The Wolf Point herald., 1924-07-24

1t was not until the last spik,
was driven in the Union Pacific
line which connected the Atlanti,
with the Pacific seaboards in 1866
when the prominence and influ
ence of the celebrated "Diamonc
r" began to be felt all over the
west. Then extra wagons anC
teams were put on the road to car
! ry the freight from Corine, Utah
to Montana points.
The advent of the railroad into
the region to the south was the
blow that stunned commerce on the
Missouri river into Montana. How
ever freight was carried up the riv-
er continually until 1882 but in
small cargoes. After that traffic
on the river was inconsiderable.
The government kept in commits
sion a few boats to ply private
trade up and down, and these gave
an occasional air of prosperity in
navigation at Fort Benton.
In 1868, Maclay, George Steele
and Matt Carroll bought from
Wall and Roe & Company, the en-
tire equipment of the Diamond R"
company. The headquarters were
in Helena, whittier Mac
Law had moved from Virginia City
TWO or three years before. The fol-
lowing year, 1869, c. A. Broad
water bought an interest and the
famous Diamond R" then began
to be a big factor in the growth of
potent factor in many
ways, for besides doing a general
freighting and contracting busi-
ness, the company maintained a
bureau of information. Anyone
asking by letter about the posi-
bilities of Montana was sure to hear
some glowing reports about the
territory. Fortunately the bureau
predicted satisfactorily SO far as the
applicant for information was con-
cerned, for there never was a pro-
test filed with the bureau.
Colonel Broadwater was superin-
tendent of the company until 1879,
when the railroads began to push
into the territory. Then the
doughty colonel saw another OPP
oortunity and he sailed forth into
the field of military and railroad
contracting and by these means be-
gan the erection of a financial
structure which stands today as a
to his memory.
A glance back through vista of
IS years in Montana reveals in vi
vid outline the presence of a huge
commercial structure, an enter
prise which in territorial days was
the admiration of the people, just
as the Northern Pacific, the Great |
Northern and the Milwaukee rail
roads are the admiration of the
people of Montana today. 1t was
the only transportation company |
Of importance in the northwest
it was a huge thing.
Every wagon, every canvas COW
er, bow, harness ard saddle was
branded with the mystic "R" with |
n diamond. 1t was even said that
the bullwhackers and mule-skinners
were likewise branded. However,
in those days the man of the road
who could not show the mark of
tattoo was regarded as a man out
of place. 1t has happened that
some drivers and herders of the
company consented to the tattoo of
the Diamond R" on the arm or
back. 1t was quite necessary to
brand saddles in those days, for
there were men who cherished a
kindly feeling for good-looking
saddles as we'll as for horses.
The emblem of the company was
burned into the harness in conspic-
1ous places, and to this day there
are to be found wagon covers,
dusty, ragged and brown with age,
with the big, black "R" encompass
sed by the diamond painted on
either side of the center and in each |
corner. The sign was either burn
ed into or painted on the sides of
the high wagon beds.
There were Diamond R" hotels,
saloons and dance halls not only in
Helena but in towns along the sew