Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-09-18

him on this particular occasion he sug-
gested that we might find something
more OF confirmatory nature, and we
began a search among several maps
which had come into his possession
some years ago. Among these we dis
covered two which we found of great
interest: The first headed British
North America. BY permission dedi-
Gated to the Honorable Hudson's Bay
company" antedates the map we had
secured the copy of by at least eight
years, having been published in Lon
don, England, on April Is, 1854. The
publisher being the we'll know j. Arrow
smith. The other issued about the
same time had been drawn to illustrate
Paul Kane's "Wanderings of an Artist, y
book now out of print Both of these
! maps had Fort Kootania, marked at
the spot as on the other clearly indi-
eating that they were in existence a.
the time the maps were issued.
Having discovered this further evil
dence from these early maps, we
turned our attention to the early his
tory Of the Northwest Mr. Robinson
had two volumes containing the min
utes of the meetings of the COVER
nors and factors of the Hudson's Bay
| company, held at various times, and
under date 9th June, 1882 we found the
minutes of Red River Settlement:
where the appointments for that year
were made to the various posts: Cou-
tanais Post is under the care of Alex
anderson, clerk, Fiathead Post, Fras
ander Anderson, clerk; Flathead Post
Fras Emaberger, clerk Again in the
minutes of 1886, VIM. G. Rae, clerk is
appointed to Coutanais. In 184l the
clerkship seemingly has been abolished
and postmaster takes his place
The record ends with the year 1872
and it would appear that from that
time, the post gradually lost its sig
nificance and prestige until when
visited in 1864 by John Campbell, the
buildings had fallen into ruins.
Our task is done. We have had much
pleasure, and cleaned much informa-
ton in our quest, which originated in
suggestion made by the Hon. Judge
c. W. Pomeroy at gathering of the
members Of our Trail Rangers Club
Iatwo or three years ago
We had hoped that the privilege
would have been accorded us, of re-
naming in Libby long enough to see
! cairn or monument erected to indi-
cate the spot where stood the first
house built by a white man on Koo-
tenais lordly banks.
But it was not to be- Wise men
gently limited that we were coming to
the sere and yellow. leaf of old age"
and that Libby had only room for the
young and agile, mentally, physically.
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi"
We are not without the hope how
ever, that when the keeness of the fall
election is over and the commissioners
settle down to their tasks, they may
feel disposed to initiate a movement
to commemorate the work of one who
| did SO much for the beautiful valley
of the Kootenai.
A few days ago the writer was priv
LEGGED to sit in the quiet seclusion of
the office of Mr.. Edgar S. Robinson in
Vancouver and into his hands was
placed volume of David Thompson's
Journal written in 1901, the contents of
which have not heretofore been pub
lished. In this volume, the intrepid ex-
attempt to cross the Rocky Mountains
and his regret that the task had ended
in apparent failure.
The last paragraph in that thrilling
account is the heart cry of great soul
who seemingly had failed. pass them
on as worthy of the consideration of
the young people of the district, where
was privileged to spend four happy
years.
1T is a maxim pretty we'll received
that success in enterprises justifies all
the measures that have been taken in
such enterprises. On the contrary what
ever has been unsuccessful, must also
be accounted for 1t is on this account
that have been so tedious in detail
ing SO infinitely the trifling occur
ences Of the above journey.-David