The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-10

which is 102 miles west of Missoula,
near the Idaho State line, situated on
the western slope of the Rocky Noun
tains, altitude and climate being about
the same as that of Oakland. under
stand it is very healthy place, in fact
it proves that for itself as there is
scarcely any sickness here at all. Dur
ing the latter part of the month of
June and the whole of July the mosqui-
toes are very much in evidence. These
little pests are terribly bothersone,
especially in the evening. You can
keep them off your face by moving your
hands before it, but that is not the only
place they try to bore. Should you be
wearing pair of low cut shoes they
seem to be aware of the fact that they
can get in their good work around the
ankles My ankles were swollen to
about twice their normal size nearly all
the time during the mosquito season.
Thompson Falls is the county seat of
Sanders, which was formerly part of
Missoula county. The location of this
town, which has population of about
200, is indeed beautiful, almost sur
rounded by two chains of bills through
which runs the Clarks Fork of the
Columbia River. As this river turns in
an abrupt curve several hundred lizards
west of here it transposes its self into a
very pretty group of water falls some
thing similar TO the Swallow Falls of
Garrett county, although much larger
Running parallel on both sides of the
river can be seen a very imposing chain
of cliffs which extend down the river
for some little distance.
l have become acquainted with nearly
all the people of Thompson Falls, and |
can hardly find words appropriate to ex-
press my qualification upon the way |,
perfect stranger, haye been treated
by them In fact | find nearly all the
people in the west are sociable and
kind, some perhaps little rough, but
take them on whole they are a fine
class of people
The hills which surround Thompson
Falls are considered very fine hunting
grounds, there being plenty of game
such as the black bear, mountain lions,
wild cats and deer; also fowl of num-
erous kinds. While | pen these few
lines during the lonely hours of this
morning | can hear the howl of the
coyote in the hills.
There is also some very fine fishing in
Montana. All the brooks whose waters
bable down the mountain sides are fair
ly alive with fine brook trout. 1t is not
considered anything for a person to 90
out and catch rs or 100 of these trout
ranging from to IS inches, and the
beauty of this fishing is that the fly
hook is used altogether which is much
handler than by using angle worms. |
have been out fishing on several oc-
casions and have caught some Of these
trout, the largest being about l6 inches.
Ny what gallant fight this large
trout did make. In the larger streams
| there can also be found what Is known
as the Dolly Warden trout, some Of the
largest weighing 25 to 80 pounds. To
land these fish it is necessary to shoot
them first as they make an awful fight
for their life. Several Sundays age
Sunday being great fishing day here)
two parties came in with a catch of ten
Of these trout which was enough fish tc
feed dozen good sized families several
days.
In conclusion will say, l like this
Northwestern Country very much al.
though have experienced but three
months of it. Am taking in all l car
see, and am having bully time. Coulc
hardly think of returning east for g
year or so at least
BERNARD GONDER.
Thompson Falls, Mont, Sept. %, 1907
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