June 16th

This morning Adams and Morse were up at before 5 am to see the Bear Paw Mountains (the first mountains they ever saw). Soon after we saw the Highwood mountains and the Little [Pelt?] Mountains. North of these ranges had some snow on them. Party harmonious and everything promises agreeable companionship during the summer. We have heard reports of a Cheyenne outbreak south of the Yellowstone, which makes me anxious about Edith, [There is great rivalry among these small towns. Each blows its own trumpet with [MS illegible]. Their situations were so similar and showed no apparent advantage over any other part of the plains that I was curious to know their origin. Our inquiry it turned out as follows: every few miles from six to twelve, the railroad would put in a short side track, in order that trains could conveniently pass each other without waiting very long, and load the cars with wheat. The farmers would then [bring?] their wheat to this point for shipment. An elevator company would put up an elevator to receive this wheat, someone would start a store, and it by [MS illegible] the town would be settled, and grow.]

Air (dry) and clear. The [degrees?] of the climate is indicated by the nature of the erosion - it is very much like that in Colorado. This morning and [MS illegible] over passed this grazing land, having left the wheat region behind.

The three hours before reaching Helena were very interesting. The mountains were [MS illegible] and showed many curious crags. At Helena we could make connections with the N.P. train and as the time tables had been changed, and thus not giving me time for morning and afternoon magnetic observations, even if I should wait more than a day, I decided to push on. We met Edith and Miss Andrews as they were leaving the train and we all went on together. From Helena on the trip is very interesting. It was beautiful crossing the water-shed; soon after we went to bed.