Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-12-01
BUILT TO ORDER.
A Town in California Modelled
After Pullman, III
AntieiDatfnG . Great Doom In the
Lumber Tracts of sferra County
PLANNED for q Long
Time.

In the last few weeks there has
sprung into existence up in Sierra
ty, close to the Nevada line, another
such town as Putnam city built
upon and around a great industry.
Overton is the name of the town.
compliment to Capt. James b. Overton,
who will be the magnate of the noun
tain municipality-and every incl of its
area, every splinter of its neat, new
buildings belongs to the Hobart estate.
Capt. Overton has been for years the
superintendent of the Sierra Nevada
Wood and Lumber company. which is
one of the Hobart enterprises, and he
will be the representative of the estate
in directing the affairs Of the mountain
city which bears his name.
The town is the result of the pro-
posed exploitation of the immense tim
Der tracts in the vicinity, which were
acquired by the late Walter 5. Hobart
during the last 80 years of his lifetime,
and subsequently by his executors.
They comprise no less than 10000 acres
of white, yellow and pine and fir
all a virgin forest. OF this vast area
of timber 10000 acres are to be cut,
sawed and manufactured, an operation
which it is estimated will occupy the
time of a large force. of men and the
employment of much machinery for 60
years to come. In this area of land il
is estimated there are 1,500, 900 900 feet
of lumber, which will be worked up at
the rate of 5000, 900 feet a year, 49,
100000 feet going into lumber, which
will be marketed principally in Nevada
and ITtah 2 Q0l nnn foat IN frnff hnypS
for the California trade, and the re-
mainder in building Material. all turned
out on the spot. Even when this is done
a tract of 10000 acres will be left for
the benefit of the children Of the pres
ent owners children.
Overton, as it has now taken shape,
was the pet project of the late Mr.. Ho-
bart, and has been carried put thus
far and will be perfected on the lines
which he himself laid down.
The beginning was made last year,
but it has only been within a few weeks
that the town has sprung into exist
ence. Already, however, a broad-gauge
railroad has been built to Truckee on
the Southern Pacific, a distance of seven
miles, as well as a standard spur of
two miles to the timbepSbelt, and seven
miles of narrow-gauge tack are to be
laid to be used as a logging road into
the neighboring hills and mountains.
The new town is a model of its kind
in addition to its industrial Importance.
Every DOT of Ian is owne by the
Hobart estate, which will not sell an
inch, as it desires to maintain complete
control over the place in the interest of
temperance and good order. Not a sa-
loon or drinking place will be permitted
to open it's doors in Overton, and all
that can be provided for the comfort
and health and intellectual improve
ment of the residents, whose number
will approximate 1000, will be carefully
looked out for. Broad, w~ellsewered
streets nave been laid out, running at
right angles. The water system is
ample and complete, and many build
ings rave been completed or are I'M
der way. The water is carried a dis
tance of 2h miles through a six-inch
pipe from a mountain stream, and hy-
drants, with hose attached, are located
throughout the town, and especially in
the yards and buildings used for manu-
featuring purposes, so that the fire risk
is reduced to a minimum. A sawmill.
one of the largest in California, capable
Of turning out $4,000 feet of lumber in
ten hours, has been completed and is
in operation.
A box factory and a factory for the
making of sashes, doors, blinds and
holdings are under way, and will be
finished in a few weeks, residences have
been constructed for the superintend-
emit and the assistant superintendent,
as well as comfortable homes for the
workingmen having families, and bunk
houses for the bachelor contingent. In
addition a two-story hotel will be fin
ished in a few days, a store will be built
where the employees will be BILE to OBJ
tain their supplies at the lowest rates,
and a schoolhouse is projected for the
education of the children.
1t is expected that the box and sash
and blind factories will run from May
l to December 1 each year, while the
sawmiu will be kept in operation
throughout the ~ months, giving en-
ployment to at least 300 men and sup
porting a population of 1000 souls.
The improvements in course of con-
~struction represent an outlay OF $780,
600, and, taking into o the tim
Der lands which are to feed the new
town, the value of the property is esti-
mated at $4,000, OOo.-San Francisco
Chronicle.
why Cats Fall ON Their Feet.
Why does a cat always fall on its feet?