Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-07-05
EDITORIAL LETTER.


/ Proceeding up the Yellowstone W
pass . beautiful irrigated valley a
Billings and then soon catch sight o
the snow capped mountains, and b.
the time we reach Livingstone ar
right among them. Coming in from
the plains and standing in the presenc'
Of these silent witnesses of nature
grandeur one feels like taking Of hi
hat TO them. To the left the road
plunges into q canyon leading up t.
Yellowstone Park. We kept to thu
right passing Bozeman and through
the beautiful valley Of the Gallatin
These celebrated valleys are not sc
wonderful in themselves, but are bean
tiful and rich in comparison with the
surrounding country. While the noun
tains and plains constitute grand seen
cry, as an agricultural REGION they are
failure. But this valley mostly irri.
gated, blooms with bountiful crops.
Passing down the valley we come to
the three forks of the Missouri river.
Here is where Lewis and Clark, in 1904,
in exploring this country. couldn't tell
which Of the three was the largest
stream, SO dropped the name Missouri
and named the rivers Jefferson, Madi-
son and Gallatin after the president
and two leading members Of his cabi.
net. History says they were enraptured
with the beauty Of this valley, surround
ed Is it was by snow-covered noun
tains,
Although we have been going up
most Of the time since leaving Fargo,
Eow we begin to climb in earnest,
another engine being put on. 1t is the
Rocky Mountain range that confronts
our progress. The train twists and the
wheels creak as for miles we slowly
wind our way up the mountain sides.
Now we cross trestle 226 feet high
and loqk down on little farms in the
valley below and observe the buildings
look like play things. Now we notice
the air begins to lack little in that
satisfying quality that fills and substa-
ins the lungs. Here we see some Of
natures big masonry, tremendous
blocts Of stone reared up on edge and
placed in every grotesque way, as ii
mOcking at rules and playing pranks
with its ponderous forces and materials
At last at an elevation above the ses
of about two miles we enter a long
tunnel and when we come ont we arr
where the waters run to the Pacific
Then commences rapid down grade
run of several miles. Soon we are il
sight of Butte. The view obtained o.
this city and Of surrounding valley,
form distance is wonderful.
Butte is the greatest exclusiyel.
mining and smelling city in the United
States. 1t claims 10000 people AMI
its industries along these two lines are
very great. Copper is the chef pro-
aucs though some silver and gold ar
obtained. The city is on mountain
side and has mines and shelters al
around it. The poisonous fumes from
the big smelters keep the grass, tree'
and Vegetation dead, while the smoke
and dust add to the discomfort. TIL,
city is unattractive except as being
curious. People live there to Obtain
employment and to make money. o
course the city now has modern con
veniences and life there is more tolera
BILE than formerly. Law and order ar
we'll enforced and the place hardl.
deserves its reputation as o wide oper
town. It is no worse than many othel
cities Of its size in the country.
North west of Butte few miles i
Anaconda, a city of Il, 900 people. Thi
is almost exclusively smelling city
II has the greatest copper reineries il
the world. Thousands Of tons Of cop
per ore 60 through these smelters eaci
day. The city is practically owned by
the Anaconda company. They have
company stores and require their EN-
ployes to trade with them. They owl
the houses and rent them to the mel
who work for them, and SO PRACTICAL.
get everything. The noted DAILY is {
chief stakeholder and the manager o
the Anaconda properties. Mr.. Clark
would-be senator, is the chief capitals
Of Butte. Their rivalry in busines
and in o political way keep things from
becoming monotonous in Montana
They are democrats and each tries Il
down the other. First one succeed
and then the other, while the republi
cans look on and say ''sic' EN-" The dem
ocratic state convention was held tn,
day befor I reached Butte and its echoe
were still in the hotel corridors. Tn,
DAILY faction had the majority Of TIN
state committee and put police at TIN
convention hall doors to keep out som,
Of the Clark contesting delegates. Thu
result was such hot time that tn,
Clark folks withdrew and two separat,