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

1t is doubtful If In all Montana's his
tory a more distinguished group Of
business. professional and political
leaders ever assembled than ON the
occasion Of a banquet rendered former
governor Samuel 7. Hauser at the
Montana club in Helena Aug. %, 1908
The name Of Hauser viii always be
associated with the early days of Mon
tana. Samuel 4. Hauser Jr., who
passed away in Helena in November
was the last of that famous family in
Montana. Many stories have been writ
ten about Sam Hauser in the records
of state history before. during and
after territorial days He arrived at
Fort Benton in the spring of 1852
From the day of his arrival he was
destined to have an important part in
the development Of Montana's then
most important industry, mining and
the creation Of law and order in Ban
mack, Virginia City and surrounding
mining camps.
Sam Hauser's activities did not end
with territorial days. He had been q
territorial governor, and always the
marvellous possibilities Of this vast en-
pire continued to inspire him to great
resources. He was the first to realize
what electric power would mean in the
operation of mines and smelters and
for domestic use. Thus it was that he
pioneered the first power dam and
plant at Canyon Ferry in 1893 and
harnessed the Missouri river so that
the potential value Of that mighty
stream would not be lost to the people
of Montana.
An Industrial Leader
Any story written about the life Of
Sam Hauser would be akin to a his
tory of Montana because he had a
leading part in practically every ma
jor industry from the day of his ar
rival until he passed away in Helena
Nov. II, 1914 It is a coincidence that
he should have died in the year that
the first World war started and on
what was to become the anniversary of
Armistice day that marked the end
Of that war
Sam Hauser was born in Kentucky
in 1888. AS a young man he was civil
engineer and worked for a number Of
railroads In Missouri, but his indie
fatigable spirit Of adventure and the
dynamic energy that characterized his
entire life could not be satisfied with
the daily routine of an engineers tri-
pod. So in the spring Of 1862 he ar
rived at Fort Benton the head OF navi- |
CATION. The rumored rich gold deposits
IN Montana looked promising TO him
and in June of that year he journeyed
10 Pioneer, near Gold creek. where gold
was first discovered in Montana In
1851.
The spirit Of adventure still domtn- |
ating his nature he joined q party Of
Is In April, 1853, to explore the yell
owstone country. History relates that
George Ives, the first road agent to
De hung In December Of that year by
he Vigilantes, was q member of the
Yellowstone party. Returning TO Ban
1ack from that trip they met Bill
Eairweather and his party at Virginia
5ity Just as the rich gold deposits of
Alder Gulch were being discovered
here, in June, 1853. Every man staked
nut his claim and went to work in
he famous gulch that by 1869 had pro-
luced some 40 millions in gold and
rom which countless more millions
rave been taken since dredges took
he place of primitive sluice boxes.
The history of those stirring days
eads like a book Of romance but to
hose vigorous, valiant pioneers who
aced the perils OF warning Indians,
road agents and the hard (