himself that
there is some degree of elasticity to his
spinal column, else he will regret ere
he has ridden 10 miles that he ever
started There are numerous sudden
shocks incident to such a trip that de-
mand the strength OF constitutions and
the elastic vertebrae are necessary to
guard against a lessenfng in stature OF
some inches from the jolting of the car.
But, IL these requisites are possessed,
and a man can further provide himself
with a well flied lunch basket, he viii
have a most enjoyable trip. 2"
The ride from Missoula to Hope un-
der such conditions rs a delightful one
In all respects. A man may whfrl over
the West End in Pullman and not
see one-hah of what he can If his POINT
of view is the cushioned arm chair In
a caboose cupola. New points of Inv
terest attract his attention and he be-
gins to feel as II he is in new coun-,
try. -- =
The crisp, clear air of Monday morn
ing made the brisk fire in Conductor
Gilbert's caboose particularly agree
able as Standard reported climbed
aboard at daybreak for the run to.
Hope. The conductor said that 1t was
always pleasant to be about at that
hour of the day but 1t was a novel ex-
perience for the reporter and the
strangeness of the hour lent new zest
to the start. AS a novelty 1t was en-
joyable but, as a regular thing. day
break Is just a little early. 1t was
nearly broad daylight when the train.
an extra, pulled out of the yards and
started on it's westward run. The gray
streak which had shown above Hell
Gate canyon had broadened until OBJ
jects at distance in the valley We're
distinct and day had fairly begun.
Swiftly and smoothly the train runs
down to DeSmet, past Weakening ranch
ers and sleepy herds of stock. Beyond
DeSmet, the heavy pull up the noun
| tain begins and, as the cars rumble
over the lofty Marent trestle, the sun
breaks over the mountains and a most
beautiful panorama is spread In the
valley below. Then on, through the
timber, into the little open park at
Evaro and the steep climb Us over. Ann
| other quick noiseless drop down easy
| grades, through the east end of the
reservation, past the agency buildings.
nesting at a distance at the base of
the Jocko mountains, and the, extra
stops at Arlee. The roadbed over the
hill is a good one. Tt must be to insure
economical hauling by the huge noun
tain engines that drag the trains up the
| heavy grade. There has been no jar
thus far, except the steady throb of the
engine as It has toiled up the hill,
Past Indian ranches and the waste
hand of the reserve, the run is an easy
| one and the train soon hapts at Raw
alli where the big hotel and stables
tell of the busy time when the stage
line from here afforded the only means
of communica ton for the people of
Northwestern Montana 1t is quiet
enough now. There Is a little stir
about the station but nothing more.
From Ravalli westward, the track
men have been busy this year repairing
and improving the line which was left
In such bad shape by the floods of "a
The task was a severe one but the
work has been we'll done. Where, a
year ago, there were miles of uneven
track, poorly and hurriedly ballasted
there now extends a first class road
bed. with revised grades and new
bridges. The line Is now in better
shape than ever before. .-L.
AT Perma, the first crossing of the
Clarkis Fork. the old wooden bridge
that spanned the stream has been near
ly removed and the train pulls slowly
and cautiously over the temporary
structure, which Is soon to be replaced
by a modern iron bridge. The ma,
chinery and much of the material fol
the work Is on the ground and so mer
are pushing the job along. 1t viii be q
decided Improvement, as the old bridge
was not altogether secure. 81
From Perma to Horse Plains in th<
early summer of 1894 there was
broad lake. where now stretch acres o.
farm land. The track and roadbe<
were rendered well nigh worthless b,
the floods. But now there is no lak'
and the track is new and solid. Hors'
Plains has undergone TRANSITIONAL
ton this summer. Numerous new
buildings. among them a church ans
the large department store OF Colone
MCGOWAN, have been erected. nev
water system has been put in, whfcl
supplies the principal buildings, an.
the streets have begun TO look metro
polbtan.
, The train moves out of Horse Plains
through the beautiful valley whicl
gives the town its name and past farm
whose appearance indicates thrift an
good ihusbandry. As the valley be
comes narrow and the road winds alon
the rocky bluffs that rise above tn
I river. the traveller sees where the track
men have done their heavy work thu
year. At Eddy. where Russell's mill
. I'm operation. a new siding of standar
? length has been put in and betwee
Z Eddy and Thompson Falls this season.
] work has reduced 1 per cent. grade
several miles long, TO a raise of les
I than 20 feet. Several curves have bee
J eliminated and the conditions Of tn
| sefaa Cd ne IN "a Ira nay
! road for a long distance. = ts- g.,
] At Thompson men and teams ar
a busy grading for the erection of tn
. new round house and coal station an
west of the town a long siding is bt
T ing built and the grade widened. Tn
l company also expects to put In a wate
4 tank at this point. West of Thompso
: not so much has been done in the ma
ter of radical changes, but some {
Z the grades near Belknap have been lie: