Old Missoula

*[Reply to Charles Schafft’s “A Veritable History of Hellgate”[1]]

3/21/1874 – New North-West

From Missoula.

A Few Scattering Remarks.

Editor New North-West: –

We have been trying for some time to centralize our ideas of this growing city into a letter that shall be both pleasing and instructive, but we are afraid that we have pressed the matter a little too hard, and instead of a mountain as we fondly supposed, have gotten away with the smallest kind of a mole-hill.

Deferential.

We haven’t any early experiences or drinks in Hell-Gate to recount and dispose of, and are afraid that the bottle-scarred veteran who, from the lee of Levasseur’s pig-pen, dishes up his reminiscences of that halcyon spot in such a pleasing shape would refuse to put up his chin music at our unfamiliar call. There were also a few Jocko items on file, but “Malian Isti” and the Agency Poet have done the subject full justice, and we were brave indeed to enter the lists and try to rehash their cheerful and complete statements of things as they are on the Reservation.

Meteorological.

The Isothermals have been bucking a little of late and we gravitate between spring on the one hand and frozen thermometers on the other with a celerity that is absolutely astounding. These sudden and severe changes of temperature, varied by small falls of the fleecy, render locomotion extremely hazardous. Only yesterday morning we observed a gentlemanly appearing personage suddenly, and without warning, sit down in the middle of the street, take an astronomical observation or two and wind up with a few remarks that to an outsider were sulphureous in character.

Our

Singing School

Under the supervision of Mr. Eddy is being conducted in a manner to please the most fastidious, altho’ at one time a lot of ill-conditioned hoodlums tried (by putting Cayenne pepper upon the stove and other rowdyish acts) to break the class up. But we are happy to state without success, and now the standard of advancement compares favorably with any under the Professor’s management and we jubilate accordingly. We can already “scale the ladder,” and climbing up the same, warble melodiously in four different languages, and intend at the close of the course giving an entertainment which will doubtless eclipse anything of the kind heretofore offered to the citizens of Missoula.

The “Missoulian.”

On account of our friend Mr. Woody having severed his connection with the Missoulian, we may reasonably hope that the paper will come out boldly and take a decided stand under Republican colors, as the present proprietor, Mr. Turk, has a leaning toward those principles, having accepted the Republican nomination for County Treasurer during the last campaign. Not that we are inclined to find fault with Mr. Woody, but decidedly to the contrary. The Missoulian under his editorship has been a true and faithful exponent of the feeling of the people of this country. In most cases it has frankly and fearlessly advocated such measurers as were directly for our interest, and we know of no instance wherein he has opposed the wishes of the people or worked for anything that would not benefit the county at large. We are satisfied however that Mr. Turk is able to keep the paper up to its original standard, and will doubtless make it a financial success as a reliable index of Missoula affairs.

Cedar And Quartz.

We are credibly informed that good pay has lately been found in both Cedar and Quartz Creeks, and also upon a tributary of Cedar, and we are assured by reliable parties that the prospects of the camp for 1874 are brighter than they have been since the first excitement in 1870. The miners are jubilant and confidently expect a rich return for their next summer’s labor.

Mail Contracts.

Which the game that was played on these honest Grangers, in regard to the mail contracts in the Territory was awful, and disgusting to a party of refined feelings. To explain: Nearly every able-bodied citizen in the town had put in a little paper talk for three or four of these routes and were resting in fanciful security until the opening of the bids and awarding of the contracts, when, presto, in steps a lot of strikers and snatch our little chance for perquisites right away from us. ‘Tis no fair thing, and in all probability some of will get burnt plenty. Although that doesn’t concern the Department, which is doubtless aware of and understands its own business.

Personals.

We understand that Mr. James Osborne, who has endeared himself greatly to us during the past winter by his agreeable and graceful address and accommodating disposition, will (as soon as the road is open) take up his line of march for the fabulous gold mines of the Stickeen. We could have better spared others, but in all heartiness and cordiality we wish him a pleasant journey and a successful issue to his enterprise. We also note the advent of Chauncy Barbour, late of your city, who we believe enters the Missoulian office, and it is popularly supposed will give us a taste of his literary abilities. With these few remarks I have the honor to be

Yours, with respects,

Truthful James.

Missoula, March 1874.