P a g e 4 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y Tuberculosis? T o w e r , M o n t a n a There is no medicine that will cure consumption (called such because the patient rapidly loses weight and seems to be “consumed”). It is a waste of time and money to use so-called “consumptive cures”. It is important to breath air that is fresh and pure, to eat an abundance of good food, and to stop heavy work and worry. To obtain the first, the patient must live out of doors. Also, use counterirritation over the diseased spot in the lung with tartar emetic ointment. On December 15, 1873, in Philadelphia, George W. Cass, Charlemagne Tower, Thomas L. Jewett, William G. Moorhead, John K. Ewing and A.B. Nettleton incorporated the Northwest Company for the purpose of mining and milling silver ore from the Speckled Trout Lode located in the vicinity of Philipsburg, Montana Territory. A ten-stamp silver mill was constructed and the settlement that grew up around the operations was named Tower after Charlemagne Tower. Tower was occasionally also known as Stumptown. Other mines opened, and operated until 1893 when the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act forced the closure of many silver mines throughout the country. The late 1890's and early 1900's saw the gradual reopening of the mines. The World War I years of 1917-1918 saw a major boom in mining manganese, another metal abundant in the area. Manganese was in great demand for the hardening of steel for the war effort. After the war, manganese dioxide was in demand for use in dry-cell batteries and ores from this area were unexcelled for the purpose. Manganese mining continued until 1968. The population of Tower, said to be in the hundreds at one time, gradually declined. The last two deep level mines, The True Fissure and The Scratch Awl, closed in 1971. A few small silver mining operations near the surface continued until the early 1980's. 1880 Stagecoach Rules from Wells Fargo Ash Cakes 1 cup white cornmeal 1/2 cup flour (optional) 1/2 tsp. salt Water Mix dry ingredients. Add enough cold water to make a firm dough. Form the dough into thin cakes. Clear coals from an area of the campfire and lay the cakes on the hot earth. Rake coals and ash over the cakes and let them bake for about five minutes. 1. Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink, share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly. 2. If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the Gentle Sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted but spit WITH the wind, not against it. 3. Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children. 4. Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort during cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver. 5. Don’t snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger’s shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result. 6. Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses. 7. In the event of runaway horses, remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry coyotes. 8. Forbidden topics of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings. 9. Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It’s a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.
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