The Anaconda standard., 1899-01-06
The GALLATIN VALLEY
The Last Year Has Proved q
Prosperous One.
THE FUTURE is BRIGHT
Some of the Evidences of the Prosperity
of Bozsman and the County OF
Which 1t Is the Seat of
Government.

drawn to close has been a beneficial
one to the Inhabitants of Gallatin
county and changes for the better and
improvements have taken place in a
more marked degree than for many
years past. The good crops universal
ly raised in the valley for the last two
years have enabled the farmers to pay
Off many mortgages, making the fu-
ture brighter and joy of living great
er than they have been previous to
the prosperous years of 1897 and 1893.
So the Inhabitants of the Gallatin have
good reasons to rejoice, for the God
of peace and plenty has smiled upon
them and cheered their weary souls
with His omnipresence.
A short account of the growth of
Bozeman and the Gallatin valley may
not be inopportune at this time,
and the following are some of the prin-
cipal evidences of it:
Bozeman is known throughout the
state as being very old fashioned and
slow, yet she is steadily and surely
increasing in size and taxes. A large
number of new buildings and dwell
ings have been erected in various por-
tons of the town in 1885, the principal
one being that lately completed by
DR.. Featherston, called the Feather
ston block, just west of the city hall,
which is a large brick structure, two
stories high and fitted throughout with
many modern appliances for health
and comfort. and into one of the larg-
est rooms the postoftice has just been
moved. Daniel Maxey has just
finished fitting up the lower portion of
the Armory hall. making practically
another new block adjoining The
Featherston block, and on each street
from one to three dwelling houses
have been built either of brick or wood.
Among the principal improvements is
that of the city hail. if not the most
important. The opera house has been
reseated ON the incline system, the
stage re-arranged and elevated so as
to permit a greater display of scenery
than hitherto, the dressing rooms made
higher and more comfortable and tie
whole interior handsomely decorated
With the other work done on the
building the city has spent several
thousand dollars.
The town now boasts of two sani-
tariums, one being owned by DR.. Fos-
ter and the other by DR.. Chamblss.
It has also tannery, which has been
started since the summer, and steam
laundry is nearly ready to receive
work. The town has been divided into
Improvement districts, of which dis
trict No. / has already been completed,
and the city now owns a high hose
tower close to the city hail. at the top
of which the town bell has been plac-
ed. And last, but not least, and as
showing that the inhabitants are not
slow, the water works have been pur-
chased three times by vote of the
people. and the old company is still
operating the plant and receiving the
receipts for the same.
The most important piece of work
undertaken by the county of Gallatin
this year was the construction of the
West Gallatin road. This practically
commences at the mouth of the canyon
about II miles southwest of Bozenan.
1t then traverses the canyon for about
25 miles to the lower BASIN and then
up Taylor's fork some Is or 90 miles
further on into the heart of the noun
tains, to the very borders of the Yel-
loWstone National park. The scenery
through the canyon is very beautiful,
and the construction of the road is
quite an achievement of the engineers
art. For the greater part of the route
the road runs close beside the West
Gallatin river. In some places, on
Sage Brush Point, for instance, it runs
around projecting mass of rock some
300 feet above the river bed, and as the
81
the sound of the rushing waters comes
up to him, and shuddering, he thinks
of the awful consequences of his team
taking fright, or the happening of
some unlocked for disaster by which
the whole party might be thrown sud
denly on the immense rocks which COW
er the river bed from the beginning TO
the end of the canyon. On Logger
creek the summer hotel of Mrs. Fletch-
er was located last summer This no.
tel is situated about seven miles up
the canyon, in a very picturesque lit
tie nook beside an icy cold mountain
stream. Quite a number of people
from different parts of the state spent
several months of the past summer
there enjoying the pure air and grand
scenery. The most prominent fea-
lures of the road are Sheep Rock and
Storm Castle. AS one passes Squaw
creek, far up to the left, built by ma
ture, the greatest of architects, is
seen the latter of these two interest
ing rocks. And crowning lofty
mountain that stormy fort of ages,
lined with turrets. towers and battle
ments, seems to bid defiance to the
elements. Many such grand scenes
are to be found on this road of so
miles. which cost the county of Gala
tin the sum of about $4,000 and took
the greater part of the year to COM
plete.
number of surveys have been made
through the valley during the last is
months, presumably by a prospective
railway company, and in February last
F. A. Hall, w. r. Ritchie and w. w.
D. Turner filed the articles of incor-
poration of the Gallatin Railroad COM
pany, and the company has nearly
completed nine miles of railroad from
the top of the Bozeman range to Trail
creek. This little branch opens up the
extensive coal mines of Trail creek,
whose unsurpassed product will soon
be shipped to all parts of Montana
Idaho and probably Washington. Dur
ing the month of December last two
of the same company filed articles of
Incorporation with the secretary of
state for the Yellowstone Park rail
way. The company has a capital cf
100000. of which $4,000 has already
been paid.
This railroad. according to the arti-
cles of Incorporation, is to commence
at q point near Brisben in Park coun-
ty, Montana, and run by the way of