The Resources Of Montana Territory And Attractions Of Yellowstone National Park.

ROBERT E. STRAHORN

Other works by ROBERT E. STRAHORN

Publication: Published And Circulated By Direction Of The Montana Legislature Special Act of the Eleventh Session, 1879, Helena, Montana

First Edition. Original Printed Wrappers. 77pp.+4pp. of Advertisements including recto of rear wrapper. Map on rear wrapper entitled: "To Montana and Yellowstone Park by Rail Via The Union Pacific and Utah & Northern Railroads." Map on verso of front wrapper entitled: "Map Of Montana Territory 1879." Numerous engraved sketches throughout, many full-page. Sub-Titled: "Facts and Experiences on the Farming, Stock Raising, Mining, Lumbering, and Other Industries of Montana, and Notes on the Climate, Scenery, Game, Fish, and Mineral Springs, With Full and Reliable Data on Routes, Distances, Rates of Fare, Expenses of Living, Wages, School and Church Privileges, Society, Means of Acquiring Homes, and Other Valuable and Reliable Information Applicable to the Wants of the Capitalist, Homeseeker, or Tourist." In 1870, at the age of 18, Robert Strahorn went west for his health, as advised by his doctor. For the next 7 years, as a tramp printer, Strahorn worked as a correspondent for many newspapers in Denver, Greeley, Cheyenne, Central City, and Blackhawk. He served as a correspondent for the Rocky Mountain News, the Chicago Tribune, and others as he accompanied the army during the Sioux Wars of 1876 & 1877. He accompanied the Reynolds Campaign in early 1876, eventually testifying in court martial proceedings related to that campaign. Strahorn accompanied General Crook at the Battle of the Rosebud, a near disastrous fight against Crazy Horse and the Sioux, only days before Custer's defeat. During this campaign, fellow correspondent John Finerty described him as a correspondent "who in every situation proved himself as fearless as he was talented". Crook"s aide-de-camp, John G. Bourke wrote that Strahorn "remained throughout the entire campaign, winter and summer, until the last hostiles surrendered". In 1877, Strahorn's work caught the attention of Union Pacific Railroad president, Jay Gould, who greatly appreciated Strahorn's promotional writings, and hired him to form a literary bureau to write about the areas served by the Union Pacific Railroad, which he did until 1883. This work is a rare and important early promotional for Montana Territory, as well as Yellowstone National Park. It is full of detailed information important to any prospective settler or early visitor to the park. Ex-library copy from the Library of Congress, with a small oval stamp in upper corner of first illustration reading:"Library Of Congress Duplicate Exchanged". Some small, light, penciled notations at bottom of front wrapper, title page, and top edge of first illustration. Additional, very light, oval stamp imprint at top edge of front wrapper which reads:"BureauOf Statistics Apr 5 1881 Received". Some light general soiling to wrappers, bump to upper fore-corner of wrappers and text block, very small chip to fore-edge of rear wrapper, cloth tape used to neatly reinforce spine, and 1" closed-tear to upper edge of front wrapper along spine. In all, a very good copy of this rare Montana promotional.

Inventory Number: 53971