The sun., 1896-01-19
WHEN FLOUR WAS SCARCE.


IRON the Helena Independent
There is q marked difference between tho
prico of -four to-day and the point IL reached
one season in the early days In Montana. There
are not so very many residents Of the Territory
who were here when flour sold for $40 per 90
pounds one day and jumped to slOO per 100
pounds the next day, going even higher subse-
auently. Those who were in the Territory re-
member that the people took the law in their
own hands, as they had a way Of doing in grave
emergencies. and that. after what was termed
by the clroniclers of that period " flour riot"
the price came down again. Flour riots are no
The time referred to was the spring OF 1865,
and the place was Nirginia City. which was then
the principal city Of the Territory. The preced-
ing winter had been one Of remarkably deep
snow and cold weather. The chinook winds
were frozen out, apparently. for they did not
when spring came freighting between the Ter
ritory and salt Lake City was almost suspended
River range that it was almost impossible for
the heavily laden trains to cross at all. One
River divide. but the snow was deep and the
cold intense. The oxen could find no feed and
they perish ed by the scores where they were.
In the mean time provisions were getting
came to be honrdcd like gold dust, and was
almost as precious. Potatoes. beans. and all the
substitutes for flour were almost exhausted. A
good proportion OF the people were then living
cents per pound, and all other provisions were
held at proport ionatrly high prices.
The latter part OF February saw the the big rise in
100. and then it climbed TO 81 90 per 100 pounds
in another day. That was in gold. too. For q
few days the price stood at 500. and then 1t
In short time it had reached slbo per 100
pounds There was no fixed price during that
time. but it fiuctunted a. rumors OF abundance
or the reverse became rife on the streets. A
portion OF the time ne It could not be purchased for
people discussing the situation. and grave faces
were in every knot on street corner. for the
most people. and what to do was tho problem OF
the hour. There were rumors that designing
men had gotten up -four corner, and deep NUT
tcrinvs were heard against the men who did IT,
A few days after the last rise word was flashed
up, and down the Eulch that the citizens were @
crowd did meet in Leviathan Hall: X. $; Blake
was elected Chairman. Hugh McQuaid was
.he meeting proceeded without one, The people
formed line. and with flour sack nailed TO ga
street. amid considerable confusion.
The impression got abroad then. and there re-
saekea The In line Of march did
determined. and as yet there had been no init
nation eHcent in the hall. OF the purpose OF the
gathering. They marched up and down Wal
lace street. During tho beginning Of the de-
monstration three men went into a clothing
store and look ed at a suit OF clothes.
III we see what wewant We'll take it along.
guess" one of the trio remarked carelessly;
They were men who proposed to take advan-
but they found they had made mistake One
of the hs ass M ns seV
vo!vtr. | he stepped forward and covered the
"Gentemen. this is uprising to get a
reasonable amount OF flour for reasonable
The frs: man caught stealing will be shot or
hanged. and none such Will escape
of the men addressed. and the word went
around quickly that there would be no mercy
for the first man ma, WHO was caught stealing. .,o
in the city addressed the crowd, advising an
orderly search for flour. and recommending that
found. after making an equitable division of IT
with the men in whose possession y might be
parties were organic izcd to search in stores and
cellars for hidden flour
In some manner n rumor went out It was a
day OF rumOrs-tlat n wagon load OF Hour had
gone in the direction of Col. Sanders's and one
small party called at the Colonel's house while
errand. Mrs. Sanders was at home: She bnde
them search the premises, and they did. but not
Other houses were visited. and armed guards
watched the roads leading into and out OF the
ctyit3 see that not u wagon load should rf bo
loaded wagons were over hauled and taken back
to Virginia City
Taylor. Thompson g. 60. had supply in their
store. They caused the d ,ois 10 be barr icaded
and placed men behind the sacks. armed with
| doubled barrelrd shotrun-. Other stores were
harricaded. and preparations were made to
! resist t.,n patrols. But the searchcrs made II
plain that they did not want to have any trouble
| and in some instances compromises were
| effected. The -four was gathered from all parts
| of the city and stored in I.evathan Hall. The
| hiding places were many. There was flour
under hay stacks and in cellars und beneath
the raftcrs of buildings, but the srarchrrs were
| keen wits hunger, as they fnunl til" most Of 1t.
| go II is said. Every place where more than one
sack was found the surplus was taken away to
! the common warehouse.
The committee met ter the search had been
! almost completed. mud decided to allow the
| owners of tltc hour $50 per 100 pounds which
| it WAS voted was profit enough. Men formed In
| line aud received eighteen pounds to each man
/ at the same price paid the owners. After a few
| hours the supply was rrduced 20 ten pounds {,
! the man. but even then the supply did not hold
| out. and many went away disappointed.
4 party OF miners yo!unt cred to go out to the
! Snake River and try to shovel II path through
| for one Of the pack train, hut the men returned
| discouraged and unsuccessful.
| The supply grew scarccr and career. and foI
| n while fears OF starvat on were expressed. But
! the SHOWS melted early, and at last the Joyous
! news was shouted through the streets that II
| -four train was 81 wly moving up the gulch
! And then, when the uric dropped to $40 pc
! sack, men paid the price checrfully, and thought
| II was ms cheap hs dirt.
| Locating tho Trouble.
| From, he Chicago Bdi'v Tribune
l -. l.t. t,t IL .-A