The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-07-28
PASSING OF ANTON mi. HOTTER, EMPIRE
BUILDER AND MAN OF MUCH Achievement


sale and retail enterprises of the
kind in the entire northwest.
In 1880 he, with others, made ap-
p~lication for the use of the waters of
the Missouri river near Helena for
power purposes and had a bill enact
ed by congress permitting a dam to
be erected across the river. This
was the start of hydro-electric de-
velopment in Montana. MI. Hotter
was also one of the organizers and
incorporators of the company that
established the first water-works
system in Montana, this having been
the Virginia City Water-Works COM
pany, which was incorporated in Jan
uary, 1866. The installation of the
system was attended with great diff
ficulties, owing to the meager facili-
ties available. Water was to be car
ried a distance of two miles, and the
pipe was made of logs through which
a three-inch hole was bored by
means of an augur that was made in
a local blacksmith shop. These prim-
tive conduits were fitted into each
other by the tapering of n end into
the proper aperture in the next log,
and an iron band was placed about
the outside log to prevent the burst
ing. These bands in many instances
had previously done service as wagon
hubs on vehicles that had been
brought across the plains, and the
faucets and valves were made by
hand. Mr.. Holter's natural mechani-
cal genius came into effective play
in this connection at many times when
the problem of construction and SER
vice seemed impossible of practical
solution.
In 1875 Mr.. Hotter and his brother
bought from Frederick Utsch, a Ger
man inventor, the rights to manufac-
ture what was known as the Utsch
jig, a machine for concentrating ore.
This was the first jigging machine
eve worked successfully in the min
ing business and was probably the
most valuable and effective in pro-
noting the mining industry ever in
troduced in the northwest, first used
successfully at the Bunker Hill Sulii-
van mine, Wardner, Idaho. In 1898
he was actively concerned in the or
of the Sand Point Lumber
company, at Sand Point, Idaho, now
the Humbird Lumber company.
A Man of Culture.
MI. Hotter was a man of distinctive
culture and n deeply apreciative of
the finer ideals and more gracious so
cial amenities of life, and his broad
mentality and fine constructive and
administrative powers were exercised
most effectively in positions of dis
5inctive public trust.
Admirably fortified in his political
convictions, Mr.. Hotter was a consis-
.ent and resolute advocate of the
principles and policies of the republi-
AN party. He had the distinction of
,eing the first republican eve elect t
ID to office in the city of Helena. In I
he was elected a member Of the !
territorial legislature, and in 1888 i
was elected a member of the city
council of Helena, of which municipal
,ody he was chosen president. In
he was elected a member of the
louise of representatives of the new
tate, and he had much to do with
haping the fundamental policies and
avs of the commonwealth.
He served as president of the Hell
ma board of trade and vas identified
With every progressive movement for
he benefit of the capital city. He
vas n of those primarily instru-
mental in securing to Helena it's
resent fine high school building. He
rected the Hotter block, in which the
-ardware business is conducted, and
lso his attractive residence, on North
'enton avenue home known for
IS gracious and transformations hos
He retained a deep interest
all that touches the welfare and
istory of his home city and state.
lie was an organizer of the Montana
ioneer society, of which he was a
asst president and a past treasurer.
In addition to his own business af-
airs he found time to attend to work
ertaining to the public good. He and 4
few other admirers of the late Will
ur Fisk Sanders met a few years
go n decided to place in the state
apitol building a statue to perpetu-
tie his memory. Mr.. Hotter was
lected president of the association
From this beginning the
memorial commission was
reated by legislative enactment and
e was made its president.
With Judge F. K. Armstrong, Mr..
ohm M. Holt, Mr.. Hotter appraised
nd purchased for the state the state
ospital for the insane from private
wners. These men we're appointed
Y the governor and the appraisal
as approved by the voters of the
ate at the ensuing election.
Decorated by Norway's King.
One of the most felicitous of occa-
nnc {r 1Er II11+arJ1 1sFo - A.
End of March, 1918, when he was
by order of King Haakon
Norway, with the Order of st.
laf. This was in recognition of
gnal results wrought by Mr.. Hotter
contributing heavily to the relief
people In his native country at the