The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-09-07

address Oh S0udIOI w. "a. SidIh, II
which he sets forth in detail his re
markable experiences, when Montan;
was young, and he was laying thu
foundation of career that has few
parallels in western history. Thi'
series of addresses, which have con
tinued now for the past five or 81,
years, constitute an unusual contri
button to the written history of Mon
tana. The earlier addresses deal
with his trek across the plains from
Colorado to Bannack, in 1868, his
first successful venture in placer min
ing, and then of his engaging in mer.
chandising. Senator Clark said in
part:
At the last meeting of the society my ad-
dress covered the period up to my return
from a visit to the states in the spring OF
1867 by the stage line from the terminus OF
the Union Pacific railroad, which at that
time was at North Platte, Neb. Notwith-
standing the return trip, as described by
me, was disagreeable to some extent, there
was always comfort in the thought of re-
turning home, as had long before con-
cluded that Montana should be my per-
manent abiding place. and have never
for one moment experienced any regret
therefor
Currency Replaces Dust
/ received a cordial welcome from my
many friends upon my return to Helena.
At that time gold dust had to a consider
able extent ceased to be used as medium
of circulation in Helena, as it was to a
large extent bought by the banks and paid
for in United States currency, which them
became largely the circulating medium at
that place. At the same time / made ar
rangements to act as agent for several of
the merchants on the west side of the
mountains, with whom / had been ac-
quainted for many years, to attend to their
business at Helena.
Having been informed that Mr. S. S.
Huntley had obtained a contract to convey
the United States mail from Missoula in
western Montana to Walla Walla, in Wash
ington territory and as I was quite fami-
liar with the route that would have to be
adopted, made proposal to Mr.. Huntley
to take subcontract for carrying the mail
which in due course was satisfactorily con
Guided I then went to Missoula and eff
fected arrangements for carrying out this
project / went over the proposed route
horseback by way of Pend Oreille lake,
which was the adopted route, to the town
of Walla Walla, taking with me my bro
Their, Joseph K Clark, with whom I ar
ranged to take care of the eastern end of
the line, with a station at Horse Plains.
also secured the services of Mr.. Warren
Whitcher, who was familiar with the coun-
try, and placed him in charge of the line
from the west station on the Pend Oreille |
lake to the town of Walla Walla, the west |
nr, nodn al or re
and purchased a suescient number of cay |
uses, which were essential, as there were
only trails over a large portion of the
route. The contract called for tri-weekly |
mail so that stations had to be arranged
for the accommodation of the riders to per-
form the services in the most expeditions
manner. The distance across the lake,
where boats had to be operated, was about
Sc miles. To perform this service 1 made
a contract with the Pend Oreille Indians
and furnished them with what was called
"whitehall' boat. By reason of the deep
water the lake was never frozen over dur
ing the winter season. This contract was
for period of four years, and after it was
thoroughly organized and put into opera
ton gave me very little concern.
Father Ravalli ii
Occasionally 1 went over the line for in
spection, and on one of these trips 1 met
Father Ravalli, Catholic priest of Italian /
origin, and a man Of great ability and cele-
brity. He had been with the mission in the i
Bitter Root valley and was on his way to /
the st. Ignatius Mission, over which he had ,
presided for a great number of years. He G
was man Of large stature and pleasing /
address and was one of the most prominent !
connected with the Indian SER i
vice. /
In addition to acting as agent for several /
Of the merchants in Helena, l also made S
some loans at rate of interest ranging at T
that time at about 2 per cent per month. |
There were many opportunities for adj r
purchases of gold dust, of
which I ayailed myself, and there was no
ack of opportunities for those who were
IN the alert for making money. For in l
stance Mr.. Dan Flowerree had about 100 n
lead of cattle which he had used in freight e.
ng goods from Fort Benton and also from t
Salt Lake. There was lull in the business c.
wing to stringent period that had pre- n
allied, and freighting became Improbable. e;
dr. Flowerree turned his cattle out on the e.
dissouri river, about 80 miles east of Hell l
ma, where there was abundant pasturage. W
finding that they were Tor sale looked W
hem over and purchased them for lump g
UNI, and had them driven to the Nevada tt
'reek valley, west of the Blackfoot, where m
knew the grass was high and luxuriant CO
lfter few weeks they were fit for the NJ
market, and 1 sold them out in lots of ca
light or ten at time to the butchers in ne
be surrounding mining camps, Lincoln, w
op of Deep and Blackfoot.
Looking to the Future ~
Notwithstanding 1 had met with satisfac- -
Dry results in my trading operations and VI
ad secured a favorable mail contract, l ~
as anxious to embark in a permanent Cd
usiness, looking to the future. The firm W.
{ Tut & Donnell the largest wholesale "a
erchants in Helena at that time, had dis 70
lived partnership, Mr.. Tut retiring. Mr.. ~
onnell then living at st. Joseph, No. Sd
kewise had a large branch mercantile au
ouse at Deer Lodge, on the west side. For ca
yeral years 1 had considerable dealings
it'll the Helena house. Mr.. Donnell re- or
lested me to visit him at st. Joseph, Mo-, riy