Our Town 100 Years Ago...August Part II

Mining was the newsmaker in the Jefferson Valley in late August 1896. Outside of our valley, there was a national debate on backing the dollar with silver; a yacht race on Lake Erie was canceled due to a lack of wind while in the Ohio Valley, the Green oil field sustained over $100,000 in damage from severe wind that knocked over oil derricks and lightning killed livestock and destroyed several barns. The following is taken as written from the August 21 and 28 editions of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr. The accompanying photo is an ad that appeared in the paper during that time.

Mining News: The Butte Miner of Wednesday says: Negotiations for the sale of the three mines known as Mayflower Nos. 1, 2, and 3, near Whitehall, are pending, and will probably be closed this week, the price being $150,000 cash for the three properties. The present owners are E. M. Clark, C. J. Pruett, and S. R. Fair are all well-known residents of this city. The mine on which the most work has been done is Mayflower No. 3, from which $50,000 in gold has been taken in the past six weeks.

The State Mine, over in the Bigfoot district, is still coming to the front in fine style. A new strike of high-grade ore has recently been made there; a quantity will be taken to Iron Rod for a mill test, and if it should be found that it can be treated successfully in that manner a mill will be put on the property. Ore bins are being constructed and a wagon road is being constructed. The State is destined to become a great producer.

Gaylord: A reservoir 150x250 feet in dimension and eight feet deep is being constructed on the hill back of the ore-house, to furnish water for use in the works and for fire protection. It will have an elevation of about 80 feet, thus giving ample pressure, and as it will contain 1,600,000 gallons of water, there will be no lack in quantity, and as it will be pumped by immense steam pumps from the canal-which of course is the same as taking it from the Jefferson River-the quality will be of the best.

The 1200-foot tunnel being run to furnish the town with water for everyday use will be completed in about 30 days.

Personal Chat and Zephyrettes: Prospectors, experts, and capitalists are getting somewhat numerous hereabouts, irrespective of party affiliations. Clara Belle and Josie Palmer, who was sent to the county bastille from here a few weeks ago turned up in Butte last week, and after being warned to leave the city were sent to jail for 60 days on a charge of vagrancy. A. McArthur, accompanied by C. H. Honaker, has gone to Deer Lodge. No, they are not going to stay long-only a few days. Being in the butchering business has no connection with their trip to the city where so many go for a prolonged stay. An employee at the Gaylord brickyard was looking for scrap for several days and got one last Wednesday.

After Dr. Haviland had put six or eight stitches in his scalp and otherwise patched and mended him up, he surveyed himself in a looking-glass and then wanted to know whether he had been run through the pulverizer or a threshing machine.

Echoes of the Rail: Engineer Bill is trying to find a ranch upon which to cultivate a crop of disturbance. Engineer Ross is trying to cultivate a mustache and run the engine at the same time. The owners of spring poultry are giving a sigh of relief since bridge foreman James Monahan and his crew have left the branch to go to the east end, for be it known that Monahan and his gang are the worst descriptions of spring chicken exterminators.

In 1922, Germans in the working and middle class were facing unbearable inflation. Milk had risen 60 percent in just three days and housing rents were fixed at 450 percent of pre-war prices. In Paris, the first Women's World Games for track and field were held. Babe Ruth was thrown out of a game for the 5th time. In Montana, the engineer for Butte Waterworks was sent to Warm Springs asylum, and the paper reports that some say the Butte water may have been the cause of his mental derangement. Here in the Jefferson Valley, things were a little quieter. The following news items are based on notes taken by Roy Milligan, Sr.

We have plenty to report in agriculture news this week. Hail was an unwelcome visitor on the Parrott Bench and up the North Boulder. The rest of the valley was thankful it missed them. The Irvine ranch is currently keeping between 30 and 40 men employed. Last year the ranch shipped 58 carloads of alfalfa and the crop this year will be even larger. Mr. Irvine has added a Victory Garden of oats and his Dicklow wheat is producing 50 bushels per acre. These new seeds are from Montana State College.

T. T. Black is representing our Jefferson Valley as the branch manager for the Federal Land Bank. Loans are currently available and can be obtained for 33 years at 6.5 percent.

Ralph Shaw has added a new Case steel separator threshing machine. He should be finishing his harvest a little faster this fall. Mr. Ballard is now the manager of the Turkey Red Threshing Company.

About 16 years ago, he was the first farmer to grow winter wheat in the Hollow. The Ranchland ranch is making a good profit on their rye seed, selling it for $2.50 per 100 pounds.

The alarm bell you heard last week was for the fire in the Less building. The Baker and Black brothers worked feverishly to get their supplies out, being afraid the entire block would become charcoal; but, the fire was controlled by our efficient fire department. Mr. Less is now having a fire sale.

Charles Baker and Merritt Davison will be representing Whitehall at the National Guard shooting competition in Toledo. We hope the big city does not get the boys distracted from hitting their target.

Thomas Clary, a 20-year resident in the Little Pipestone area 12 miles west of town has passed away.

He was once a foreman at the Heinze smelter in Butte. He leaves behind his wife, one son, and one stepson.

If you are one of the local ladies in favor of the latest bobbed hairstyle, Whitehall Drug has the essential Bobbie comb on sale this month.

Nora Joyce of Whitehall and Peter Hart of Cardwell should have stayed away from the hooch. Joyce will be taking a 30-day vacation in the county Hoosegow along with a $100 fine for operating her still. Mr. Hart is enjoying a similar outcome.