Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-05-18
By T. ]. KERTTuLA

\
Over a period Of Is years, from
1853 to 1878, concerns engaged in
transporting goods to Montana
fought price wars which brought
the freight rates from so cents to
less than cents a pound. How
ever, the fact that these concerns
were not able to move any ap-
preciabIe amount of freight dur
ing the winter months was prob
ably one of the indirect causes Of
MOntana's first depression in the
fan and winter of 1859 and 1870
Merchants fearing they might be
caught short of goods, as had hap
pened in the past, overstocked. This,
coupled with the reduced returns from
placer mining and an unusually large
number Of people leaving the territory,
Quartz mining was still in its infancy
and the returns were inconSequential
However, the hard times didn't last
long and conditions started to improve
in the spring Of 1870 when proSpectorS
again started to work their placers
and search for new ones. SO, actually
the depression was just another Of
young territory during which the
earlier spirit Of venture gave way to
more settled methods Of business. The
population at that time was approx
mately 10000 and until then business
failures had been rare.
Before the coming of the railroads,
Montana, like other western states, had
much to contend with in securing sup
plies from either eastern or west coast
markets. There we're no roads to speak
of and months were required to freight
in supplies by slow OK and mule teams
Consequently prices were enormous as
compared with those In more settled
eastern districts, but placer mines were
producing gold by the millions and I
everybody especially the road agents |
enjoyed period of prosperity that /
seldom has been equaled elsewhere.
Freighting Prom Utah
In 1853 merchandise was brought in |
from Colorado and Utah by large OK
and mule trains. The trip. through
dangerous Indian country, required
from three to four months. These
trains started as early in the spring
rs possible and frequently had diff
Guilty in fording rivers swollen by
food waters from melting SHOWS in
he mountains. In crossing mountain
'anges the going was frequently so
iifficult that teams had to be doubled
md one wagon at time hauled up
teep hills Going down the other side,
wagons were let down the SteepeSt hills
With ropes snubbed to trees or rocks.
lucky was the man who arrived first
n the summer with a well assorted .
took. His complete stock would be
old out In a matter Of few hours at
normous profits. In spite OF difficult
les these freighterS delivered goods
hat year at the rate of IS cents a
ound.
In 1864 and 1866 trains we're also
oming in from st. Joseph, Mo-, and ]
eavenworth, Kan. These, however,
lad to spend at least seven months
n the trail and charged on the aver I
IRVING from Walla Walla, carrying
UGH merchandise as teas, clothing, !
gum" boots, and other light goods !
Dr. 90 cents a pound. These pack ami ;
lalS averaged 300 pounds apiece. so :
ach animal made its owner $3.50 per '
'ip. n
About this time the firm Of King :
nd Gillette built a toll road through :
richly Pear canyon and In comment :
IL a dozen years later on the opera +
on Of this road; the 1879 edition Of !
Ne Montana Business and Historical !
Irectory states: I'VE must say that :
lch a thing as q smitten conscience /,
,uld hardly have existed in those days
this firm displayed that wonderful =
mount Of flesh called cheek to charge
lily the very small sum Of only $40 q
n wagon passing their toll gate" Il
This state Of affairs continued until 2
81. Then methods of transportation Z
lifted and almost all of the goods v
me I'D the Missouri river TO Fort q
snton and were freighted overland 81
ON there That year rates were IL
nts from st. Louis TO Fort Benton g
I'd cents from Benton to Helena. a,
lis rate continued Ia force until the =
l@e OF the 1889 season q
With the Union and Central Pacific "
ilroad completed. competition be- d