The Daily Missoulian., 1914-05-25
CHANGES ARE MANY
AT SALTESE TOWN
Development Has Transformed the Country That Old
Timers Miss Many Landmarks When They Revisit
Old Scenes in the Surrounding Region.

Ogn1ze the country. 1t was then dense
ly wooded, covered with a virgin for
est Of white pine, tamarack, fir and
cedar. The road to the Last Chance
and Bryan mines, built by private en-
terprise, was cut through this fores,
and SO dense was the growth that the
sun seldom penetrated to the roads
Getting outside the road and regular
beaten trails, was almost impossible
and required much hard labor and ia
tigue. All is now changed. The for
est fire in 1901 made the first heavy
inroad into the forest, destroying at
least 60 to 70 per cent Of the standing
green timber, all cabins except one
the one now owned by Mrs. Gust
Moser, all shaft houses and tunnel
approaches, as well as years of timber
supplies in the nature of mining tim
bers. stulls and wood, in fact every
thing the hungry flames could lick up
It was a serious blow to the country
and to the mining interests and it has
taken all these years for the country
to partially recover from the loss. The
government then sold the remaining
timber, which was nearly all fire
killed, to the Polleys lumber company
and before snow flies again they will
have completed their work.
They built a railroad, standard
gauge, to the head of the creek, and
that, in itself. would bpen the eyes
of any of the old-timers, built camps,
log chutes and commenced the work
OF depletion. The whole country now
Is barren and desolate waste and
good subject for Unole Sans forest
service to do some good and valuable
work in the shape of reforestration.
The conditions are ideal for the ex-
pertinent. The hills and valleys are
denuded, and being the head of Packer
creek, one of the sources of the water
supply for Saltese and furnishing the
power for the electric light system, it
would surely demonstrate, in a very
few years, the wisdom and effective
ness Of the policy of the forest service
In their plan of demonstration.
Leaving saltese the first object OF
interest one encounters in a trip up
Packer creek, on the Bryan road to its
end, is mineral spring, just across
the first crossing of Packer creek.
This spring never freezes in winter
and is nice and cool In summer. 1t
is a palatable and refreshing drink
and many weary traveller has
quenched his thirst on a hot and dusty
day.
William Lea has a ranch adjoining
the town on the north. Near his cabin
and buildings Is what would appear to
be a grave.aq On questioning him, he
makes this explanation. Some years
ago "Tamarack" Murphy, a lumber
jack of the old school, spent the even
ing with him. Coming from the south
ern portion of New Mexico, as Lea
did, he was very partial to hot stuff
and always kept bottle of tabasco
sauce on his table. "ramarack" put
about half a table spoonful in his soup
and one can imagine the result. He
was sure he was going to die Lea
went outside, built a mound, putting
boulders around it, called s'Tamarack
out and pointed out to him what his
grave would look like when he died
1t seems that, later on, E. *. Tarbox
who died one year ago last winter and
was one of the oldest settlers in this
section, happened along and ques-
toned Lea about the seeming grave
Lea pleaded ignorance and stated 1t
was there when he located the ranch
Tarbox then recollected all about 1t
It happened about Is years ago and
1t was a prospector who had died
there, He found him and buried him
in that identical spot 1t is only those
who knew Tarbox in his life time that
can appreciate this.
The Hemlock mine is the next OF
interest This mine was located and
has been worked for the past % years
but it is only in the last two or three
wears that active and continued work
has been in progress and much work
has certainly been done. judging from
the size of the dump and the many
cabins, hoist and other improvements
The next mine on the road is thai
owned by T.. S. Lusk and the size
OF the dump would indicate large
amount Of work done. There arr
many other small prospects along the
road but cannot call them by name
Headquarters camp for Polleys Lllm
ber company is but short distance
from the Lusk mine. About 60 mel
are employed and the camp, in charge
Of r. G. Harrington, is neat and clear
and shows that sanitary laws are re-
spected and enforced The table wa!
we'll laden with good and wholesome
food and plenty OF it.
You come to the end of the road a
the home of Mrs. Gust Moser, one O
the best houses in this section. Tree:
have been planted and the garden ha:
been put in and is doing we'll. Tht
Bryan mine is but short distance
from here. More work has been done
on this mine than any in this par
of the country, but the forest fire de
stroyed all their buildings and MINING
timbers and little has been done sine
then. 1t is expected that work will
resume in the near future. 1t is wei
to mention the wagon road in thi
section. 1t is in better shape thai
for years, three days work havinl
been done about two weeks ago b.
Peter Peterson and small crew from
Saltese to the Fischault cCtoff,
short distance from the Polleys camp
James F. McWilliams. who has man,
mining interests in that section, tool
I'D the work. where the road super
visor quit and completed the same t.
the end of the road, at his own ex
l. n,t1 ~ ~