USA > Montana > Yellowstone County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 40
USA > Montana > Park County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 40
USA > Montana > Dawson County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 40
USA > Montana > Rosebud County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 40
USA > Montana > Custer County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 40
USA > Montana > Sweet Grass County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 40
USA > Montana > Carbon County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 40
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The members of the rescuing party showed themselves to be of indomitable courage. Among the most daring of these were Wm. Haggerty, Samuel Hasterlick, James McAllis- ter, Fred Willey, and E. J. McLean, who worked like veritable trojans and vastly aided in recovering the bodies of the dead miners.
From the facts brought out at the coroner's inquest, the jury found that these men had met their death as a result of the carelessness of the officials of the mine who had not reported the existence of the damp in the mine.
. The fires which had been raging in these mines for fifteen years, broke out in the new workings at this time and for the past two months a large fire fighting force has been em- ployed at the mines. The fire was placed un- der control about the middle of July and now the miners have gone back to the work of min- ing coal and by September Ist of this year, it is expected that the mines will be working in full blast again.
Because of the big fire which occurred in 1900, and which destroyed the record books of the city, it is impossible to ascertain with any degree of certainty, the names of the men- bers of the council of the city of Red Lodge prior to that time. The officers of the city since its incorporation, so far as can be ac- curately learned, are as follows :
1892-Mayor, Wm. O'Connor; city clerk, T. C. Ross.
1893-Mayor, Wm. O'Connor; clerk, T. C. Ross.
1894-Mayor, E. E. Esselstyn; clerk and attorney, Geo. W. Pierson.
1895-Mayor, J. M. Fox ; clerk and attor- ney, Geo. W. Pierson. Mr. Pierson resigned
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HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
during his term of office and G. D. O'Shea was appointed.
1896-Mayor, Geo. G. Hough ; clerk, J. R. Andrews.
1897-Mayor, Geo. G. Hough; clerk, R. L. Davis.
1898-Mayor, Wm. Larkin ; clerk and at- torney, Geo. H. Bailey.
1899-Same as 1898.
1900-Mayor, Wm. Larkin; clerk and at- torney, Geo. H. Bailey ; aldermen, A. E. Fla- ger, T. R. Austin, Fred Willey, Dan Davis, Emil Romersa, and M. H. Lucas; city treas- urer, Edward Olcott ; police magistrate, Oscar Geanstromn.
1902-Mayor, W'm. Larkin; clerk and at- torney, Geo. H. Bailey ; aldermen, John Dunn, A. Morrison, S. Reuland, Emil Romersa, M. H. Lucas, A. E. Flager; treasurer, Edward Olcott ; police magistrate, Oscar Geanstrom.
1902-Mayor. C. C. Bowlen ; clerk and at- torney, Geo. H. Bailey ; aldermen, W. A. Tal- mage, B. Hart. F. A. Sell, A. Morrison, John Dunn, Wm. Haggerty; treasurer, E. J. Mc- Lean : police magistrate, L. P. Sichler.
1903-Mayor C. C. Bowlen; clerk and at- torney, G. W. Pierson ; aldermen, J. S. Rob- bins, Geo. Burke, W. S. Hall, W. A. Tal- mage, B. Hart, F. A. Sell; treasurer, E. J. McLean ; police magistrate, L. P. Sichler.
1904-Mayor, S. D. Metier ; clerk and at- torney, Geo. W. Pierson; aldermen, Lewis Chapman, Martin Wood, Thos. Donahue, Geo. Burke, W. S. Hall, J. S. Robbins ; treas- urer, E. J. McLean; police magistrate, Chas. Wilson.
1905-Mayor, S. D. Metier ; clerk and at- torney. Geo. W. Pierson; aldermen, Roger Fleming, H. C. Provinse, J. F. Flaherty, J. M. Logan, Lewis Chapman, E. P. Ricketts ; treas- urer, E. J. McLean ; police magistrate, Chas. Wilson.
1906-Mayor, T. R. Austin ; clerk and at- torney. Geo. W. Burke; aldermen, Roger Fleming, Frank Valentine, H. C. Provinse,
Oscar Johnson, Wallace Hayworth, J. M. Logan ; treasurer, E. J. McLean ; police magis- trate. M. H. Lucas.
Red Lodge has the destinction of having the only socialist mayor in the State of Mon- tana, in the person of T. R. Austin.
The city is well supplied with churches, having six church organizations with good memberships. The Congregational church is the oldest organization, having started in the old log school house in the summer of 1890. It now has a membership of about sixty. The Calvary Episcopal was the second church or- ganization in the city and this also started in 1890. It lias a membership of about sixty-five. St. Agnes Catholic church was established in 1893 and enjoys having the largest member- ship of any church in the city, having 677 members. The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran is second in membership in the city having about 600 members in good standing. The Methodist Episcopal church which was started in 1891, has a membership of about seventy- five. The Adventists also have a church or- ganization, but do not hold regular weekly services.
Eight secret societies have organizations and all are in a flourishing condition. They are:
Carbon County Lodge, No. 56, A. O. U. WV. Bear Tooth Lodge, No. 534, B. P. O. E. Brondel Court, No. 1493. Catholic Order of Foresters. Red Lodge Aerie, No. 742, F. O. E. Garfield Lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F. Star in the West Lodge No. 40, A. F. & A. M. Summit Camp No. 328, W. O. W. Red Lodge Cabin, No. 4, Fraternal Order of Mountaineers, recently instituted.
The following is a summary of the condi- tions as they exist at present :
Red . Lodge, with a population of over 3.000, is situated at the terminis of the Rocky Fork and Cooke City branch of the Northern Pacific railroad, 44 miles from the main line and 45 miles from the Yellowstone National
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HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
park by trail over the Bear Tooth Mountains. It has a good water works system owned by the city, an electric plant, two telephone ex- changes, a fire department that would be the pride of any city, of like size, three banking in- stitutions, three hotels, and scores of handsome homes and business blocks. It is the center of the largest measure of semi-bituminous coal in the west, and also the center of a large agri- cultural, stock raising and wool growing area, and exports annually large consignments of hay, grain and vegetables. The variety of its resources, the beauty of its environs, the purity of its water supply, and the health producing qualities of its climate all combine to add to its attractiveness as a home and business location.
BRIDGER.
Bridger is a flourishing village on the Northern Pacific railroad and Clark's Fork river. twenty-five miles northeast of Red Lodge and 45 miles southwest of Billings. It was platted February 27, 1902, by A. H. We- they, and is located on section 21, township 6. south range 23, east, M. P. M. It is the center of a rich coal mining and stock raising dis- trict and near the town are found large stucco beds which have been worked for the past ten years almost continuously. The town has a bank. three hotels, school and opera house with a seating capacity of 300, a creamery, with a capacity of 300 pounds per day, a good water system and an electric light plant. It has a population of about 300 and will soon vote on the question of incorporation. It has telephone connections with Red Lodge and Joliet and daily stages to Red Lodge, Joliet, Golden and Riverview. The only church organization is the Methodist Episcopal church which is largely attended. It has three secret societies, the Brotherhood of American Yoeman, Fores- ters of America, Court No. 6, and Camp No. 6819 of the Modern Woodmen of America.
JOLIET.
Joliet is the second town in importance ir Carbon county, both in the matter of popula- tion and volume of business transacted. It is situated in the midst of the largest and best agricultural district in the county, on the Rocky Fork and Cooke City branch of the Northern Pacific railroad, 26 miles north of Red Lodge and 17 miles northwest of Brid- ger. The town is about half a mile from the railroad and the station name is Wilsey. Con- tains a bank, flour mill, hotel, live weekly newspaper, the Joliet Journal, and other lines of business common to small towns. It has long distance telephone connections with out- side points and a rural free delivery service. Stage daily, except Sunday between Bridger and Gebo.
The population is about 300 and the ques- tion of incorporation is soon to be voted on by the residents of Joliet and present indications point to a large vote for the proposition.
GEBO.
The station name for which is Fromberg is a village on the Northern Pacific railroad and Clark's Fork river, which was first settled in 1897 and platted April 20, 1898, by Fred- erick H. Davis. It is twenty miles northeast of Red Lodge and seven miles north of Brid- ger, the banking point. It is located in the midst of a good coal mining district and a con- siderable amount of coal is shipped from this point every year.
OTHER TOWNS.
Absarokee is a postoffice on Stillwater creek, 35 miles northwest of Red Lodge and 13 miles southwest of Columbus, the nearest banking and shipping point on the Northern Pacific railroad.
2.10
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
Bowler is a village first settled in 1892, 011 the Burlington and Missouri river railroad and Sage creek, 40 miles east of Red Lodge and 18 miles southwest of Bridger, the bank- ing point on the Northern Pacific railroad, and 48 miles southwest of Billings. Stage every other day to Bridger.
Carbon is a station on the Rocky Fork branch of the Northern Pacific railroad, 38 miles southwest of Billings.
Chance is a postoffice and settlement 18 miles southeast of Red Lodge, the shipping point on the Northern Pacific railway, and 20 miles southwest of Bridger, the banking point. Stage and mail tri-weekly from Red Lodge.
Dean is a country postoffice 35 miles northwest of Red Lodge, the banking point, and 30 miles southwest of Columbus, the ship- ping point on the Northern Pacific railway. Mail and stage daily from Columbus.
Edgar, a station on the Clark's Fork branch of the Northern Pacific railway, 31 miles southwest of Billings and six miles southwest of Silesia, the postoffice.
Ewing, a post office on the Big Horn river. 70 miles southeast of Red Lodge, 60 miles south of Billings, the banking point, and 30 miles southeast of Bowler, the shipping point, on the Burlington railroad.
Fishtail, a country post office on the Rose- bud creek, 35 miles northwest of Red Lodge and 20 southwest of Columbus on the North- ern Pacific railway, the shipping and banking point. Has stage to Absarokee and Columbus.
Fromberg is a postoffice and the station name for Gebo, 20 miles northeast of Red Lodge, seven miles north of Bridger, the bank- ing point, and 38 miles southwest of Billings.
Linley, a country postoffice, 17 miles from
Red Lodge, the shipping and banking point, on the Northern Pacific railway.
Riverview is a country postoffice on Clark's Fork River. established in 1901, 18 miles east of Red Lodge and 15 miles south of Bridger. the banking and shipping point. Mail tri-weekly from Bridger.
Roberts is a postoffice, the station name for which is Merritt, on the Northern Pacific railway, and Rock creek, 12 miles north of Red Lodge, the banking point. Long distance telephone connections.
Rockvale is a postoffice and flagstation on the Northern Pacific railway, settled in 1893. 30 miles northeast of Red Lodge and 6 miles from Joliet. the banking point.
Roscoe is a country postoffice first settled in 1901 on the Big Rosebud river, 22 miles west of Red Lodge, the banking and shipping point on the Northern Pacific railroad. Stage and mail tri-weekly from Red Lodge.
Silesia is a postoffice and station on the Rocky Fork branch of the Northern Pacific railway, at the junction of the Clark's Fork branch, 35 miles northeast of Red Lodge and 19 northeast of Bridger, the banking point.
Tony, a country postoffice 12 miles south of Red Lodge, the banking point. Mail tri- weekly from Red Lodge.
Bearcreek, a new town just started five miles east of Red Lodge, in the midst of a large coal mining district. Platted September 6. 1905, by Geo. T. Lamport and wife and Robert Leavens and wife. Bearcreek post- office was established in May, 1906.
Belfry, new town at junction of Clark's Fork and Yellowstone Park railway. Platted July 26, 1905, by F. A. Hall, president Belfry Townsite company.
CHAPTER III
DESCRIPTIVE.
Carbon county has been aptly and correctly named the "Gem of the Mountains." This county was formed and organized in 1895 from what was formerly a part of the Crow Indian reservation and which was ceded to the government in 1892 and thrown open to set- tlement. It lies between the Yellowstone and Stillwater rivers on the north and west, the Wyoming state line on the south and the Crow Indian reservation on the east; comprising seventy miles east and west by forty-five miles north and south.
Not in all the broad domain of the "Treas- ure State of Montana" are the natural resour- ces more fittingly adapted for the agriculturist and stock-grower than are those within the boundaries of Carbon county. The numerous small streams flowing down its fertile valleys furnish an abundant supply of water for irrigat- ing purposes not surpassed by any other agricul- tural section of the state. Water for irriga- tion, domestic and power purposes is furnished by the Yellowstone, Stillwater, Rosebud and Clark's Fork rivers and their tributaries, mak- ing it the best watered county in the state. In the southeast corner of the county are the Prior mountains and in the southwest are the Bear- tooth mountains, both offering an unlimited and everlasting supply of the finest of water and timber, and along the streams and ridges running through the county are large bodies of timber within easy reach of all. The nat- ural conformation of the county is a succes- sion of broad, rich valleys between wide, open ridges, running north from the mountains to the Yellowstone river.
In the past years the rills and valleys of what now comprises the county of Carbon were
monopolized by large herds of cattle and sheep, but since the valleys have been settled upon and the streams fenced in to a large ex- tent, the great herds have been reduced, until the stock is almost entirely owned by the small owners and ranchmen. The hills and grazing lands back from the streams will always afford plenty of pasture lands for small herds of stock, and the rapid development of the coal mining industry provides a ready home market for the products of both farm and ranch.
Alfalfa, the staple fodder for cattle, sheep and hogs, is being raised on nearly every ranch in the county and the yield for a season is from three to six tons to the acre. Barley, equal in every respect to the noted product of the Gallatin valley, is grown here, and finds a ready sale in the eastern markets. Oats yield from sixty to eighty busliels to the acre, wheat from thirty-five to forty bushels and other grains in proportion. Flax is also grown suc- cessfully and the farmers are encouraged to make it a staple crop. Potatoes yield prolifi- cally and attain unsurpassed perfection. Small fruits are raised in all the valleys and yield largely. Their culture has paid well and farmers are every year devoting more attention to their production. The experiments in the growing of apples, grapes and plums have proven successful and many orchards have been planted, promising to make Carbon one of the fruit counties of the state. The rapidity with which all vegetation responds to the genial influence of warmth and moisture is marvelous, and the productiveness of the soil excites the wonder of those unaccustomed to farming operations under the influence of ir- rigation. The principal agricultural valleys
16
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HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
of the county are the Clark's Fork, Rocky Fork, Stillwater and Rosebud and its tribu- taries.
However much Carbon county may be blessed with agricultural and stock-growing resources, the fact must not be lost sight of that her coal mining industry is one of the chief institutions of the state. The entire county is underlaid with seemingly inexhaust- able measures of semi-bituminous coal, which cannot be surpassed for steaming and heat- ing purposes. The mines at Red Lodge have been worked continually since 1889, and the coal is being used on railroads, in smelters, mills and for domestic purposes from St. Paul to the Pacific coast. These mines employ 650 men and indirectly support as many more, while their production during the past year has amounted to more than half a million tons. At Bridger the coal measures have been devel- oped and a mining plant erected which will soon be shipping from 150,000 to 250,000 tons of coal a year. At Gebo a company has put in a plant that will have an equal capacity. At Bear Creek, which is supposed to be the great- est coal field ever explored in the west, work is progressing rapidly. With the advent of the Yellowstone Park railway into the town of Bear Creek, which will occur in August, that coal camp will take on new life. Everything is now in readiness for the shipment of several hundred tons of coal per day, as soon as the transportation facilities will permit.
The town of Bear Creek is situated in a narrow gulch, which has been surveyed and laid out in town lots for a distance of two miles. The town already has one general store. drug store, restaurant, five saloons, livery barn, butcher shop, etc., and when the mines are run- ning on full time a water system will be added, when water will be brought several miles from the headwaters of Bear Creek to supply the town.
The Bear Creek Coal company owns 720 acres of coal lands in the vicinity of the town
and these are all developed by tunnels, the longest one being 1,200 feet in length. There are six tunnels on the property and all show coal from six to fourteen feet in thickness. A complete coal plant has been installed on the property and is already to begin operations. Several large electric dynamos have recently been added to the equipment, which will fur- nish all the power that will be used in the mine.
Off to the left of the Bear Creek property about two miles and near the top of the hill, are situated the Mushbach and Rosetta prop- erties, which are now being worked. This mine has been developed by a number of tun- nels and the quality of the coal is all that could be asked for. The percentage of carbon is high and, like all Bear Creek coal, is excellent for steaming and heating purposes.
To the west of the Bear Creek Coal com- pany's holdings are located the. properties of the Amalgamated Copper company, which owns 3,000 acres of virgin coal lands, all of which have been developed more or less by shafts and tunnels. A large amount of land held by this company has been prospected with diamond drills to depths of several hundred feet with excellent results. The railroad now building into that country will touch all of these properties and several hundred tons of coal will be shipped from that vicinity daily with the completion of the road.
Butte and Helena parties are also inter- ested in the same field and they are making ar- rangements at present for the active develop- ment of their properties which lie to the south and on the extension of the Cooke City exten- sion of the Yellowstone Park railroad. It is understood upon the best of authority, that these mines will furnish a large amount of coal to the smelters of Cooke City when the latter resume operations. The haul from the mines to the smelters will be a short one, while the quality of the coal is the same as found on the Bear Creek side of the mountains.
The Northwest Improvement Co., which
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HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
owns the coal mines at Red Lodge, have large holdings in this field and active development work is soon expected to start upon their prop- erties. The Montana Coal and Iron Co. is another of the large owners of coal land here upon which development work has been started, and this, property is expected to commence shipping in the near future.
The branch line ot the railroad from Belfry to Bear Creek will be co .. .. eted before con- struction is commenced On the extension to Cooke City, as the coal companies have large contracts to fill. But the grading to Cooke will probably be completed this fall and the steel laid in the spring.
A number of other minerals have also been disco.red on the Bear Creek side of the moun- tains, which show low grade values in gold, silver and copper. A number of promising claims have been held by old timers in that section for years and with the advent of the new road these will became shippers and pro- ducers to a large degree.
Near the headwaters of Butcher creek, about fifteen miles west of Red Lodge, are petroleum fields, where the crude petroleum oozes out of the sandstone. The principal de- velopment work has been carried on by Thomas Cruse and associates of Helena. These gentlemen have sunk four wells, two of which have penetrated the first oil sand and show oil in the well in good quantity. Mr. Cruse has recently purchased the interests of his associ- ates and it is expected that in the near future another great industry will be added to Carbon county's wealth.
Along the base of the Beartooth mountains, in the southwest corner of the county, are im- mense reefs of the finest quality of limestone, from which a great deal of lime has been man- ufactured and is being used almost exclusively in the towns of southeastern Montana.
Eight miles distant from Bridger a plaster of paris mill has been in operation for several years past, and the product shipped to all parts
of the state. The puality of the cement is of the best, and the gypsum deposit, from which it is manufactured, is practically inexhaustable. Gypsum deposits are a valuable asset to the in- dustrial welfare of a county, and especially so where the original deposit will run 80 to 90 per cent in purity as does this quarry. Con- tractors of wide experience in the use of plas- ter of paris and stucco have pronounced the product of this mill equal to any they have at- tempted to use and better than most. As an in- dustry it cannot be said to be more than barely started, but its future is undoubtedly of com- mercial importance as plaster of paris and its compounds are coming into greater popularity in the building trades.
Immense sulphur deposits and mountains of purest marble are situated on some of the tributaries of the Clark's Fork river, and iron ore also abounds in the mountains, and will become valuable for smelting and maunfactur- ing purposes.
Dairying is rapidly becoming a promi- nent industry in Carbon county and three large creameries have been established in the county. The creamery at Bridger has been in opera- tion for some time, but the creameries at Red Lodge and Fishtail have been established re- cently. They are all established on the co-op- erative plan and all are doing a thriving business.
The annual production of thousands of pounds of honey is another of Carbon county's resources and one that is rapidly growing. A large number of the farmers of this section have gone into the bee raising industry with profitable results.
The importation of thoroughbred draft horses for breeding purposes into this county has added much to the wealth of the county, both in the increase of good horses and the value of them.
The climatic conditions in Carbon county, taken the year round, are as healthy as any portion of the United States. The report of
244
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
the signal service observers show that this sec- tion of Montana enjoys more sunshine than any section of country in the world. The win- ters are presumably cold but in recent years climatic conditions have changed and very cold weather is the exception, for example, during the winter just passed there was only one week at Red Lodge-altitude 5,548 feet-one of the highest points in the county, when the ther- mometer reached the zero point. In the lower
valleys it sometimes gets extremely warm dur- ing the summer, but the heat is not of the debilitating character, and by reason of the alti- tude and close proximity to the mountains, the nights are always cool. The climate in the fall is delightful. The springs are short and not disagreeable, and, all things considered, a more pleasant place of residence cannot be found for a person enjoying ordinarily good health.
CHAPTER IV
EDUCATIONAL.
The year 1889 marks the beginning of the educational history of the county of Carbon. The town of Red Lodge, which was at that time a part of Park county, had assumed an air of stability and the four hundred souls who then comprised the population of this growing town realized the necessity of educational faci !- ities. Accordingly a school was organized and in September of that year. Miss Annie P. Mc- Anelly took up her duties of teaching the "young idea how to shoot" in a primitive one- roomed log building.
This log building did good service for the next two years, but in 1891, the rapidly in- creasing population made necessary the build- ing of a larger school building and the employ- ment of additional teachers. A four room frame building was erected and a force of four teachers was then employed.
In 1895 the county of Carbon was created and the county commissioners of the new coun -. ty at once divided the county into eighteen school districts, which were as follows :
District No. 1 .- Comprised all of sections 1, 2. 3, 4. 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 15,
16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35. 36, in townships 7 and 8, range 20, east, and all of township 7, in range 21, east.
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