The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-12-15
HISTORIC SPOTS
SHOULD BE MARKED
SUGGESTION is MADE BY SECRE-
TARY JAMES u. SANDERS TO
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Many Historic Places in Montana that
Should be Acquired and Preserved,
He Declares; State So Far Has
Been Very Backward in Work and
Leader is Necessary to go Ahead.


T of the Montana Historical society am
t librarian of the Montana Historical
Q and Miscellaneous Library, to tn
quarterly meeting of the trustees 0
the latter institution at Helena las
| week.
There are many historic places II
: Montana, some of which should be
acquired and preserved, and some o.
which the sites should be marked
with bronze tablets" said Sanders
report while a start has beer
/ made in this direction, Montana is
very backward in the work. Much
interest is expressed in the subject
but the movement seems to be wait
ing for some one to take the lead, and
it seems as though there is no more
appropriate organization than the
Historical Society of Montana with
the approval of the legislative assem-
bly,. This society has already coop
Grated in small way with the So
ciety of Montana Pioneers and others
in properly marking the spot where
gold was discovered in Last Chance
/ gulch, with a bronze tablet.
"The Society of Montana Pioneers
and some of its friends have suitably
marked the Mullan road by monu-
ments along its line from Fort Ben
ton to the western border Of the
state toward Walla Walla.
1.-THE most wonderful exploration
of all time revealed only 1T years
ago the hidden wealth of this empire
state of the west when Lewis and
Clark reported to President Jeffer-
son the details of their exploration of
Louisiana and their trip to the mouth
of the Columbia river, and submitted
their journals of each days incidents.
tThe most interesting relic of this
expedition left to Montana is Cap
tain Clark's autograph and date,
William Clark, July rs, 1906, rude
ly carved on the northeast wall of.
Pompey's Pillar below Billings. 1t
was left to the interest of Colonel r.
b. Clough, engineer of the Yellow
stone division of the Northern Pacific
railroad under instructions from
President Willard 40 years ago, to
cover this invaluable relic with an
iron grating to protect it from van
dals and that great transcontinental
line is entitled to the thanks of every
citizen of Montana for it's foresight
in this matter.
"On their outward Journey
through Montana in 1905, following
up the Missouri and Jefferson rivers,
which they named, and the Beaver
head and down the Bitter Root, they
traversed or followed the borders of
II counties and passed the sites of
nine county seats of today. Return
ing, the next year, separating, pos
sibly Lewis visited five other coun-
ties and Clark, going down the yell
lowstone, traversed 10 of our coun-
ties and visited the sites of the county
seats of nine of them
IT have followed the course of this
trail for the purpose of suggesting
that it should be marked at promin-
ent points by bronze tablets or other
wise, and as a protection that such 4
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 direc-
ion to the realization of very wor-
by object.
Until the trail of La Verendrye
nto Montana in 1742-3 is more def
nitely and reliably determined, its
marking must be deferred. st. Marys
mission at Stevensville should be pre-
erved and possibly might be secured
nd cared for. What remains of old
Tort Benton, built rs years ago,
hould be preserved Many other his
oric places should be preserved
which it is impossible to enumerate
ere.
This plan, new or unknown to us,
as been followed for many years
y other countries and states and it
gratifying to all people to take an
interest in the early incidents of their
istory and these are first sought out
y strangers and tourists, and are an
to the history of all re-
IONS"
]. H. T. Ryman of Missoula is
resident of the trustees of the state
istorical library. The other mem
ers are Mrs. Josephine Hepner of
elena, J. t. Stanford of Great Falls
anders mentioned the accession to
lie library and museum of many art
les, books and documents. He also
lid:
THE present name of Historical
Id Miscellaneous library is not a
Apply one and earnestly desire to
'ge the resumption of the old name
the state library The miscellan-
'us feature of its collection will be
'tter understood and as fully des-
lbed by the resumption of the name
ven to it by the First (Bannack)
glslative assembly of the Territory da
Montana on Feb. 2, 1865. sp
During the war this department no
IS compelled TO subscribe for nearly liz
OF the state papers, which it en- ev
avors to preserve for its future tn,
es. Publishers of the dailies and COZ
seklies of the state have placed this WI
partment on their complimentary of
Is, as 1t is usually called, although
feel that in doing so they are 1t
~ performing duty to the state ha