The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-01
MONTANA PIONEERS.

The Association of the Montana Pio-
neers will hold its reunion this week in
the beautiful city of Missoula. There is
perhaps no city in the state which, with
its surroundings, would convey to the
minds of the argonauts such vivid and
Interesting idea of the development OF
Montana since the days of the states
early settlement. Near Missoula they
will be shown the possibilities of Mon
tana agriculture and horticulture Of
which they never dreamed when first
they crossed the valleys and mountains
in search Of gold. In several directions
from Missoula they will be interested to
note the wonderful extent of the lumber
ing industry. though they little thought
in the days of long ago, as they made
their way through the trackless forest.
that the great trees which then seemed
SO useless would within thirty years play
an important part not only in the build
ing of homes for the people to occupy.
but in maintaining the future great in
like 3oO.00O,0O0 feet of timber year to
hold up the ground in the great caverns
the miners excavate beneath the surface
of the mountains, and the pioneers will
find much to interest them in the great
sawmill towns near Missoula whence the
timber supply is drawn. Missoula itself
will prove attractive to the men who
honor it this week with their presence.
It still has within its limits some re-
minders OF the early days, but it has
grown to be beautiful city. having fine
business blocks, expensive residences,
and every modern convenience which its
aged guests of this week had no knowl-
edge Of when first they blazed the trails
through Hellgate canyon and found the
little missions of the Catholic Fathers
the only reminders of existing civiliza-
ton.
All hail to the Montana pioneers. They
are the salt Of the earth They are the
noblest Romans of the states present
population. They came to Montana in
the days that tried mems souls. They
planted the banner of civilization where
1t had never waved before and began the
work Of making homes for the genera
lions that were to follow. They estab-
Nshed law and instituted courts before
the government was able to do so.
Amidst dangers that would have APP
palled weak men they had crossed the
plains to a region of whose resources
they knew nothing, yet, undaunted, they
searched the river banks and the can
yons of the mountains for gold, and with
such success that in one place they took
out $500, 900 within a few years. in an
other s150.o0o,o0o, and in others lesser
amounts. That gold played an lmpor-
tant part in the history of this nation
at most critical period. Besides it was
q notice to the world that here, in a re-
mote corner of the Union, was the golden
9auu VI piOiAASS, WAcAe LAY COuCcdlcO III
the crevices of the rocks the wealth Of
Ormus and of Ind. Yet it was be-
yond the reach of men unless they pos
sessed hearts and minds that were equal
to every peril, hardship and discourage
ment. Such men were the pioneers
themselves. and such. for many years,
were their successors and their descend
ants. So that if it may be said that
they are self-reliant, courageous, ambl-
tious and full of the love Of liberty and
respect for law, the credit is due to the
pioneers. to the men who faced the perils
and achieved the triumphs of early days,
to the men who crossed unknown noun
tains and steamed up dangerous rivers
to get here, and who now, in the cain,
evening of their lives and with honors
thick upon them, gather together every
year, and always in decreasing num-
bers. to recount their adventures of the
long ago and exchange condolences with
those who shared in every labor Of the
pioneer period.
Possibly Providence had something ia
do with weather conditions during thu
last hour of the huke yacht race today
Nov, L