Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-12-02
Montana First Newspaper
Was SSThe Post % Published
Gold Boom Days

we were in the midst of the Civil war,
with most Of our citizens adherents of
what was to be the Lost Cause In
order to thrive. 1t might have been ex-
pected that the Post" would follow h
lead of the majority. Why 1t did not do
SO 1 never knew. Instead Of this, while
favoring the Union. 1t tried to be as
neutral as possible and give both parties
a fair show. Its efforts in his direction
were appreciated and 1t had O large sub
scription list including every camp in
Montana.
1t recorded the daily happenings in
Virginia City and it's neighborhood, and
through the letters from outlying towns
we can today learn what was going on
there. 1t was a small paper and, as
have said, q weekly, with nothing re-
markable about 1t except that 1t was
unique, greatly priced in its day, but
not thought worthy of preservation by
those who read 1t.
Fortunately for us of today, there was
one man Of far-seeing vision who be-
lieved the time would come when these
issues, insignificant as they were, would
be of inestimable value as q word pic
ture of that day. Others read the little
sheet and threw it aside with no thought
Of the future and its needs. Colonel
Sauders alone thought 1t worthy of
preservation.
Carefully he laid aside each number as
it appeared until he had a goodly col
lection that took up space in the small
house in which he first lived in Helena
space that a housewife sadly needed for
other purposes. A larger hous gave more
room, but still the papers were In the
way. They collected dust and were un-
slightly. This being recognized by theil
collector. the entire file found tenn.
porary quarters in the adjoining barr
until they were given into the care Of
the State Historical library. where they
can be studied by any one who is inter.
ested in the early history Of Montana.
But for the foresight Of Colonel San.
ders, these valuable documents today
would not be available. IN a recent visii
to Helena / looked them over and coulc
not but be struck by their accurate de
scription of those early days, as / re-
member them.
The paper on which the Post wa
printed is in q remarkable state of pres
ervation, much better, / am told by Mrs
Mcdonnell, assistant librarian, thar
papers issued Of late. This is due to the
quality of the paper. Our future knowl
edge of today's local papers will be linn
tied unless some means may be found tC
protect them from destruction. 1t would
be too costly to keep them between
plates of glass like the letter of Menard
written to Pierre Choteau In 1910, which
hangs in the historical library. This II
q quaint document and a depression MAJ
be pardoned from the subject under con.
sideration, to give a brief description o.
1t.
This letter, like those Of its day, wal
written on paper hat served as envelope
likewise. 1t is in French and beautiful,
written. When completed, 1t was folded
addressed and sealed. / have seen thu
colored waters which were used insteaC
of wax, to fasten such letters. Thes,
were about as large around as an or
binary lead pencil, n came in green
orange, pink and other colors which l
as a child, thought very beautiful. The,
we're easier to use than wax, and doubt
less less expensive. There was then n,
plotting paper. the ink being dried b,
sitting said over 1t.
To return to the Post" its first issui
Is dated Saturday. August 81, 1864, owe
SO years ago. The man who was its frs
editor either became discouraged or hat
an opportunity to sell out at a profitable
figure is the natural supposition, as tn
second number was issued by Tilton &
Company, who did not at first own 1t.
Professor Dimsdale was for some tim
It's editor n in its pages first appeared
his story OF the Vigilantes.
1 purpose In future articles to give tn
items culled from the Post" which IL
lustrate the life OF the minirx camps
which most people enjoy reading bu
have neither time nor opportunity Il
look up.