The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-02-04
OUR HELENA LETTER.


| OUR HELENA LEI Ell.
HELENA, Feb. /, 1881.
When was about 10 communicate withyou
| last week, the fierce storm suggested that in
sunnountable drifts Of snow might interrupt
communication by mail and hence the tele-
graph was used, which will account for q
head line or two being run in as part Of the
substance, and few equally consolatory err
rors appearing which convince me that, after
all, the sins charged up to the compositor are
chiefly due to illegible writing. To day the
winds are tempered to the unshorn lambs
and the unfattened kline on thousand hills,
and communication IL as doubtful as
then. The -balmy chinook roars mildly
down the cafion, the meteorological weather
vane points with more than usual
constancy to the south and west, the
faces Of the stock men wear more soulful
smiles, the caves are dripping Frequently
inside the houses and Main street Is busy
with the throng of men welding picks and
shovels TO open gateways of rivulets to the
sea. One who has not seen 1t could scarcely
realize the vast amount of snow and ice on
Main street. Huge heaps, higher than the pc
destrian's head, are piled on either side Of
the street with crossings cut through, and
the driving part of the thoroughfare Is reach
ed by steps cut in the Ice banks, while vehi-
cles pass to and fro on solid way the
height of a wagon bed above the graded
street. II this immense deposit melts rapid
ly the store cellars on the lower side of the
street are threatened with being flooded out
from the front as we'll as by the waters of the
gulch. But the town will stand 1t cheerfully
rather than a continuance of the terrible
winter. Her Weather men have generally
large investments i'm stock that could not
much longer survive the cold and snow, and
all her people will be glad when the price of
wood drops from S12 and $I4 per cord to
more reasonable prices and the temperature
makes lnas urpapt -ass~~sd-l e"-tue WOOD
pile. .' .
THE DIVISION BILL. 90 n.
The principal legislative event of the
week, as Il has been considered to be that Of the
session, is the bill providing for division Of
Deer Lodge County. The history Of the bill
to date Is given elsewhere. There were sew
eral ornate speeches made in favor Of div,s-
ion Of the County, which, as no one was
there opposing such measure, were superfiu-
Gus bits Of oratory all the same. It was
probably the only occasion the session will
present for spreading the pinions Of
eloquence in the realms of rhet-
oric. Pending the discussion, Mr..
Blake injured himself irretrievably by
gross breach Of parliamentary decorum in
abiding to the Executive, and 1t has recoil-
ed upon him with crushing force. Mr.. Blake
had been omitted from the Judiciary Com
mittee in the first appointment of commit
tees and had been consciously alluded to by
a newspaper correspondent. These things
had awakened a consideration for his feelings
by the House. But his remarks on Monday
destroyed him. The floor Of deliberative
assembly is not the place fora member to vent
his personal spleen. Mr.. Pardee offered
resolution of reprimand, but the words of
Mr.. Blake had not been taken down, other
business had interviewed, parliamentary rules
had shut 1t Off and the resolution was not
seconded.
The division bill will probably come up
q strenuous effort will likely be made to set
back the line to that originally designated.
II old Deer Lodge County had opposed d.
vision from the inception, believe bill for
division would never have passed either
body of this legislature. But Butte asked
to 60 and the rest Of the County has actively
or passively acquiesecd, although bell ewing
the movement inconsiderate and hasty.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
! On the subject OF education two bills have
been introduced. III No. 10 is substitute
from the committee composed OF one from
each County. to which the original bill intro
duced by Mr.. Glenn was referred. It pro-
vides for uniform system Of textbooks for
the schools Of Montana; prescribes the Sc
rles published by A. 8. Barnes q Co. and
Ivison, Brakeman, Taylor & Co., of New
York; fixes thu prices .-A-'-a.'ss' ,''Uy .a.-'s
be sold, insuring saving Of ut least one
half to parents and guardians; and secures
the benefit of full page map Of Montana
for the school geography, to be engraved in
the best style with suitable descriptive text to
accompany it. Another set of books is offered |
by the. agents Of Appleton & Co., on similar |
terms to those Of the bill. II b No. 43 was
introduced by the Committee on Education
and Labor. 1t embraces the provisions Of
the present school law with some amend
ments and few sections Of new matter. It |
provides for supervision on the basis of
schools rather than counties, and a system |
of teachers examinations by County boards |
of examiners. In short 1t Incorporates the
recommendations Of the educational conyen-
ton which met at Helena, January 4, ult., for |
the purpose Of discussing reform measures
for the school law. If adopted It will tend
to correct the faults and strengthen the |
weak places In our present school law, with |
out making any radical changes in our school |
system. 4..s r ....7. Do. a... -...
..u WOMAN BEATING.
Mitchell on Tuesday introduced bill to
punish woman beating. 1t provides for the |
erection Of post or stone pillar, in some |
public place at each County town, five feet |
high and eight inches in diameter, and that |
any male person over IS, who shall be con-
victed of wilfully beating, striking or tortur- |
ing any maiden or woman over 10 shall be
dashed In standing posture to said post or
pillar, and so kept not less than six nor more
than ten hours, on week day, with con-
spicuous placard on him inscribed "WoMAN |
BEATEB." There would not be much occa-
sion for the use of that post after enc exam
pie had been made. f-,5 s,s |
i The earlier work of session is generally |
the hardest and shows up least, the prepar-
alton of bills and consideration In commit
tees consuming much time without showing in |
the proceedings. The harvest is now ripening |
and lepis lation In poin0 IN ranidly This II