The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-06-16
Letter from Fort Benton.
BENTON. June 4th. 1866.

BENTON June 4th, 1866.
EDITOR POST Most of readers are more or less
acquainted with the locality concerning which purpose
saying few words but only very limited number of
these aware of the great improvements that have
lately made in the place This sudden rising up of
is familiar to all western especially miners
but hardly cOmpehended by persons living in the East
Benton stands level stretch of bottom land appar-
emily natural town site Above the present ourishng
commercial depot stand the ruins of the old fort which
still afford shelter to cattle in for which purpose
ii is also used by Indians. Fort Labarge long row of
low huts unoccuped and under attachment debt
Fort Benton proper square structure with two bas
tons at the opposite angles 1t is built principally of
adobes and the outer wall is twenty feet high 1t for
mery owned by the American Fur Company but has been
daily expected to arrive by way of the river During
our stay have had the good fortune partake of the
hospitality of Messrs. j. e. Baker Bro who have charge
of the Fort till the advent of the propretor The
building beautifully clean and except when Indians
there trading one OF the quetes places in the world
The Indians mostly chiefs of the Piegans who to
the Fort the 30h anxious ascertain the feeling
OF the whites the subject of the death of Little Dog and
his They laid all the blame the half breed Isdoe
sort Of emiaborgua stump orator who by his speeches
had strven to prejudice these friendly Indians against
whites This nomadic rebrapd in with the Indians
but made night march in retreat and will certainly
suit his personal safety by remaining distance
Fort and the camp. The is lively at present
owing to the steamboat traffic from below The evee is
crowded with freight and the busy hum of voices heard
from dawn till dark Several fine warehouses ready
to receive the valuable merchandise which is being
stantly landed. ......"
class restaurant institution much needed and
that the furniture of billiard saloon is the way and
Will be used fitting large building in the
of town. The inhabitants of this burgh decline accent
the afx of city, to the of Benton and they are
wise though singular The scarcity of timber even for
fuel in the immediate vicinity w first sight appear to
be serious drawback the rapid growth of the town but
nature has obvated this difficulty for thirty miles north
east of Benton small emptyng into the Mis-
souri, beds of coal of the first quality crop out three
thickness and await only the abors of the miner and the
teamser to supply this deficiency at Benton but the
noDe red man vetoes all attempts at industry in this
region out OF sight of the Fort and Uncle SAM
tady in protecting his of nephews loses thousands of
collars OF revenue every year by the neglect At present.
the building material umber) hauled from Helena
returning freight teams But enterprsng ndi-
vdua will start mill for the supply of the demand for
lumber Situated Benton is at the head of navigation
on the natural highway to Montaa it is certain to be
central commercial point and depot OF supply for the mines
Three years hence If Government will only extend To
the necessary protection of the largest cities of Mon
tana will be Benton. =.n..t ]
The monotony of everyd life at Benton Interrupt
ted last week, by few little exeitements of do
mestie and of public character. Although far
removed from the cvlizng and dvorcipg atmosphere of
our large cities matrimonial misunderstanding happen
sometimes here high Official following the
pie of all his white brethren took his sqnaw
Not understanding the language, he reduced to the
necessity of communicating his wishes and commands by
signs-rnanual facial miscellaneous His dusky bride
in becoming ohits mans sguap expected to repose in
the lap OF Incidence and luxury but having discovered
her mistake she deserted and divorced herself from her
husband the plea of nsutciency of food being how
ever cons0ed by her lusfriouS lord and master with the
assurance that buffalo close the Fort
and steamboats, quit running the supply shall equal the
demand another temporary matrimonial contract may yet