Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13
mo Wind in Livingston"


The telephone rang in one Of the
public places in Gardiner. The loud
chang of the bell was a rather new
and startling experience TO the
general run Of the frOntiersmen-
prOspectOrs, trappers and guides
who frequenfed the town. Kt was q
public telephone In more ways than
one. The time was the evening Of
Feb. Is, 1885, and Gardiner was a
raw, new village at the north en-
trance 70 Yellowstone park. Not
only was the telephone a novelty
TO the frOntiersmen, but there were
no private booths, and with the
crude pioneer equipment a long
distance conversation was some
thing of an effort.
The proprietor of the place answered
the call, and after a brief verbal Skin
mish called another to the phone.
After several repetitive 'Hey-y?''
''Whut's thet," and other queries the
listener repeated in q loud voice what
he heard from the receiver:
mo wind in Livingston 49,. Secure
that horse at oncel"
The crowd had quoted in rapt at
tention, and when the fellow turned
from the phone, rather dazed from
the unusual experience OF shouting. his
voice Sc miles over wire 70 Living
ston, two or three others who had
caught the drift of the Gardiner end
OF the conversation rushed from their
places.
A brief, animated conversation in
slbdued tones preceded the sudden de-
parture of the little group.
Conversation in Code
The mysterious phrases repeated
back into the telephone that there was
mo wind in Livingston" and Secure
81 f.aaf1 RI n
q prearranged CODE The sudden de-
parture of the little group after the
phone call had advertised big things
afoot as much as If the information
had been shouted over the town.
Before dawn had dimmed the stars
over Yellowstone park q group OF
mounted men with pack horses slipped
silently out on the trail, quite certain
they had left behind no traces OF their
adventure.
But within an hour Gardiner was de-
serted and the trail echoed the hoof-
beats of a hundred or more horses.
When daylight revealed the follow
ers close behind, the lead outfit cursed
LADY Luck and hurried their mounts
ahead, hoping they could gain and hold
the ground they wanted.
Yellowstone parks first and only gold
-uSh was In the making.
For three years, ever since the Crow
Indian reservation boundaries had been
moved to the Saltwater, proSpectors
had exploited the potential values In
5he Cooke City district at the north
EAST corner of the park. Great sums
If money had been spent for stamp
mills and other equipment, all hauled
;lowly and painfully over rugged
country. Test runs had promised wen,
1ut long-distance transportation OF
upplies In ore outconSumed all the
Sroffts. railroad would make Cooke
mother Virginia City, argued the pro-
noters.
Railroad Route Refused
Livingston, boom railroad town,
wanted q railroad to Cooke, an ex-
ension of the Northern Pacifics Yell
owStone park branch. The only feasi-
lie route was up the Yellowstone and
amar rivers and Soda Butte creek
through the park. But congress was
.damant in refusing to permit a rail-
DAD in the national playground.
When Yellowstone park was created
a 1872 the country had not been sur
eyed. LanRford, Hedges, Hayden ana
theirs who had hand in the creation
I the park wanted 70 be sure an Inc
lhenomena of the region, known ana
Unknown, were included. SO an arbi-
rary set Of boundaries, rectangular IN
nape, were designated. These included
4 the park an area east Of the yell
)wStone river and north OF the Lamar
nd Soda Butte creek which later ex-
loratiOn revealed were not necessarily
ertinent at that time TO the park
lea. 1t Is probable that, had the coun-
" been thoroughly known, the Vel !
YwStone and Lamar rivers and Soda !
mould hAnT1 ff9C1Q-
ated as the boundaries, leaving the I
rea north Of these streams In the
ubic domain.
Livingston boosters joined potential
lining magnates In resenting govern
lent interference with the develop
lent Of the gold bonanza at Cooke
trough refusal Of a railroad right
way. y
A bill was prepared and introduced j
congress to move the park bOun-
aries to follow the Yellowstone river !
ON Gardiner to the Lamar and up 3
lat stream and Soda Butte creek. /
The father of one Livingston busi-
eSS man secured enjoyment in a gov g
-nment bureau in Washington in order
be on hand to help the bill along
hen it came ND for consideration.
Acts As Liaison Man
He also acted as liaiSon man with
lie folks back home who were develop
e another idea in connection with I
e area to be returned to the public :
main. :
If the Cooke area was so rich, it was Q
gued, why not look for gold along !.
e Lamar river and Soda Butte creek, 7
/ unprospected area only few miles =
way. It was now In the park, 1t Is =
ne, but once released, it might be Z
lualble. Those on the ground floor 4
1en the bill to change the boundaries !,
Is passed would strike it rich, be- =
" G.