Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-08-05

gus NOuulS Argus, lue name
then being the Mineral Argus. Fell &
Vrooman. editors and T-oprietors.
For this anniversary number the
pleasant task of giving some reminis-
ences connected with this project
has been assigned to me. | say pleas
ait task because Notwithstanding the
hardships and labor incident to estab-
fishing the Argus, 1t affords me pleas
ure to recall the many happy hours
spent in the then new mining camp
and the names of the many friends,
some living and some dead. who gave
us aid and encouragement in the en-
terprise.
Heard From Afar.
Having heard of the wonderful re-
sources and great possibilities of Mon
tana determined to visit the treas
ure state. | reached Billings about
the 9Th of May, 1888, coming from
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here join
ed Mr.. Charles S. Fell, with whom
had worked in the mechanical depart
ment of the Minneapolis Tribune.
NJ. Fell had preceded me by one
year, having come west to assist n
the establishment of what was then
called the Billings Herald, the first
paper to be published IN what is now
Yellowstone county.
Townsend Selected.
Mr.. Fell was anxious to embark in
the newspaper business and in look
ing over the field had selected Towns
end now the county seat of Broad
water county, as the most available
and inviting field. The Northern Pa
cific railroad was completed to Gala
tin City at that time and Townsend,
some fifty miles beyond, was known
only as "tent town." Mr.. Fell hav-
ing business which called him to Min
neapolis, | started for Townsend, after
being well supplied with testimonials,
recommendations and letters of intro
duction. Upon reaching Bozeman l
concluded to stop over a day and
make further inquiry concerning my
objective point. From the Hon. Sam
Langhorn, who that year had in part
nership with Mr.. Yerkes, established
the Bozeman Chronicle, received
anything but favorable impression
of Townsend. In his opinion it was
too near Helena to amount to much.
arrived at the same conclusion
quickly. In fact | was in mood 20
receive most cordially anything dis
couraging about the tent town. Re-
naming in Bozeman until the follow
ing morning | took the east bound
train. and for some reason forgot 10
get off until | reached Fargo. Here
in a few days. was Joined by Mr..
Fell on his return west. He still had
faith that a good opening for news
paper could be found in Montana and
the next day proceeded on his way
to Billings.
First Visit to MAIDEN.
After remaining there for few
DAYS he started for Maiden in the
interest of the Billings Herald. Up
on reaching the camp he found things
lively and prospects good. He also
soon learned that the citizens were
anxious for a newspaper. He gave
them assurance that they could have
one inside of thirty days. Having
taken the initiatory steps he hastene1
eastward, stopping a day at Fargo.
where the partnership papers of Fell
& Vrooman were drawn up and sigu-
ed.
Returning to Montana our first stop
was at Junction City. the eastern ter
minus of the Maiden and Fort Magin-
mis- stage line. Here we secured
about a dozen subscribers and three
or four good paying advertisements
for the Argus. 1t was here that the
writer got his first experience with
what the "tenderfoot' called "eXtor-
tonae prices" OR a ride of half
a mile in a blackboard, from Custer
station. and a ride IN a row boat
across the Yellowstone river at june
tion City a charge of 81 was made
for two. protested. but being as
sured by my partner. who had be-
come used to it," that the price was
"all right" | quickly disgorged. juno
ton City was a typical Montana
trading point in those days and, like
most places a. that time. IL did the
most business after the sun went
down. 1t had its quota of gamblers
and FOUNDERS but for all that 1t con-
tanned men of integrity and charac-
ter and open-handed in their gener-
osity. Ii is still on the map and en-
joying its share of prosperity.
Overland to Maiden.
Catching a freight train the follow
ing day we proceeded to Billings,
where after a stay of a day or two,
during which time we secured more
advertisers and subscribers, we took
the stage for Maiden-a ride Of over
$50 miles-there being three young