Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-11
MARKING Of NOTED
SITES AND TRAILS
URGED IN MONTANA
Historical Society Would Erect
Tablets on Historical
Spots.

Helena. Dec. 10.-(By The Associat-
Ell Press. Urgent recommendation
that steps be taken to mark Moutana's
historic trails and sites was contained
in tie biennial report of j. L. Sanders.
secretary OF the Montana Historical
society and librarian of the Montana
Historical and Miscellaneous library. to
the quarterly meeting of the trustees
of the latter institution here.
There are many historic places in
Montana, some of which should be ac-
CURED and preserved. and some Of
which the sites should be marked with
bronze tablets said Mr.. Sanders re
port. While Il start has been made
in this direction. Montana is very back
ward in the work. Much interest is
expressed in the subject but the move
ment seems TO be waiting for someone
to take the lead and it seems as though
there is no more appropriate organ
ization than the historical society of
Montana with the approval of the leg
~islative assembly. This society has
already co-operated in a small way
with the Society Of Montana Pioneers
and others in properly marking the
spot where gold was discovered in Last
Chance Gulcb, with a bronze tablet.
MuIlan Road Marked
''The Society of Montana Pioneers
and some of its friends have suitably
marked the Mullan road by monuments
along its line from Fort Benton to the
western border of the state toward
Walla Walla.
The most wonderful exploration of
all time revealed only lit years ago
the hidden wealth Of this empire state
of the west when Lewis and CLARK re
ported to President Jefferson the de-
tails of their exploration of Louisiana
and their trip to the mouth of the Co
lumbia river. and submitted their jour
nails of each days incidents.
THE most interesting relic Of this
expedition left to Montana is Captain
Clarks autograph and date. VIM.
Clark, July IS. 1906, crudely carved
on the northeast wall of Pompey's Pill
lar. below Billings. 1t was left to the
interest of Col. 7. B. Clough. engineer
of the Yellowstone division of the
Northern Pacific railroad under in
structions from President Willard. 40
years ago. to cover this invaluable relic
with an iron grating to protect it from
vandals and that great transcontinental
line is entitled to the thanks of every
citizen of Montana for its foresight III
this matter.
Journey is Described
"On their outward journey through
Montana in 1906. following up the Mis-
souri, and Jefferson rivers. which they
named. and the B~eaverhead. and down
the Bitter Root, they traversed or fol
lowed the borders of II counties and
passed the sites of nine county seats of
today. Returning the next year, sep
arating. possibly Lewis visited five
other counties. and Clark, going down
the Yellowstone, %traversed 10 of our
counties and visited the sites of the
county seats of nine of them.
Il have followed the course of this
trail for the purpose of suggesting
that it should be marked at prominent
points by bronze tablets or otherwise.
and as a protection that such tablets
or monuments should each be erected
at some city or settlement, and the
historical society be enabled within
reasonable limits to cooperate with
counties or societies for that purpose.
"Such tablets would. cost. in place,
about $500 and means to subscribe half
that amount would give directiohrto "A
realization of q very. worthy object"