Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-07

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Hunters stalked the animal for seve
: years.
in Montana were demonstrated for tn
columns Of The Post carried storie
about the largest" pumpkin and tn
finest" vegetables. The superlativ
, was very much in evidence. A brid
was then, as now, "a lovely and &C
bridegroom was a sterling younI
man and most promising citizen"
Stories Of rich discoveries Of golS
came from every section of the north
west. They were printed with glarinS
headlines every time some prospectol
! arrived and recounted a real or al
legged find. The optimism of the pros.
pector was always in evidence and 6
trace Of color was sufficient in The
minds of those old-time metal chaser,
to give rise to stories of untold riches
just beyond the reach, buried in
mother earth. Richest" largest.
greatest" and most valuable" were
| frequent words in those stories Of early
mining discoveries. ASsayers aboumded
and they seemed very successful in
finding valuable properties in every
rock presented for inspection. The av-
erage value of most of them was placed
in the thousands Of dollars" and the
veins were reported to run "for miles
from the point Of discovery"
Murders and robberies were Of fire.
uuent occurrence and stories Of atroci-
ties by the Indians brought in by men
and women who had made the trip
from the states, especially via the yell
loWstone, always furnished exciting
news. Survivors told of hairbreadth
escapes from death and capture and
recounted the bravery of victims of
the deadly aim of the savages. Most
of them were based upon facts as
the country to the east was overrm
with redmen. Emigrants travelling over
the Yellowstone route were always IN
danger. This is shown by a story in
The Post telling how freighters knew
nothing of the war between Austria
and Prussia until it had been declared,
fought and peace concluded.
First State Correspondent
Blake introduced to Montana the
first state correspondent. The Post
was owned by Daniel w. Tilton and
Benjamin r. Dittes. The latter was
a resident Of Helena Changes in pop |
ulation took place rapidly and the
present state capital soon outstripped
Virginia City in the race for trade and I
The Post established a /
Helena department and had a regular
correspondent, who forwarded his
weekly contributions by mail.
During part of the regime Of Blake
The Post published a tri-weekly edi-
ton which was financially and other
wise a success.
In recounting his experiences as an
early Montana editor, Judge Blake
wrote many amusing stories. One OF
hem was due to his having announced
he birth of twins, adding they were
he first to be born to white parents
n Montana. This brought down the
wrath of a score. of fathers and moth
RS, whose sturdy youngsters gave
proof to the error. The population Of
he state in, comparison with it's size.
he Judge was convinced, as a result
# these protests, was increasing at
very rapid rate.
Jews Under Difficulties
Preparing copy for the paper under
onditions prevailing In Virginia City ;
n 1865 and 1856 was no light task. !
here was no telegraph line within !.
he boundaries of the territory, no :
abroad within 1900 miles and few :
Exchanges. The only other papers :
rinted In the territory up to that !
Ime were the Posts competitor the !
fontana Democrat, published at Viz e
mia CITY by Mai. John p. Bruce, be-
inning in the fall Of 1865; the Mon !,
ma Radiator, published in Helena, =
eginnfng In 1865, but shortlived, and 9
ne Helena Herald, which appeared y
ov. IS, 1855, Robert e. Fisk pub s
shing It and using the plant brought 7
, Montana for the Radiator by T. j. 9
avorite, who freighted it In with
Jules. For the plant he paid 5000 q
i gold dust and printed his first z
no Ents4ew IA
le only blank stock available. In e
I67 the Daily Herald made its APP &
Supplies were brought mostly from "
alifornia and the freight on paper q
ON San Francisco TO Virginia City e.
as S1.25 per cwt. Needless to say 81
ere were not many extra copies CT
inted, few being left over after the ca
gular subscribers had received their g
Ipers. The circulation was mostly In pl
der gulch and Last Chance gulch, OF
r Bow creek, the low grade Of whose ~
e caused the progpectOrs and miners 81
pay little attention TO It's mineral
ssibilities. When anything was ex- pl
smely poor IN quality The Post used ~
say if was as poor as Silver Bow al
ST. Today, however, the golden of
,ries Of Last Chance gulch and Alder wi
len are memories OF the past, Wnile III
e greatest mining camp in the world Of
CROOKS the diggtngs on Silver Bow BE
EEK.
The library consisted of a weIl-worn 70
py OF the Bible and one Webster's IN
abridged dictionary, the latter show 10
I much usage, SIS its pages were 90
orned with hundreds Of thumb and Or
ger impressions made by the print IA
when their hands were still COW as
d with ink. MI
When the mails arrived ON time, ri
len was not 30 regularly as On wi
'oern scnedulen, copies q news be.
oerg with telegraphic dispatches Ter
re received from Salt Lake City.
,m these could be culled for The 90,
IT'S readers, domestic and foreign III,
sgrmpRic itezns. which we're as Is
e from five days 10 two weekm old. Ifm
frequently Ia winter Tins snow and -