Holter Family papers, 1861-1968.

              PIONEER     LUMBERING    IN     MONTANA.
(The  Timberman,  Portland,  Ore.)
IT is with especial gratiflication that the
Tlmheiman is able to present the intensely
interesting narrative of the early history
of lumbering in Montana, written by Mr.
A. M. Holier, of Helena, at the earnest request
of   this   publication.
Mr. Holier is the father of the lumber indus¬
try in Montana. He went to the then territory
of Montana when it took brave men and stout
hearts to surmount the obstacles which lay in
their paths. When we stop to consider what it
meant to haul a sawmill outfit over one thou¬
sand miles, with the only transportation means
being an ox team, one almost wonders, in this
age of rapidly moving freight trains, how the
feat was accomplished. The story of locating
and setting up the mill reads like a romance.
The reader can just picture to himself the feel¬
ing of dismay which Mr. Holier must have ex¬
perienced when it was finally discovered that
there were several "missing links" in the ma¬
chinery—one thousand miles distant from a
machine   shop.
The ingenuity which was imperatively neces¬
sary to supply the required machinery shows
the native genius of men when "up against it,"
as expressed in the slang vernacular. The suc¬
cessive stages of (financial and competitive trou¬
bles which have followed practically the develop¬
ment of every successful lumber concern are
set forth with a stage setting that only a fron¬
tier life could provide. The description of the
first planer ever employed to dress a hoard in
Montana is full of human interest. The coming
of that planer was an historic event. While it
was a disappointment in point of mechanical
construction, nevertheless, when supplemented
by enough "man power," results were obtain¬
able.
The lumber business of Mbntana has made
great strides since Mr. Holier set up his first
water mill. The developments which have fol¬
lowed in the great lumber states of Idaho,
Wlashington, Oregon and California, and Alaska,
Mr. Holier has witnessed and borne a part. It
must be a source of considerable pride and
gratitude to Mr. Holier, in the autumn of his
well spent life, to feel that in this great develop-
riient he has been a pioneer and factor. May
he live many years in comfort and happiness to
enjoy his legion of friends and still further wit¬
ness the development of the great lumber busi¬
ness of  the West.
We are making histoi'y rapidly these days.
It would 'have been a distinct loss to the his¬
tory of the lumber business of the West if Mr.
Hblter had not taken the time to tell us in his
inimitable way of his trials, achievements and
successes   of   these   early   times.