Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-03-14

lesson. He continued his negotiations
with Mains. but secretly sent his agents
to acquire sufficient land for his pur-
pose few miles further west. When
the purchases were made and the
deeds signed. Hill told Mains that
he could go ahead and build his town,
but that he would have no supper.
from the Great Northern. and it was
years before he would even permit the
planting of a whistling post there. This
controversy between Hill and Mains
brought into being the city of Havre.
Havre Gay in Youth
This is aside: In the years that fol-
lowed the completion of the railroad
Havre was the widest town on the
northern frontier. Fort Assinniboine,
where the government maintained a
large garrison, was only few miles
away. and there was always riotous
dolngs in the new town after an army
payday. 1t was also the place of rec
reation of the cowboys and wild spirits
of the north range country. Gambling
was wide open and n licensed business
in those days: dance halls flourishet.
and it was colorful place. 1t is said
that at one time there was a bar
connected with every Havre business
place except the bank. Hill felt re-
sponSible for the creation of Havre
and disapproved of its naughtiness. He
made strenuous efforts to correct its
morals, until Havre, who would have
her youthful fling. put all the train
dispatchers along the line on her pay
roll to advise the authorities of the
approach of Hill from the east or west
to the end that they might be warned
in time and some semblance of order
brought out of the red, raw life that
was lived there, before the master
came. Then for day or two, until the
IN III IN
fighters would be hurried out Of town,
the key turned in the lock Of the worst
gambling places, the dance hall girls
would put on long dresses and register
occurrences, the bartenders would
shave up and don white vests, and
Havres red blood would, for the nonce,
turn to water. With the departure OF
let JOY be unconfined," and the frolic
of hell would be resumed.
Police Force Organized
This should not be held to the dis
credit of the Havre of the present day.
In those times there were many coun-
terparts Of naughty Havre in Montana
Hill threatened on several occasions to
move the division point away from
Havre, so finally the business men of
the town brought about incorporation,
put on a police force, and brought a
sort of order into being. A band was
organized for the sole purpose Of sere-
nading Hill whenever he came to town,
and Havre kept the shops and grew.
Kalispell and Whitefish
The three-cornered fight for the
western division point, between the
ancient town of DeMersville, Columbia
Falls and Kalispell is story in itself.
There was much speculation as to
which of these towns Hill would choose.
First it seemed that DeN1ersville was
in the railroad kings favor and that
place enjoyed a boom as long as the
Hill smile lasted. Then the word went
forth that Columbia Falls was the
chosen place. A group Of Butte bust
ness men. of which James A. Talbot
was the head, bought up land around
Columbia Falls. plotted townsite, sold
lots. financed the construction of many
business houses and also founded a
newspaper, so strong were they in the
belief that Columbia Falls would be
picked, and this boom, which contin-
ued for year. collapsed in a day when
the authoritative announcement was