Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-04-17

copies OF such other papers as the
members may select. II attainable. Mo-
ton carried.
At that time Montana territory pos
sessed but one newspaper. The Mon
tana Post. founded July, 1864, at Viz
ginia City. John Buchanan was the
first editor and NJ NJ Manner was
the first operator Of the hand lever.
The worlds late news was then OBJ
tanned from St. Louis papers delivered
by steamboat and stage; or from Salt
Lake City; papers moved by the slow
stage route requiring weeks at time
to receive the news from the states"
No Divorce Laws
When Montana was organized as a
territory there were no divorce laws.
but apparently shortly after the first
assembly met. Bannack City was run
ming opposition to our modern Reno.
New, for there were innumerable re-
quests for divorces and separations.
Instead of passing uniform divorce
law, personal bills were introduced for
the purpose and in almost every case
the divorce was granted.
No divorce law was passed until Feb
g. 1865; but even after this date many
divorces were granted by the assembly;
this apparently being more speedy
method Of attaining freedom.
From wide survey Of Montana his
tory and seeking reason for so many
separations in a newly settled land,
we must first consider the environ
ments Of the original trappers, hunt
ers and prospectors. The original trail
blazers were for the most part single
men and it was a dangerous life at
the best. for the country was settled
with warlike tribes of Indians who had
begun to resent the encroachment OF
the whites in killing off their fur and
food supply, as well as settling on the
choicest Of their land. No white women
were here, and it was no place for
/ them.
As a matter of diplomacy, better
opportunity to trade with the natives
as well as companionship in a desolate
! land, we find that the first traders
and miners were married to the fairest
squaws within our borders and they
were ever afterwards known as "squaw
men," Everything went well, at least
until after the miner or trapper made
big stake" His thoughts then car
ried him back to the old home in Mis-
souri, or Kentucky and in short time
/ lie Was llOIIleWdTQ UOlllu 70 ulSpCSe Ol
his big earnings. He once more meets
the old sweetheart of his youth and
they soon venture to the altar. The
wild game and the lure of the gold
beckons him to return to the land OF
freedom in primeval Montana.
Settlers are now beginning to pour
into the territory, so the newly mar
ried pioneer and wife start on the long
trip to the sunset land. They finally
arrive by stage, and a new shadow
appears upon the scene; no sooner
does the much-married man set foot
upon his adopted land but he finds
a dusky Pocahontas with two or three
little Hiawathas there to give him the
glad hand and shout in broken Eng
lish, welcome to our home" This new
triangle complex created great con-
sternation in the newly formed love
nest and hence the urgent demand by
one party or the other for an i'm
mediate divorce. and this is one theory
OF how it came to pass that the first
territorial assembly was so glutted with
urgent appeals for divorce.
Finances and Finale
1t will be noted throughout the pro-
ceedings of the first assembly that nc
appropriations were made or bills al