The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-08-10
BENTON'S BUSINESS.
Something about Our Merchant Princes
A Challenge to any Town IN the World.

L. OAaA4oASo w I'll AOTAA A = - -
Ii is Benton's rare good fortune to have II
her midst d number OF the best and most en-.
terprising business men il the country. There
are firms who have invested little less than q
half q million dollars in their business here,
and the fact that men Of SUCH means and
business sagacity are willing to invest SO
heavily, is the best of evidence that there is
q brilliant future before the town.
Murphy, Neel s. Co. have several houses
fnely-stocked as their Benton house. They
have here, perhaps, the largest and best
business building in the Territory. MI. w.
lei. Todd, O member Of the firm, manages the
business at this point, and the success that
has attended his efforts is the best of evidence
that he Is the right man il the right place. Tt
is no unusual thing for this firm, during the
busy season, to sell from 5000 to SIS, 1000
worth of goods in a day. If my Of the
sleepy merchants of the States let their optics
drop on this statement they will scott at the
idea, but it is nevertheless gospel truth.
T. G. Power e. Bro. is a firm known all
over the west and they have large interests
in Benton. Their store here is now a mann
moth establishment and will soon be doubled
in eize as their new brick building is almost
completed. In addition to their general
merchandise establishment they have a line
Of boats on the river, stage and transporta-
ton lines and branch establishments in al
most every town in the Territory. The bust
ness at this point is "Watched up" by John
Power and Jos. J. Hill and they let none of
it get away. No such house as that of T. G..
Power g. Bro. would be built up in Benton
unless those far seeing gentlemen firmly be-
lieved in the future of the town.
/. G. Baker & Co. keep fully abreast of
their competitors in catering to the wants of
Benton and the country tributary. They al
80 have q line of boats on the river and in
the course Of 8 year do an immense amount
Of business with the government, furnishing
supplies for the 10 family, etc. Their house
here is in extensive one and their buildings
would be creditable to q city Of %. 900 inhab-
ltants. The management of the entire bust
ness falls upon the broad shoulders Of W. 6,
Conrad and he is fully equal to the emergen-
cy.
W. s. Wetzel s. Go. are also numbered
among the merchant princes of Benton. They
always carry an immense line OF goods and
sell heaps Of them at wholesale and retail.
This firm has one Of the best properties in
the city, centrally located, and next season
will replace the present structure. which has
done faithful service in the past, with an
elegant brick. Scott Wetzel is the head and
front Of the establishment and deservedlY
one Of the most popular of our merchants.
OF the firm of Kleinschnidt Bros. we have
had something to say elsewhere, and need
only state here that they take rank with the
big firms of the city and sell their proportion
of the millions of dollars worth of goods
that are every year disposed Of at the river
metropolis. Next year they will erect here
one of the finest business blocks in the Ter
ritory. Dir. Louis Heitman has full control
of the business of this firm.
These are the firms that do q general mer-
.chandizing business, and we defy any town
in the world Of Benton's population-yes,
we will double ito name five firms that sell
the amount Of goods they do in a year!
Messrs. Cans q Klein and Hlrshberg s.
Nathan deal only In clothing and gents fur
nishing goods, and in these special lines are
enjoying a splendid patronage. They are
both enterprising houses, and in all matters
pertaining to the welfare of Benton are al
ways found at the front. We expect to see
both of these firms in new and spacious
brick buildings before very long.
Baker g. DeLorimer have one Of the neat
eat little dry goods stores in the West. 1t is
not as large IS some, but In all respects it is
as neat and tasty as any one We have ever
seen. 1.-THE boys know how 20 display their
goods in the highest style OF the art-it il an
art-and In such q way as TO delight the
ladies.
There are numerous other firms deserving
OF notice, but we only started out to mention
the big houses with the view of Indicating
the large amount of business transacted in
Benton, and hardly know where to stop. In
q short time the RIVER Press will give a
more general and thorough review Of Ben
tons business, and then none will be slight
cd. We must add, hoover, that all the firms
above mentioned are firm believers in the
efficacy OF printers ink, and q liberal use Of
compound has aided materially ID build