SEPTEMBER 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Fergus County Argus, May 25, 1898 Linderman Cabin Frank Bird Linderman came to the Montana Territory in 1885, at the age of sixteen, and initially worked as a trapper, guide, miner, and assayer. During these early years he was in frequent contact with various Indian tribes of the region, and began to chronicle their lives and legends. In 1897 Linderman settled in the Ruby Valley with his wife and two daughters in a cabin which he built on Mill Creek; near the thriving camp of Brandon. Soon afterwards, he purchased the assets of a failed Sheridan newspaper for $5 and began publishing The Chinook. Linderman was elected as Madison County’s Representative to the state legislature in 1903 and 1905, and served as Assistant Secretary of State from 1905-07. In 1917, Linderman moved to the Flathead Lake area and devoted himself to preserving the Old West in words and art. He, along with his good friend Charlie Russell, also worked tirelessly in the effort to obtain a “homeland” and treaty rights for the Cree and Chippewa. By the time of his death, in 1938, Frank had authored thirteen books, produced seventeen inspiring bronze sculptures, and the Rocky Boys Reservation had been established. In addition to preserving the stories and beliefs of the buffalo-era Indians of Montana, Linderman had a deep appreciation of our natural resources. He wrote, “I believe in the cultivation of appreciation for the work and beauties of nature as a firm foundation for better citizenship.” Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
P a g e 2 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Thanks to research work by Celeste River, the energetic leadership of Carol Lee and Dr. Warren Swager, and the hard work and generous gifts of several volunteers, the remains of Linderman’s Mill Creek cabin was identified, the VCPA obtained the deed to the cabin, and it was relocated to property adjacent to the Robber’s Roost. The cabin has been beautifully restored and we were thrilled to have Sally Hatfield, granddaughter of Mr. Linderman, attend the dedication ceremonies in 2011. Today the cabin not only serves as a memorial to Frank Bird Linderman, but also provides a wonderful site for meetings…and as a peaceful spot to enjoy the natural beauty of the area…and as the perfect place to sit and read one of Linderman’s books. -Written by Gary Forney, Courtesy of The Virginia City Preservation Alliance at: http:// www.virginiacitypreservationalliance.org/ Bannack, Montana. The Graeter House Augustus Graeter and his wife, Emily Drury were married in Nebraska in 1860 and arrived in Bannack in 1862. Augustus immediately set to work mining. In partnership with A.J. Smith, they constructed the Smith -Graeter Ditch in 1863 to provide water for mining. The Smith-Graeter Ditch along with others helped sustain and contributed to the expansion of mining operations in Bannack. While in Virginia City in January 1864, he witnessed the Vigilantes execute Boone Helm along with Club Foot George Lane, Hayes Lyons, Frank Parish and Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Jack Gallagher. In 1897, his company built the A.F. Graeter gold dredge, which operated along Grasshopper Creek until 1902. He had other business ventures as well and was one of the founders of the State Bank and Trust Co. in Dillon. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com
P a g e 3 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r MINES AND MINING IN PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: Since then the flume has been enlarged, and as it stands today it has not an equal throughout the world. While it is without a peer, it is interesting to notice that at the time of its proposal leading engineers and men of supposed good judgment had deemed it an impossibility. At the present time the mining town of Horr and its coal works are undergoing a general over-hauling, remodeling and enlarging, all under the supervision of Ware B. Gay, of New Jersey, whose ability is not questioned throughout the east as to being an expert mining promoter. It is evident from the present outlook that the town of Horr in a very years will be one of the leading commercial centers of Park county. TRAIL CREEK MINES Of the numerous valuable deposits of coal in Park county, none deserve more favorable attention than those embraced within the Trail Creek district. These measures are situated in the Belt range of mountains about midway between the Cokedale and Horr mines, and distant from Livingston about twenty miles in a southwestern direction. These lands cover an area of over 12,000 acres, including the properties of individuals and the odd numbered sections reserved for the Northern Pacific Railway company under its grant. Coal was first discovered in the Trail Creek District some time during the seventies, by M. M. Black and a few others; but no effort to develop them was made until 1884, when Byam Brothers opened a mine by driving a tunnel one hundred and eighty feet upon the coal vein. Since that time, development work has been going on continually, and the facilities for coal production have been doubled by the recent advent of the Trail Creek railway. MOUNTAIN HOUSE COAL MINES According to the graphic description of these mines by G. C. Swallow, mining engineer of England, we find them located seventeen miles southeast of Bozeman and at the termini of the Trail Creek railway, which is about eight miles in length. These mines extend a distance of one and three-quarters miles from northwest to southeast in the high ridge on the northeast side of Trail creek, containing about three hundred acres. The coal is of the lignite formation, which has a vast development in this part of Montana. Seven beds of coal are observed in this property throughout a formation not more than 300 feet in depth. It is so exposed as to be easily mined, while the strata of rocks, once covering these coal beds, are tipped up to an angle of some 40 degrees by the Earth’s upheaval, thus enabling the easy drainage and operation of the same. Natural Bridge on the Boulder
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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Nearly all of the hanging walls of these coal beds are of strong sandstone and the roofs are so inclined as to need but little support and slight expense, which latter is readily supplied by the abundance of timber in the surrounding neighborhood. H. Bush in the Stoping of the Sowash Mine By the inclination of the beds, one-third more coal is found than in horizontal beds. The seven beds have an average thickness of 70 feet, yielding more than 46 feet of solid, workable coal. The coal is free from all injurious substances, such as the sulphides of iron and lime; but some of the beds contain small masses of native resin, like amber, which increase the flame and heat, while some of these coals will cake and make a good coke. Building brick and stone are found in abundance in various localities along the bench lands. It can be obtained in quantities sufficient for the demands of any city. Limestone is prominent in the western wall of the lower canyon of the Yellowstone, about four miles above Livingston. Here can be seen a solid wall of it one mile in length and one thousand feet in height. The lime produced is of a superior quality, exceeding that of any other locality in eastern Montana, and by its location on the Park Branch railway it promises to be the main supply for the various active mining districts. Fire-brick and tile are found in large deposits at Cooke City, or the New World Mining district, Horr and near Livingston. It is equal in character to the Starbridge, England, product. These deposits have only been worked to a limited extent, and are only waiting for the demand to waken their slumbering resources. Marble has been discovered in the foot-hills of the Yellowstone, or Snowy mountains just opposite Cinnabar. It is susceptible of receiving a high polish, and has been developed sufficiently to prove its value, should an effort be made, or capital secured for its development. BEAR GULCH About five miles east of Gardiner and on the southern boundary of Park county is located the most wideawake gold mining camp in the state of Montana today. The first placer gold in Bear Gulch was discovered by Uncle Joe Brown in '66. Placer mining continued to be worked to a limited extent until '84, when Major Eaton put in operation the most powerful hydraulic apparatus for placer mining in the world at that time. The water had a vertical fall of 400 feet through 1200 The Guest House of H. Bush
P a g e 5 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r feet of piping 12 inches in diameter. It would drop from a little giant motor through a nozzle 6 inches in diameter. This force was sufficient to bend an ordinary iron Bear Gulch Mining Camp bar double. This mode of development continued until '85, when work was suspended owing to a disagreement among the property holders. James Graham and Uncle Joe Brown discovered the first quartz in 1870, but owing to the difficult mode of transportation it remained inactive until '84, when Major Eaton put in a five-stamp and saw mill combined. This work came to a standstill in '86 from the same cause as the previous workings. The gulch now remained quiet until '90, when Edgerton & Jewell, of Helena, opened up the old mill by a fivestamp addition, working it success fully until the crisis of '93, when the camps again and for the second time in their history, took on a state of inaction, remaining in this way until July 28, 1898, when H. Bush arrived. It was at once evident that he possessed all the zeal and enthusiasm for the establishment of a foundation for the mining industry of Bear Gulch—one that could breast any of the former difficulties which had existed there previously, and at the same time a foundation that would accept no standstill in its industrial development that would in the least have cause to impede its progress. He at once bonded the Legal Tender of the First National bank of Helena, for $150,000, and in less than 60 days he made his first purchase in the Sowash mine. The next purchase was the Revenue, from George Phelps, a mine whose richness has exceeded the wildest expectations of its former owner. From George Welcome he now purchased the Keets, West Point, W. W. Dixon, North Star and Norse. As soon as quartz mines were purchased Mr. Bush at once put experts at work to develop them, and at the same time prove to the world at large that his judgment in such line of work is faultless. Shortly after getting his quartz interests underway he turned his attention to the purchase of 40 acres of placer ground from Joe Brown, and has just completed a ditch three thousand feet in length, furnishing water for hydraulic mining that is second to none in the state. Thus it has been, while each month new mines are added to his store of hidden wealth. About ten days after Mr. Bush first set his enterprises on foot he had the old stamp mill increased to a twenty-stamp, with new vanners and tables to conform with his ideas of what a stamp mill should be. His next Building Scene in Bear Gulch Mining Camp
P a g e 6 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r move was an order for 2,000,000 feet of the best lumber that would go into mills, buildings, etc., and, never has there been any delay in the development work caused by a lack of material. Since then he has completed and furnished his Guests' House, a building which alone stands with out a peer in the state as to completeness of accommodations and grandness of interior furnishings. In March, 1899, he laid the foundation for his new Revenue stamp mill, with a ground area of 93x120 feet and height of 103 feet, the foundation of which, alone, contains six hundred perch of stone. The construction work required about 400,000 feet of lumber, and it is safe to say that it is the finest stamp mill in America, taking into consideration its water advantages and situation at the mines where everything Foundation of the Revenue Stamp Mill is handled by gravity, requiring the labor of two men for the operation of forty stamps. Leading from the mine about five hundred feet above is a tramway which discharges into a 200 ton pocket. From here the ore runs into a Cammett crusher which discharges it into a 500-ton pocket. The ore is now fed by eight automatic feeders into the eight batteries of five stamps each. From here it passes over the plates which strike the free gold, and onto a series of eight tables, the middlings of which pass onto a similar number of Frue vanners. These tables and vanners separate the heavy metallic particles from the lighter sand or waste, which are in their turn shipped to the different smelters in Montana. All of the dump cars of this mill are supplied with an automatic device, an invention of U. S. James, the construction superintendent, which unlocks the door, dumps, then closes the door and returns for another load of ore. The ore passes through the chutes by gravity, down over screens where the fine particles are separated from the coarse large rocks and passes directly into the crushers, where it is crushed and prepared for the stamps. From the stamp plates the Pulp passes by gravity onto another device planned by Mr. James, being so constructed and manipulated by certain machinery that it can be distributed to any battery by the will of the operator. In close proximity to this is situated a dial, with numbers thereon corresponding to the numbers of the different batteries. By moving a lever the ore, as it comes from the crusher, can be dumped at any group of stamps by will of the operator, giving the great advantage of supplying them with sufficient ore to keep them busy continuously. The eight plates that catch the free gold are of copper and silver plated. After the pulp passes over the tables and vanners the concentrates then pass into a pit 7x10 and 8 feet deep, in which are placed an automatic sampler, through which it all passes. This is so constructed that a uniform sample can be obtained at all times. Directly over the batteries is built a track, extending the entire length of the building, and upon which is
P a g e 7 placed a crawl which is used in case of a breakage of any heavy machinery. This crawl is brought into position and the broken parts hoisted upon a car, which takes them to the machine shop for repairing. The battery blocks are set in the ground to a depth of fourteen feet and rest on solid hard pan, each one having independent bearings. In operating the stamps with ninety drops per minute, at a distance of five inches, the blocks have never settled the slightest degree from the original. The water for the plant is taken from Bear creek by a ditch with a head of 347 feet and furnishes 500 inches of water. There are two engines, the smaller one being situated back of the larger one, and supplied with sufficient horse-power and so connected by steam pipes and belts that in case of any disability of the larger engine the burden can be placed upon this smaller contrivance and the work of the mill move on uninterrupted. For convenience these engines and boilers are situated above all other machinery, consequently the former have a downward pull and are more firmly held in place thereby, being directly supplied with 280 horse -power boilers. In front of the engines are situated water taps to which are attached a fire hose with sufficient pressure to throw a stream of water over the entire building, and is sufficient in volume for all emergencies. A fire gong is so situated in the mill that all occupants can sound the fire alarm, and by different openings and stairways they can either get out of the building or to the fire. Mr. Bush deserves much honor for this valuable addition to the mining machinery of Montana, while in it are combined originality and the proof of his judgment of what the future of the mining camp will be. Experts acknowledge that this mill is the most complete stamp mill in the world. THE SOW ASH MINE is in direct communication with the old stamp mill, and is developed by over 300 feet of cross-cut, exposing two veins thereby, one with a development for a distance of over 400 feet along its strike, showing a vein from five to thirty feet in width about 90 feet below the surface, while the other vein, encountered by this crosscut is of a more silicous nature, with a development of 175 feet in length along its strike, showing a width of from five to fifteen feet. Stoping operations have only just commenced, there being 200 or more feet of backs yet to stope. It is above the first vein's development that practically all the ore up to date has been extracted. –Read more in next month’s issue! Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Residence of J.P. Sennott Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! To receive it monthly, send an email with NEWSLETTER in the subject line to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com
P a g e 8 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Marysville Road Have you ever driven the road out to Marysville? Here's the history of this scenic route. The road began as a railroad grade for the Montana Central. In 1887, the Northern Pacific and Montana Central railroads raced to complete branch lines to the Drumlummon Mine and Marysville up the narrow canyon. The Northern Pacific’s line ran along one side of Silver Creek while the Montana Central ran on the other side, in the valley. The Northern Pacific won the race and successfully blocked the Montana Central from entering Marysville by refusing to grant it access through its trestle. The Northern Pacific’s route was indeed a remarkable feat of engineering. The tracks clung to the mountainsides, crossing deep gulches, all the while climbing, climbing, until it reached the famous mining camp. The final trestle made an eighteen degree curve into town, swinging the train dramatically over the gulch. The Montana Central, unable to gain access to the trestle, built a depot about 1½ miles below Marysville, but it was too far away and thus not profitable. The Montana Central abandoned the line just a few years later in 1889. The original wagon road to Marysville lay below the Montana Central grade. Once the railroad had been abandoned, travelers began using the abandoned grade and it eventually became the Marysville Road of today. The Northern Pacific’s spectacular trestle dominated the town until 1925 when the railroad pulled up the tracks and removed it. In 1931, a Marysville resident widened the former Montana central grade into its existing configuration. Lewis and Clark County and the Montana Department of Transportation have worked together to improve it. –Ellen Baumler Photo Courtesy of https://digital.denverlibrary.org/ Construction workers in sack suits and overcoats, hold shovels and pose on a Helena and Northern Railroad (a Northern Pacific short line) trestle under construction in Marysville, Montana. Ellen Baumler was an award-winning author and Montana historian. A master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756
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