Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-07-22
(By MRS. NJ. E. PLASsMANN)

vt takes q vivid Imagination for one
living in Montana OF today, to pic
ture conditions as they were before
the arrival of the railroads, and the
general use of the automobile, both OF
which devour distance at an astonishing
rate Of speed when compared with pio-
neer modes Of travel.
Before the coming Of the railroads into
the state, everything from without that
was necessary to supply the imperative
demands Of settlers IN city or country
was brought in by freight outfits, except
to towns or posts along the Missouri
which had to secure supplies in about
three months to last throughout the
year, and this during the brief period OF
high water. when the river could be as
ended by steamboats,. Freight landed In
Fort Benton or elsewhere along the river
was carried by freighting outfits to the
larger towns, where 1t vas distributed.
We. who lived here in those days, felt
our isolation from the outside world, and
welcomed enthusiastically the advent OF
the two first railroads to enter the state
the Utah Northern, which was a branch
of the Union Pacific, and the Northern
Pacific.
Not all, however, OF u citizens at that
date, longed for better connection with
the East and West han the stagecoach
and freight train afforded. When the
cause of the Northern Pacific was plead
in the Montana legislature. a gentleman
from Missouri stated that he never saw
a railroad, and never wanted to see nj
and in a trembling voice added: III
they come here, the children will be cry
ing for bread" This was the substance
of his remarks, as I recall them.
Unfortunately, / left Helena before the
arrival Of the Northern Pacific, to make
my home for a few years In Fort Ben
ton where. during the summer months
our ears we're gladdened by the warning
whistle Of the steamboats,. but for the re-
mainder of the year we, who lived there
realized our remotenesS from East, West
and the few towns in Montana. For
nine months we found ourselves cut of
from many things which contribute to
make life worth living.
Then Paris Gibson had a dream he
wished to see become real. A great city
should rise by the falls Of the Missouri,
and he planned for this denouement by
employing my husband. Herbert Percy
Rolfe, to lay out the nucleus Of the pro-
posed TOWNSHIP, and to act as his attor-
ney in carrying out the scheme. This LED
to our leaving Fort Benton in May, 1884
to preempt land In that new locality.
The undertaking of building a town at
this point called for the exercise OF un-
limited faith, which the followers of Sen
ator Gibson certainly had. n needed II
to keep up their spirits. 1t enabled us
to shut our eyes to our surroundings OF
board shacks. tents, bunch grass. rattle
snakes, gophers n mosquitoes, and
imagine what the future held In store to
replace them. OF course there was al
ways the scenery Nature supplied lavish
ly, and we made the most OF that.
At times, nevertheless, the prospect was
not cheering for the rapid upbullding Of
the city then confined to a blue print
One day my husband told me OF Mr.. Glib
sons purpose TO enlist the aid OF James j
Hill In the enterprise. / heard the name