Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-04-18

ships Of that period it must have
seemed anything but romantic.
Sam HauSer became a partner with
Wilbur F.. Sanders In the mining and
banking business. Sanders was the
young lawyer who had successfully
prosecuted George Ives and after the
miners jury found him guilty made
the motion that he be forthwith hung
This act Of heroism in the face of bit
ter opposition and threats from the
Plummer gang of cutthroats Of which
Ives was second in command, brought
enduring honor and renown 10 Colonel
Sanders and a page in Montana's his
tory that win never be forgotten.
First SmeIter
The first smelter was erected by
Hauser on Rattlesnake creek near Ban
mack. Later he organized the Helena
and Jefferson railway line which Is
now part Of the Great Northern's
Butte TO Helena line. With another
distinguished pioneer, A. NJ. Hotter, and
two eastern associates, he became an
owner of the immensely productive
Parrot mine in Butte. He was heavily
interested In the famous old Alta Hill
and smelter at WickeS and later the
new smelter at East Helena. He or
ganized banks at Butte, Helena, Mis-
soula and Fort Benton. And then came
what was undoubtedly his most out
achievement the Montana
Power Co., which was to construct
dams and power plants at Canyon
Ferry. Hauser lake and Hotter on the
river.
by Cleveland
1t was largely in recognition of his
will to accomplish and make
possible these many great enterprises
that meant so much to Montana, that
President Cleveland in 1885 asked Sam
Hauser to accept appointment as Gov
srnor OF Montana. Largely at the in
sistence of his friends he accepted but
With the characteristic statement, Yves,
I'll take the job until you find some
one else but can't sit In an easy
chair when there is a lot of other
business I should be attending to-" He
in February, 1897 and was
succeeded by Preston H. Leslie, a for
ner governor Of Kentucky.
So when a group Of Montana's lead
ng citizens met at the Montana club |
n Helena Aug. %, 1908, 1t was to |
express their admiration and respect |
md to formally recognize the ability 1
md energy Of this man who for as
ears had devoted his life to building /
Montana. Distinguished citizens from
many parts of the state were in at
enhance. Judge E. C. Day presided as
postmaster and throughout the eve
ling 1t was a continuous outburst Of
pontaneous appreciation and enthus-
aSm for the honoTed guest.
Among the speakers who added their
'ean Of praise for Governor Hauser
gere Governor Edwin L. Norris, former
sov. Joseph X. Toole, Senator Thomas
I. Carter, former Congressman Major
dartin Maginnis, Judge William H.
Iunt, Or. o. M. Lanstrum and Larry
>obeI, editor Of the Butte Miner, and
representative Of Senator W.
!. Clark who was In the east. Also In
luded in the group we're Senators T.
! Power Of Helena and Lee Mantle of {
lutte.
When Governor Hauser was called
pom he modestly but feelingly stated !
nat whatever he had been able to
ccomplish was largely due to the (
earty cooperation Of many Of Mon ]
ana's citizens without whose help these {
Enterprises would not have been pos I
bic. He spoke Of his darkest hour
hen the steel dam at Hauser lake I
elapsed under the terrific strain and {