The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-08
ROARD OF TRADE
Meeting st the Court House-Coasaaera
aion OF Ann portaaas Business

The following is a report OF the regular
meeting of the Benton Board Of Trade, held
at the Court House, on Monday evening, De-
cember the 9th:
The meeting was called to order, Mr.. Col
Inns in the chair.
The minutes Of the previous meeting were
read and approved.
The board then proceeded to the considera-
ton of the reports of committees, which
were in a state Of unreadlness.
Moved, that H. G. Williams and Il. u.
Patterson be admitted as members OF the
Board. Carried.
The following standing committees were
appointed:
WAYS and Means-W. Fl. Todd, w. H.
Buck, Jere Sullivan, II. J. Wackerlin.
Public Buildings-W. &. Conrad, Louis
Heitman, T. a. Cummings, w. s. Wetzel,
j. Hirshberg.
Postofaces and Post Roads-W. H. Hunt,
M. A. Flanagan, 7. G. Roosevelt, Il. B. Hill,
A. b. Hamilton.
Roads and Bridges-J. J. Donnelly, Paris
Gibson, j. D. Weatherwax, J. D. Hill, Geo.
Clendennin.
Dir. Todd moved that the Board take some
action toward negotiating a loan of a portion
of the wood belonging to the government
as a measure of temporary relief.
Mr.. Collins would agree with the previous
speaker, but only as a temporary measure;
thn pt,,,rI ohrt,l6 cc f1rthAr and rnf npiv
assist in the present emergency, but take such
energetic measures as would effec1ually pre-
vent a recurrence of the present fuel famine.
He believed that q successful solution Of this
question Was imperative il the future OF Ben
ton is to be assured. He also believed that
a company should be organized by the bust
ness men Of Benton, which would look to
the cheapening of our fuel.
After some discursive remarks of similar
tenor, it was moved that the chair appoint a
committee, with power to act as they should
see fit. Messrs. Power, Todd and Wetzel
were appointed as sucn
Moved, by Mr.. Hunt. that a new director
be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the
departure of MIR. Gibson for the East. So
ordered.
The sense of the meeting was asked by Mr..
Todd relative to measures which would eff
f%ectively present the advantages of Benton
as a railroad center, and the value of the
country tributary to it as a means Of support
Of population and of railroad enterprises, to
the management of the Northern Pacific, the
st. Paul Minneapolis e Manitoba, the
Chicago and Northwestern and the Union Pa
clfc railroads, with a view Of influencing
them toward Us. He believed the time had
come when the citzsus OF Benton must take
hold Of this matter it they would not be LETT
out, and the advantages it would derive there
therefrom be diverted elsewhere.
Mr.. Collins believed that the board should,
without delay, authorize the publication of a
pamphlet, which should be carefully edited
and compiled, with a view to their gratuitous
distribution.
Nj. Hunt enlarged upon the remarks Of
the previous speaker and favored his views.
Mr.. Sullivan moved that q committee of
five be appointed to draft memorials to the
Northern Pacific, ST. Paul, Minneapolis and
Manitoba, Chicago and Northwestern, and
Union Pacific railroads, setting forth the nat
ural availability of our surrounding territory
for railroads, and also to devise means for
the publication of a pamphlet showing its
great advantages and the inducements it pos
sesses for immigrants in directing their at
tention to this particular section Of Montana.
Messrs. Hill, Dewy, Hunt, Williams and
Keller were appointed such committee, and
on motion, Mr.. Collins was added.
It was believed by the President that the
Board should, for the purpose of creating
funds, give q social dance.
Mr.. Todd volunteered the use of his build
ing for such purpose, which, on motion, was
accepted.
Mr.. Collins believed the Board should agitate
the passage OF . law placing power
Of the county commissioners to assess prop
erty for the general benefit, improvement and
good government of the town. We could
hardly afford a city government, and that at
forded by the county is insufficient.
Mr.. Todd said that in this connection the
condition of the levee needed the attention Of
authorities, who should have power to act,
and believed the Legislature should be me-
morialized.
Mr.. Donnelly said that the commissioners
had the necessary power already, and also to
impose tonnage dues, which latter power, a.
least, should be exercised.
Mr. Todd mnvod that the commissioners