The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-09
MONTANA's LEADING HOUSE,
From Small Beginning to Position o
Eminence in our Commerce and
the Carrying Trade.

the Carrying Trade.
Mr.. T. G. Power, the gentleman who's
operations in Montana have given him th
soubriquet Of the '.Great Rustler," has de
served the title conferred by the expressly
Western slang. Coming to Benton fror
Dakota in the springaof 1867, he has built u
9 business which is second to none in this Ter
ritory, and by his energy in extending tn
freighting facilities Of Benton and the Uppe
River, has indirectly assisted greatly in th
| development Of Northern Montana.
He began life at the first round of the lad
der, and his history if it were written woul(
serve as an excellent Illustration of the push
enterprise and sagacity which has been tht
secret Of the success Of so many business
men, and which in bis case has been marked
He has conducted some heavy enterprises un
der difficulties which several times have
threatened to overWhelm him, but which be
has successfully overcome. He has had, in
this Western country, the advantage which a
new land confers to men of enterprise.
but it is popular mistake to suppose that be-
cause there is freshness in a country, and
world of wealth unopened, and only wait
ing for some one toseake it, that it requires
less judgment and less push, and less patience
than in old communities where the channels
of trade and enterprise are running in set
tied grooves. Indeed, it requires much
finer estimation Of the element Of chance,
owing to the uncertainty Of things, and the
difficulty of foreeasting the results of move
ments which depend 50 much upon the acci-
dents Of the future. It requires more ener-
gy, for in new country everything is to be
done, and nothing ready. 1t requires, also,
more patience, because usually it takes long
time after the sowing before the harvest can
be gathered. 1t requires more faith, for to
see civilization and wealth arise out of wild
ness and dearth is gift which can flow from
no other faculty. And these western pio-
neers of commerce and culture, all of them.
deserve all the praise bestowed upon them
For while they sre laboring for themselves
they are building for the future and for the
whole com .seee%- lz-zss-z .-------s-
Tn the early day of 67 he brought stooh
or goods to Benton not exceeding 50 sv--,--.
weight, and consisting only Of the limited
class required in the Indian trade. the na-
ture Of this trade has been previously
touched upon, and its merits and demerits
fully described, and we will therefore dismiss
this part Of the subject by stating that the
principal return trade was in robes, hides,
furs and gold dust, some Of which found its
way through this channel from the upper
The business rapidly grew in proportions
and worth, and in 1869 the increase was so
marked that he was obliged to branch out,
and many minor trading posts were formed
along the river, which were maintained until
the decadence Of the fur trade, when many
Of them gradually faded out Of sight--a few
of them remain, and will probably grow into
centers of local trade for a country surround
ing, which is developing On frmer bases than
beaver or buffalo. In 10 he established the
house in Helena, which carried aline of min |
ing and agricultural goods, and were active
agents in assisting the development of the
freight business which is the most important |
carried on by any individual in Montana.
ssJohn'' became member Of the firm in |
1869, and at present is the head of the mer-
camille branch, which has grown from retail |
trading post to wholesale and jobbing busi-
ness of splendid proportions. Retail business
is still carried on, but is becoming more and
more subordinate to the wholesale trade, and |
we believe that if the retail business takes
that independent form which is anticipated
IN the coming season, that it will soon be
dropped altogether, for it certainly will be to
he interest of this and the other large firms
here to foster other interests, and operate on
! more extended scale.
Land freighting was begun and extended as
he branches were made, and grew along till
1875, when T. G. Power & Bro. entered the
steamboat business, from which the overland
business received strong impetus and has
caused it to assume immense proportions.
His first venture on the river was in the Ben
on, in which he had q good interest The
business fuctuated, and was attended with
serious drawbacks and intense competition.
Ie had hardly begun, when one of the
ailroads established 8 steamboat line with its
erminus at Carroll, and made combination
# this with general teaming line, and,
,lacing its freight at rate extremely low,
made opposition to it q thing Of considerable
,lory and little profit. But Carroll, with its