Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-10-22


FRIDAY, OCTOBER q. Is.
Opening the YellQwstone>
rhe Benton Record OF the 10th has
column editorial on the subject Of navigi
ting tie Yellowstone. II claims that Ii
opening Of the Carroll route has prove
an injury to the business interesis OF th
Territory, and on this principle it COT
demns the efforts now in progress t. tel
tho navigabil,ty Of the Yellowstone.
Benton represents the business interests o
the Territory, then the Record il correc,
IT the business men of Helena find II c0u
veinent and profitable to ship by the Cal
roll route. and MsssrA E. G McClay
Co.. who do the freIghting derive Z sui
ficient revenue from the business to justif'
them in delivering freight over that route
and it ia rcas enable to suppose they dn
We cannot see anything in the Record
weekly onslaugh,s on the Carroll rout
but an III suppressed local jealousy. cause,
by the loss Of q major portion Of Benton
trade by the opening of that route.
In speaking of the opening Of the Vel
lowstOne river, the Record says: Nv,
protest against the ridiculous representa-
tions that have been made by the Bozemar
papers regarding the practicability snG
advantages Of opening that river.
The ridiculous Representations" made
by the Bczemaa psIers have 'been based
upon irrefrsgible evidence, the testimony
Of Gen. Forsyth and the officers of the
Josephine, who were specially dctailed foz
the purpose OF practically testing tho eeas-
Utility of navigating the Yellowstone
river. The Josephine did ascend the river
on two occasions. at low stage of wsie1,
and experienced no difficulty in doing 20.
We have published the official reports of
these officers in reference to the matter,
and both state emphstically that for three
or four months In the year the Yellow
stone can be navigated with less difficulty
than the upper Missouri river. These
officers had no personal interest in the
matter. Does the Editor Of the Record
say that these distinguished officers in
making their report to the government de.
liberately and without a purpose, lied
1t appears 50. Does the Record claim tina,
1t would he more to the interest of the
business men of Eastern and Southern
Montana TO nay two or three cents more
per pound Tor their freight and have it de-
layed several weeks on account Of lis
roundabout transit just for the sake of
shipping il by way Of Een,on7 Such is
the tendency Of its argument.
We have the testimony Of Capt. Gran,
Marsh and Capt. Coulson, published in
this paper over their own signatures. that
freight can be delivered to Montana ship
pers over the Yellowstone route a, cheaper
rates than they haye ever had before
And all these we'll known steamboatmcnI
ask to prove their assertion Is the freight
The Recori says further: ave have
taken the pains to investigate the subject.
and have learned from Capt Grant Marsh
himself that the scheme navigating the
Yellows,one) is utterly impracticable.
We do not believe it. Capt. Marsh is
not that kind Of man. There are several
letters from Capt Marsh in the possession
Of business men in this town, IN which he |
states that 1.-The scheme" is cminently
practicable. We do not think gentle
man who has borne such high character
for strict integrity as Capt. Marsh would
90 falsify himself in . matter Of this
kiEd.
To give its unreasonable and unteusblc
position on this subj-c. some show Of
plsusibili,y. tic Record says:
1.-THE settlement Of the country living
between the Yellowstone and the Missouri,
Is . matter Of the dee pest interest to the
inhabitants Of this section, a. it bears an
important feature 10 our future welfare
Nh 4 Arrangement; and were the Yellow
stone practicable. were it possible to over.
come the current Of the river SO that
freight could be transported into that
section the consequent increase OF settlers
would materially enhance our own pros
pcrity, aud consequently. we would be
only too happy to encourage any honest
effort towards the development of the en- |,
terprise. But having one instance OF dis
aster to the business interests Of the Terri
tory through the failure of an unwise
project, we have no desire
10 ser the mutual welfare Of the Gallatin ,
md this section again endangered by un- {
spectators" i
Tie zone instance of disaster" alluded |
10 was the opening Of the Carroll route L
We know of but ole very small VILLAGE
being injured by that route, which the
Record appears 10 recognize IS the business (
center of the Territory. and that place js
Benton. II may be ''all the world" to the
Editor 0! the Record. but he should re. N
member that there are few places In the 9
Territory as small Is Benton that have ]
presumed to the dignity of adopting the l
title of town, aud that there are several
much larger and N re important places. b
But the Record says the opening of the o
Yellowstone would materially enhance q
,ur own prosperity" and were II practi.
able the Editor would egcourage j.. %
What further evidence does it require of Il
he psAciicAbilisy than has been already !
Tho mere fact that the
Josephine made two succcssful trips up
hat river, not taking into account the |
favorable reports of officers and men on
,oarL. should be sufficient evidence - an Y
Iupsejuci.iiocd mind, but the Editor v
went back On himself. when he said be n
would encourage the enterprise il pyac,i- .
:aSle. In former sentence he declared .
hrrs were no advantages in opening the 4
oute. The pe-eminent prac;icabili:y Of /,
Navigating the Yrllows stone. coupled with q