The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
of freight. Their freight bills in one year

of freight. Their freight bills in one yea
would be fortune itself.
The Messrs. Power have just completed
fine brick building adjoining their presen
quarters, its exact counterpart, and as bot
are to be made by means of arches, into one
the building will rank among the largest AM
finest in the Territory. It's dimensions ar
60x90 feet, two stories high, and with eel
lar under the entire building. They have il
this building alone a foorage of Ia, 300 squar
feet, besides storage room in their various
warehouses in the cityto the extent of 6,OOl
or 1000 square feet. Yet it is with Difficult
ty that they find room for the immense stocl
Of goods carried throughout the year The
new room now on the eve Of completion, vii
be devoted entirely to dry goods while tht
grocery department will claim the presen
quarters.
z. G. Power & Bro deserve to rank with
the leading business men Of the West, and
no firm has aided more largely in advancing
that material progress Of Montana They
have engaged III hundreds of hazardous en-
terprises and by their pluck and business tact
won success, opening the way for others
to follow, Their business interests are dis
tributed over the whole Territory and in
clude almost all branches of industry. Their
Territorial taxes the past year ammounted to
more than $4,000, one-half of which was
paid to the Treasurer Of this county.
The Commodore" headquarters at Hell
ena, although 9 goodly portion Of his time is
spent at Chicago, Benton and other points
where his interests lie. It is probable that
his friends could communicate with him next
winter by addressing a. letter to Washington,
D. G. The Benton house has the advantage
Of Johns constant Watohfulness and the ripe
business experience of Jos. s. Hill and is not
only the parent house, but the most exten-
siVe and prosperous Of all.
W. S. WETzEL.
W. s. Wetzel is one ofzthe sold timers" Of
Montana and ranks among the pioneer mer-
chants OF Benton. He came here in 1863 and
opened up in business in small way, which
consisted for the most part in trading with
the 10 family, then numerous at Benton and
vicinity. Although IIr. Wetzel's first ven
ture was small and zardous enough it
yielded him net profit and from year to
year the business, despite the odds with
which he had to contend, grew apace. In
1870 Mr.. Wetzel formed partnership with
Mr. j. D. Weatherwax and soon afterwards
they extended their business considerably,
securing no small portion Of the northern
trade In 1875 this firm embarked in the
general merchandizingabusine in the build
ing now occupied by Mr. Wetzel, corner of
Front and Bond streets. In 1880 DIR.
Weatherwax Withdrew from the firm and
re;ired to the quiet valley Of the Teton where
ne still resides and is master over many
nerds. Mr.. Wezel continues singly and
alone at the old stand and is every year ex-
ending his trade and laying broader and
deeper the foundations Of his business Last
1ear his sales amounted to $3.50, 900 and the
aggregate for the year about to close will
even be greater that this sum. He has no
lence is enabled to devote his entire time
md energies to building up his business in
Benton.
Mr.. Wetzel's business property and lots
opposite the new hotel are as valuable as any
n the city. Only recently he had an offer of
$50 foot for twenty feet adjoining the
RIVER Press office. If he can secure the
necessary material in time he will begin next
ummer the erection Of handsome brick
lock on the site of his present building,
be dimensions to be 40 < 10 feet, with a
asement and two stories.
Besides his wholesale and jobbing trade
IT, We1zel enjoys an extensive retail pat
onage and is ably assisted in meeting the
7an,s Of bis patrons by his efficient aid-de
amps, ]. F. Murphy, Norris Gray and
harley Dean, while David G. Brown, erst
,hile proficient bull whacker, keeps the
ooks as neat as q new pin.
MURPHY, NEEL 3 co.
II August, 1876, the well known Montana
firm Of Murphy, Neel s. Go.
Established a branch at Benton, having
,moved their stock from Carroll to this
lace when it became evident that Benton
as to be the river metropolis and COM
ercial center Of the New Northwest in
cad Of the lower town. During these
7e years the progress made by the house
IS been nothing less than remarkable.
+. W. Fl. Todd was in charge and he
gan operations on minor scale in the