Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-21
SWEET GRASS COUNTY.

In a state like Montana, that possesses
such a vast abundance of magnificent
scenery and lies adjacent to one of the
seven wonders of the world, Yellowstone
National Park, it seems homogeneous to
mention any particular spot as being
more attractive than any other, yet this
county can justly claim some of the most
attractive scenery in the west, hardly
barring the park in it's grandeur.
In certain portions nature has been
especially lavish in endowment, thus
holding the attention of the art student
at every turn. It's picturesqueness is ever
in evidence, yet the southern portion, in
the ideal oulde region, holds the eye
by it's simple majesty.
Originally the county was a part of the
vast territory ~relinquished by the Grow
Indians, being first under the superVl-
sion of Yellowstone county, which at
that time was of enormous size even for
a. state that boasts liberality in the pro-
portions bounded by county lines.
The first attempt to set it aside as a
county was made in January, 1893, but
Park and Yellowstone counties SO
strongly protested that the bill was de-
feated by only one majority. however.
In 1895 a second and successful effort
was made, and o March 5th, 1898. the
governors signature was placed on the
measure which designated that portion
OF the state known as Sweet Grass u
ty. Its area comprises a strip about 40
miles long, by an average width of 40
miles. is bounded on the north by
Meagher county, on the east by Carbon
and Yellowstone counties, ana south anu
west by Park county.
D1ripr ifs five Years of existence 1T has
Improved wonderfully in the process OF
local government and today owns a
handsome court house, erected at a cost
OF $40, 900. Its seat of justice is Big Tim
Der, which is located as near the geo
graphical center of the county as can be
desired.
Big Timber, the county seat, is rapid
~ forging forward into a worthy met
ropolis of the county. Where but a few
years ago was but a handful of pioneers
is now a community of nearly 1000 in
habitants, a veritable hive of CONNER
cial industry as it cannot as yet boast of
any factory or special manufacturing
| plant, though ere the new year dawns it
| will have a complete wooden mill of no
small capacity in shape, the structure
for which is now nearly completed.
| Nearly every branch of business is
represented, and in some lines, as high
as half a dozen are engaged therein, yet
ali are doing a thriving, prosperous
business. Several of our mercantile
stores are very handsome structures
and eclipse many cities of greater size
The Montana Trading Co.'S block, thu
Ross-Dier Mercantile Co., H. 0. Kellogg
Hamey Bliss, Irvine-budd block, Crane
hotel, and several others are imposing
two-story stone structures, whose archi
tectural n business appearances ar
pleasing, while convenience, light ant
air have been prominent elements il
consideration when erected.
The future of Big Timber cannot b
anything but prosperous. 1t is the ma
tural gateway of the entire county
Every stream in the county flows to
ward his section of the country, Will
all roads are opened toward it as tn
central point. No county in the stat