The Benton weekly record., 1881-09-15
NORTHERN MONTANA'yg yEEUs.

Like most other constituencies the pe0-
like all true constituents we are earnest IN
expressing these wants and think Congress
should heed them at once. 1t is fortunate
that we have an opportunity to tell our
Delegate the situation while he Is in Fort
Benton, so that if he leaves us ignorant OF
our particular needs we must blame our
selves, not him. TO Major Maginnis must
we accord great credit for the progress OF
our whole Territory. He has been devoted
to the advance Of Montana, and no man
can assert that in any single instance haa
he allowed either party or local considera-
tions to ssverve him from acting for the
true interests OF the people at large. lie
represents a large Territory, spatsely set
| tied as a whole, II is true, buta population
well scattered and in every section clam
orous for public recognition. Itis not too
| much to say that no member Of Congress
has had more expected Of him and graft
fed larger number Of people, consider
ing the varied interests represented, than
has Major Maginnis of Montana. Consid-
ering these facts, we must plainly tell him
what we most want and rely upon him to
do ali he can for us.
There Is ITO denying the fact that North
ern Montana feels q little sore at the way
in which we have been overlooked for 3
year OF two, and there Is a very general
impression that this next Congress should
aid us. But on the other hand, the people
are to blame In measure Tor this neglect.
We have groWled and complained at home
and wondered why We have not been BEN
eftted by national attention, but we have
done very little really to let the people in
authority hear our complaints. Take our
mail routes, for instance. Chotean county
is in great distress in her requirements Of
extended postal facilities. Fort Benton is
q central point, or should be, TO O very
large tributary country country settled
np rapidly with intelligent people who in
stst upon post-oflees and are disappointed
at not finding them already established.
Complaints are frequent and every one is
condemned from the Postnlaster-General
down to our Delegate in Congress. This is
unjust. It is unjust not merely to the
Delegate, who has done everything within
his power, but the very settlers who make
the complaints. The way to get q post
office established Is by petition Of. the peo-
ole who are in want Of mail service, and
not by indiscriminafe abuse Of the postal
authorities who cannot become acquainted
with the actual wants Of each locality.
There appears 70 be an idea heretofore
common amongst some Of our settlers that
Mr.. James ought to know intnitively the
postal wants Of the people of new localities
IN Montana. Experience must ere this,
however, have elispelled such notions, III
asnuch as recent orders have discontinued
one or two of tbs new offices designatea.
A route to Fort Maginnis direct Is needed
badly; so Is q atri-Weekty route to the Bar
ker mines; 30 is q line twice week or Of
tener TO the Old Agency, likewise one 70
Sand Coulee, and we need 4 daily null
from Helena TO Benton.
Good grounds exist for asking all these
lines with service, aud the people ought to
explain to Our Delegate the most practical
routes and thus make their petitions &C
cordlngly