The Dickinson press., 1903-02-21
OUR WESTERN LETTER.

the party numbered forty-three, all bona
ide editors and their wives or mothers.
Most of the party being from the eastern
part OF the state, we're much interested
in the stock, coal and brick industries of
the country tributary to Dickinson.
Keen disappointment was felt that ow.
ing to the lateness of the train, darkness
spread its mantle over the fantastic
shapes and brilliant coloring of the
famous Bad Lands-just as the tourists
reached the borders of the land that
Joaquin Miller ono called the "grandest
region on the face OF the globe"
The party awoke IN the 18th to find
the day clear and the air crisp, and the
train passing through the Yellowstone
valley. AS the sun rose higher, the
peaks piled around US glistened and
| glowed and when the Crazy mountains
rose within the range of vision, white and
beautiful in the morning light, more than
one recalled the words of the psalmist:
II will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
from whence cometh nv help" Dis
tances in this rare atmosphere are de-
ceitful and all were surprised to learn
that these mountains seemingly not
more than three miles away were distant
thirty-fve. Livingston, a typical Mon
tana town and a railroad town of some
importance, is situated at the base of the
first ridge of the Rockies and at the bend
of the Yellowstone where that river turns
east as it comes from the National Park,
which is reached by a branch road from
Livingston. Not far from Livingston is
the ranch Of Calamity Jane" who was a
prominent character in the wild
life of the early days and
whose varied experience included
everything from driving a s~tage-coach to
attending a hanging and who could
handle a rifle as we'll and swear as loudly
as any cowboy in the west. The Burling-
ton baggage Car, dynamited by robbers
near Butte on the night of the 18th, was
in the Livingston yards and was a sorry
sight-a complete wreck save the trucks.
The party was somewhat relieved to
learn that the robbers did not modest
passengers and further that the editorial
train passed through Montana by day
light.
Leaving Livingston the grade is very
steep, rising nearly 100 feet in some
IL miles, the highest point on the N. P,
being the western end of Bozeman tun-
mel with al elevation Of $3.50 feet above
sea level. Bozeman on the west side OF
the ridge is a bustling, up-to-date city at
the entrance to the fertile Gallatin val
ley. For several hours the train passes
through a fertile country where irriga-
ton has increased the natural productive.
ness of the soil High g~listening peaks
tower on either side and in the midst OF
this beautiful scenery the run is made to
Montana's capital, fair Helena. 1t is
situated upon a high plateau surrounded
by mountains, on every side-Mount
Helena and other high peaks directly
south of the city, while east, north and
west the snowy ranges are farther away
The view from the front of the Capitol
is grand beyond description.
A committee of the Business Mems
Union met the tourists at the depot and
escorted them in a special car to the
Capitol restaurant, where an elegant
lunch was served. The hour following
was spent in listening to the solons o.
Montana and admiring the beauty anc
utility of the new Capitol-than which il
would be hard to find a better. 1t is
built of native sandstone, is Grecian-
Ionic in style, and cost, with its furnish
ings, 100000. The decorations and
furnishings are especially artistic. His
%torical paintings and those suggestive OF
the development of Montana add much
to the building. Among these are "The
Louisiana Purchase" portraits of the ex
plorers Lewis and Clarke and of the mis-
sionaries, Ravalli and De Smet. Lewis
First Glimpse OF the Rockies, ""Fightinl
the Indians" "The Buffalo Chase" eth
Last of the Buffalo," "The Indian Chief,
"The Trapper." "The Cowboy" ane
"The Miner"-the last being the picture
of Henry Edgar, the locator of the rich
est placer mine in the world-AldeI
Gulch.
In the elegant reception room the part.
individually met Gov. Toole-probabl.
the o popular man in Montana-whe
is interested in the permanent agricul
tural development of the state.
The latter part of the afternoon was &C
cupied by a trip to the great East Helen;
smelter where the ore from the mine
is converted into bars of silver, gold ant
lead and shipped to Chicago to be re
fined and separated.
Helena proper is built on the east an
west sides of a mining gulch and is yer,
far from level. The Capitol is east Q
the main part of the city upon hig'
ground and stands in a measure alone
: A mile and a half fromthe business sec
ton is the N. P. depot and yards an
there is quite a settlement there while a
|. East Helena the smelter has drawn to
gether another settlement. In the bus
ness part of the city is a government
assay office which employs thirteen pee
pie. The precious metal is brought int
the city in bars, nuggets and dust tro1
: Montana, Washington, Idaho and Alask;
The nuggets and dust are put into bla.
furnaces and the molten mass poure
into moulds, which when hardened ar
weighed, the person bringing the bar b
ing given a receipt for the number {
ounces in bullion. The bullion is ne,
taken to the second floor, where two san
Piles are punched from opposite sides {
. the bar, placed under rollers and fla
!. tened into sheets of the thinnest possibl