The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28

q Dolly Warden and "spotted Horse
are splendid mines and promise large pa,
% the lucky owners. Both of these hay
shafts sunk and are being worked to a limi
ted extent.
But it would require more space than III.
writer has Ct his command to give even {
brief synopsis of the real work and actua
developments in progression.
Vaudeville is the name Of the younp and
fourishing town, and one is not q little sur.
prised to note the superior class OF buildings
that are being erected. The town is yery
prettlly located, and contains perhaps thirty
houses. There are five saloons, two restau-
rants, two stores, and a barber shop. What
but a short time since was an unknown and
uuinhabited region is now q lively and thri-
wing mining camp, and but the nucleus of
a large and prosperous city.
-Four miles further down the gu]ch is
the saw mill of Meadow & Dexter, and the
firm also carry q stock Of general merchan-
disc. The place is called Andersonyille-
in honor of j.. r. Anderson, an old timer
and one Of the original discoveries Of
the mines. The business is in charge of
Mr.. Dexter, 9 most agreeable gentleman.
Mr.. D. struck a veritable bonanza when
he located his mill there. The capacity of
the mill is 10, Q feet of lumber per day,
and the demand is equal to the supply. Dur
ing the past season the firm have sawed over
q million and d half feet of lumber, which
was sold on the ground for $50 a thousand.
Mr.. Dexter, ever alive to the inception of
any new enterprise, has determined to start
an extensive lumber yard at Benton, and to
that end has contracted with f%reighters for
the delivery in Benton next spring of 10000
600 feet Of assorted lumber. This will not
only prove a paying investment for the firm
but will be Of incalculable value to Benton.
FORT MAG1NNIs.
Congress appropriated 500. 900 for the cree
ton of 8 military post in the Judith country
some W years ago, and General Sherman,
recognizing the services of our Honorable
Delegate in Congress in effecting its estab-
lishment, honored the post with, the latter's
name. Fort Maginnis is located on the East
side and at,the foot Of the Judith mountains,
and first greets the eye of the traveller from
an eminence perhaps q mile distant. The res
ervation covers an area Of eight square miles.
The location of the post insures the opening
up and settlement Of some Of the finest graz
ing and agricultural lands of which our Ter
ritory boasts. The Judith Basin, MusselsheAl
and Ford river valleys, a few years ago IN
inhabited except by hordes of hostile Indians,
the ranchman and stockman. The red man
and the buffalo have disappeared, and in
their place appears the intelligent, progress
siYe immigrant to turn q wilderness into
thrifty and populous settlements. This
is directly attributable to the influence of the
''boys in blue over the yagabond savages.
great many people imagine the life of a
to be one Of almost continued idleness
ease, but when one visits the posts and
sees them engaged in building houses, cutting
stone, and in fact performing all kind Of
skilled and manual labor he feel ashamed
of such an opinion, and Justly credit them
being the true precursor Of civilization
The advance guard of q tide of immigration
hat will gradually cluster around them until
hey are again driven into frontier exile.
The post is at present under the command
- @@ l
# Captain McAdams, and there are
i've companies stationed here, all of whom
I've been engaged during the past season in
s%ndeavoring TO complete their quarters.
Almost the entire charge of construction
las been vested in Major Bartlett, the post
luartermaster, and a better selection for the
,esponsible position could hardly have been
made. During a brief interview he inform
ID the writer that it would require an adj
$45, 600 TO complete the post. This
Vill probable be appropriated the present
ession of Congress, and in another year Ma
innis will be oneof the handsomest military
,osts in the west. He also informed me that
and stone rock had been found in abund-
nee, and inexhaustible beds of mineral
amt discovered. Samples Of the latter have
cen sent East and declared to be Of superior
uality.
The post is constructed almost entirely Of
,ood. The buildings are arranged as all mil
airy posts are constructed, in the form Of Q
luare, leaving an enclosure for the parade
round. The residence of the commanding
hcer is SO situated as to command a perfect
Of the entire garrison, and will be a
.rge Gothic structure surmounted BY q wide
orch across the entire front. 1t will be q I