The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-04-23

DAA ~ OVA"SS country anu WACA
It required real nerve to venture out
into the wilderness in an endeaVo 10
carve out the foundation upon which
a future civilization might safely
build. It required hardened charac-
tiers such as these to 'raise" the
framework of so great a common
wealth. 49,,
II was a mammoth task which
h pioneers were undertaking back
in the late fifties and the Sixties, but,
guided by the unseen hand OF a o
liberal and wise Providence, they
builded we'll.
The state of Montana was settled
by those hardy frOntiersmen who
came to the territory from every
nook and corner of the East and
South for several reasons. A lew
were a~dventurers, seeking the new
thrills which abOunded in an unbrok-
en- wilderness; but, primarily, they
e seekers of fortune. The lives
of some of them CLEAN out as shin
ing examples of prosperity and sue
cess achieved through one or more
of the various channels of industry.
Others did not perform such success
full careers to prosperity; some were
unfortunate; but each performed his
part in the chain Of events which
have resulted in the Montana Of to-
day.
What has been so true Of these
splendid types of manhood embodied
in our states pioneers, has likewise
characterized the history Of Mon
tana's towns and cities. Some of the
original settlements, from the begin
ming, were destined to develop into
permanent industrial and commercial
centers while others flOurished for a
time, and then faded into oblivion
the ''ghost cities" Of today-but all
of them having it's own important
part to play in the states history.
MOntana's Ghost Cities
A fascinating chapter in the story
of Montana might be written on her
"ghost cities. Places that 60 years
ago were marked on the maps Of the
territory as thriving towns and min
ing camps, have, in many instances
disappeared so completely that their
names are not known to the present
generation of MOntanans, and in
in the case of several, the spots
which they occupied could not be
pointed out by any living man. Others
survive in the form of weather-beat-
en-, time-decayed groups of log cab
ms, bending beneath the weight Of
many years.
Few there are left in the state to.
day who feel any stirring of remem.
brance in such names as Yarn Hill
Carroll, McCarthyville, Bannack
Montana City, BeartOwn, Yreka
Granite, Highland, AdObetown, YOgO
Gable City, Ophir, Bagdad, Geneva
Diamond City, COulsOn, Red Noun
tain City and a score of others. Yet
time was when each of those men
toned vas known as a prospective
metropolis, %throbbing with industrial
activities, the pride and hope of am
bilious residents.
Practically all of these spectres o
days gone by possessed it's typica
wild, western atmosphere. Garisl
dance halls, saloons, hUrdy gurd,
houses, gambling resorts and vigil
ance committees following in tn
wake of the geld strike or tn
mammoth Industrial development
all of these working together have 70
each "ghOst" city, set down some on
or more incidents which have 70
that One-time metropolis emblazOne
a glazing page in the states history
It would be an extensive manuscriT
which portrayed the story Of all thes
forgotten centers of population.
brief review of some of the more in
portant should prove interesting,
least.
Old Bannack, the First Capital
Slightly off the beaten path {
--Gnso - - -~E~-- Eo~vr nnCA1n
down in a canyon, between two TOW
ering mountains, lies Bannack, firI
capital of the great state Of MOI
tana, and the grave of many a man
youth and fortune, as well as Ii
starting place Of many Of the gre'
fortunes credited to the sands an
quartz veins Of the Treasure state.
This historic old town stand
changed but comparatively little
the "a years Of its checkered eXis
ence. The same struggling street e
tends down the gulch, frOnted by
number Of log buildings masked ]
1.-TWO story" fronts, and, could
moving picture company be induc'
to stage a polarization Of the r
mance Of the old gold days, the TOW
would serve as a setting with b
few changes necessary to help out Il
atmosphere Of early days.
The old remaining buildings, son
of which are used for other purpose
have resOunded to the click Of T
spurred heel and the thump of t
miners boot. Small heels have Ia
ped the worn boards Of the cabi
and the cIink Of gold has sounded
the old deal tables, some Of viii
still stand IN one or two of the d
serted cabins. Gold dust has trio
led through unsteady fingers just
hind the panes OF dusty glass 81
lives have been snuffed out ga G
twinkAng of On eye on the strs