The new North-west., 1881-03-25


81 per 100 hundred pounds, this making the
rate 81. 90. On this route there is no classif-
cation and the contracts are all "open," |. e.
there is no rebate system, and shippers pay
only the net contract rate, being held. how
ever, to ship all goods over the line contract
ed with during the boating season, and the |
insurance must be added to the rate.
THE RAIL ROUTE.
The contract system of the railroad COM
pany is 10 charge and collect full tariff rates
and oblieate contractors to ship exclusively
by rail. Then, after the season Is over, the
contract rate is deducted fiom the rate paid,
and the difference refunded to the shipper.
This, at best, gives the railroad company the
use of the shippers money for several
months, and there are complaints, in instances,
here of the delay in adjusting the accounts
and refunding the rebate. The system Is
entirely wrong and the U. p. Directors
should abolish it. There are shippers here
whose rebates amount to $1,000 to $4,000
per annum, and to be deprived Of the use Of
that amount Of capital for six or nine
months is a grievance. The schedule OF
railroad contract rates offered, or to be offer
ed, Helena and Butte shippers this year is
reported to be as follows. Freight shipped
from Chicago to Dillon:
1st els al els 81 els 4th els
Helena, So 90 50 Is 50 so S2 %
Butte 400 so 800 30
and when the road reaches Butte II cents per
hundred to be added to above rates. The
above is not derived from official sources and
may not be exact, but is approximately so.
understand that some of the heavy ship
pers are changing or will change from the
rail to the river unless better rail contracts
can be made. .-.a
THE UPPER RIVER. ...-s=ss .
II stands Helena I'm hand to maintain the
river competition, and II Is being realized.
| The railroad will give Butte an immense ad-
vantag as distributing point that can only
be offset by Helena securing lower rates OF
transportation. The project of putting
steamer on the upper river should not have
allowed to fail, even If the merchants OF
Helena had to contribute the bonus asked by
Mr.. Power With steamer navigating the
upper Missouri waters further appropriations
for improving lis navigability might be Sc
cured, but, If 1t is not used, the fight against
the River and Harbor appropriations which
began to develop at the recent session is like.
ly to exclude this stream when appropriation
is asked for.
The question of wagon haul is one also
attracting attention. Wagon transportation
was very scarce and high last year, and dur
ing the winter large numbers Of work cattle
died. Murphy, Neel & Co., lost some sixt!
per cent. Of their oxen and Kleinschmidt
Co. report 95 per cent. loss. On the othe
hand, am informed that John I. Murphy am
: Birney Bros. are shipping out several car
loads of mules to put on the road, and othe
parties are talking of starting trains. How
ever, it is the general impression that WACO
transportation will be high this year "a
least until the railroad reaches Butte.
OFFICIAL CHANGES.
While it cannot be said the political pc
boiled y 1t Helena last week, 1t did come
a pretty lively simmer" The terms I
Postmaster Crounse and Receiver Sterlii
expired this month. Mr.. Crounse was ei
i. Iorsed for reappointment by Postmaster-Ge'
eral James, Assistant Tyner and both speci
:, mail agents Of this division, but Capt. r.
|. Fisk, of the Herald was endorsed by Secret
;s ry Blaine, and was at bis request nominat'
!. by the President. The salary Of the Off
a, is $500. Postmaster Crounse has he
n. he Office twelve years, aud the theory
/, ..rotationr worked aaainst him. That
q has been an efficient officer is best attes,
h, by the words Of special agent Furay W
N said last summer, 81 have been in the post
a service eleven years and Crounse is
4, "best postmaster have ever known" as
i. lakes his reverse philosophically. 1t isto be
Il. aretted there is no chance for promotion
l., the post al service; otherwise he would dou
h. less achieve 1t.
!. The other expiration Of commission v
: that of Receiver of Public Moneys, Fra
~ p. Sterling, whose denomination was sent
Il. by President Hayes and failed Of confirr
tion BY expiration Of the session. He '
assured he would be renominated by Pr
,rv dent Garfield, but received word .
ers evenings ago that his successor had been
his pointed. Some years since . gentlen
ds. named Ballou resided here and his wifi
ing very estimable lady, Is one Of the teaci
ant in the public school at present. Mr.. Ball
hey who for two or three years past has beer
ore Wyoming Territory, is cousin Of the Pr
ials dent. The advices that reached here v
In that Mrs. Ballou was appointed Mr.. Sterli
.ide successor, but as that Is rather unreasona
! or the duties Of the Office being unsnited
we'd lady, it Is presumed that II Is her hush
be who Is appointed. Frank had stIong b
vily ing, and deserved 1t, but down hc went.
,ose It also anticipated strong fight will
mes made to displace Thos. A. Cummings,
ure. lector OF Customs at Fort Benton, and Sc
the appointment Of Prof. Rolfe in his st
;h,. So we 60. a
pa A# '> $3.50 :
ews c. g. Birdseye, Of Blackfoot, is in tow
out day. en- route east, designing to be st
heir thirty days. Mrs. Birdseye y in Florid'
! 25 Cans 4 Cleln expect to close their up
, Of store here and open an establishmez
i ~ Benton.
amp The law requiring the ofncial pap
,ht.r publish al the laws ordered within
mu- days of the adjournment, and the ns
ange vet 10 Be published being large, the Iade1
have snf viii hereafter publish them = rapid