The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-07-09
BERNARD GONDER IN
BUTTE. MONTANA.
He Writes An Interesting Description
Of that Part of the Country.
Butte, Mont, June q, 1908.

To the Editor of The Republican:
DEAR SIR 1t is now one year since
| left the county seat of old Garrett and
within my heart there still fingers that
feeling of strong affection for my home
town and my many Oakland friends,
but one years existence in this great
state Of the northwest (Montana) has
caused me to have a very strong desire
to make it my permanent place of
abode.
! am now located IN Butte, which is
the largest of Montana cities and also
the largest mining town in the world,
employing over ten thousand persons in
that industry alone, which is principally
confined to copper mining although there
are few valuable gold and silver mines.
The Anaconda Copper mines are located
here, the copper production being about
one half of that in the United States.
The mines are all shaft mines. some
having a depth of nearly three thousand
feet. A great number of these mines
are located in the heart of the city.
There is virtually nothing here but
mining. Nearly all the inhabitants are
connected directly or indirectly with the
mines Most western towns devoted to
mineral interests are in some degree
centers for sheep, cattle or agricultural
interests Butte has none of these in
terests. Virtually no green thing of
any sort grows anywhere in or around
Butte. This condition is due in part to
the natural dryness of the soil: in part
to the altitude, which is about $500 feet,
but chiefly to the fumes of the smelters.
Even the trees which once covered the
mountains have disappeared leaving
everywhere the rough, SCARED, barren
earth
The city is the trade and iobbing CEN
ter for Southern and Western Montana.
1t has an extensive ,troly system, gas
and electric light. | know Of no place
where the laboring men get as good
wages as they do here This is owing
to organized labor. All classes of
labor are organized in Butte, and they
stick together, too. Even the news
boys on the streets have a Union.
However, living is very high in Butte.
Even though one gets good wages here
it is about all he can DO to make both
ends meet.
Butte is very lively town. One can
find all kinds Of amusements here. The
streets are crowded with people during
all hours of the night.
Across the rugged snow capped
mountains, IS miles due north of Butte,
there lies the beautiful capital city
(Helena) with her u, 900 inhabitants.
Helena is on the main line of the North
ern Pacific and Great Northern Rail
ways and is surrounded on all sides by
the Rocky Mountains On the south
and west the mountains are within two
miles of the city while to the north
there is a wide valley between the city
and the foot hills and the same conditions
exist on the east. The city is protected
by severe wind storms and in the winter
there is a difference of temperature be-
tween the city and the mountains of
from 10 to 20 degrees The country
tributary to the city is rich in both
mineral and agricultural resources. The
mines are principally gold producing
while the products of the farms are
cereals and the ordinary vegetables.
Tributary to the city are large areas
devoted to stock raising.
Helena is noted as the richest city per
capita not only in Montana but in the
entire Rocky mountain country. 1t is
principally city Of homes. Cattlemen.
miners and others engaged in industries
elsewhere in Montana have their resi-
in Helena because Of the church, school
and social attractions. Helena is the
best built city in the state Its hotels,
office buildings, mercantile establish
ments and private residences being
equal to any found in cities of 100, 600
in the east. Twelve miles from Helena
on the Missouri River is located the
plant of the Missouri River Electric
Light and Power Co. This company
furnishes electric power for operating
the street cars and lighting the city of
Helena, and for manufacturing pur-
poses. 1t also transmits electric power
to Butte for the mines, a distance of
hundred miles. Four miles from Helena
is located the smelter of the American
Smelling and Refining Co. Just west
of Helena is the famous Broadwater
Park at which place can be found the
largest Natatorium in the world which
many pleasure seekers take advantage
of during the summers by bathing in
the warm mineral water supplied by
large mineral springs nearby.
Following the Northern Pacific Ry.,
west down the slope of the Rockies
from Helena 125 miles, one comes to
Missoula. Missoula, known as the
Garden City," lies close to the pictur-
esque He'll Gate Canyon thro which the
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