The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-02


rise Of the other, commerce began to flow in
her accustomed channels, and steamboat after
steamboat came to Benton laden with choice
productions. This firm, with noted shreWd-
ness, viewing the change among the things
inevitable, changed the nature Of their busi-
ness as was required, and have been as sue
cessful in the new era as they were in the old,
and now they deal almost wholly in groceries
and all staple goods.
They have met the new conditions and
have identified themselves with them, al
though, of course, it has almost affected q
revolution in their business There is not
now the great percentage of profit there was
when blanket and sn ounce of vermillion
was to the savage eye the acme Of his wants,
for which he would exchange his wealth Of
skins an1 furs, happy in his ignorance of re-
lative worth.
1t is we'll here to digress, and to cursorily
examine q feature of the Indian trade, about
which so much has been written and said
that of the advantage taken Of sheir igno-
great deal of sick]y sentiment has been vast
ed over the poor Indian and the way he is
imposed upon by his white brothers, and the
latter are often condemned for taking adyan-
tage of the ignorance Of the Indian in trade !;
but the whole story of civilization has been
but repetition of this process from when
Ph9nician and Greek pirates and traders
conquered and cheated savage Gauls and
Iberians-and every one has heard the bar
gain Dido made with the unsuspecting Nu-
indian or when the itinerani Jew sold East
ern silks and spices at ruinous profit to chiv-
alrous knight and lazy baron or when French
and English and Spanish adventurer traded
worthless beads for costly furs and bars of
precious metal or took them without other
compensation than sacrifice of the life of
their owner; or recently, when American
business men traded blankets and vermillion
for robes and furs. The story is always the
same and will be until the savage is no long
er uncivilized and ignorant, but educated and
sharp like those who teach him the ways Of
peace and the tricks of trade.
But this house, along with others, are now
depending upon people thoroughly alive to
their interests, and the fact that they have so
readily adapted themselves to the change,
shows q sagaeity and an enterprise which is
certain Of success. Their profits have been
reduced, but their business has vastly in
creased, and their gross earnings are much
larger now than when they depended upon
the Indian trade alone It would be difficult
to estimate the total business done by this
firm in dollars and cents, for its compli-
cation is so great that only occasionally can
they ascertain for themselves the full re-
suits of their operations, and when it is con-
sidered that the bills in payment of freight
must amount to over one hundred thousand
dollars per annum, in addition to the cost of
the goods themselves, the magnitude of their
operations can be better appreciated than by
a series of small comparisons difficult to ag-
gregate.
Changes have taken place in the firm, and
at present it comprises !. G. Baker, W. G.
Conrad, C.EConrad, J.H. Conrad. Mr.Baker
resides in st. Louis, and manages that branch
of the business, while the Messrs. Conrad
manage the Benton and other branches in the
Northwest.
They have fer several years past entered
into the freighting business, and during the
past season were identified with several steam
ers plying between Benton and other river
towns. Their overland freight system is the
most extensive in the country.
Their Benton store is q handsome two
storied brick structure, commodious, light,
and handy, and filled in basement, salesroom
and store-room with their choicest goods,
which comprise everything that enters into
the composition of 9 home, however luxuri
GUS. Besides, they have several warehouses
full of goods, which are less fine, but perhaps
even more necessary.
We will follow, next week, with descrip-
ton of the business and house of e. G. Pow |
er 6 Bro, and with the amount Of interest |
ing material at our disposal, we can promise
3 sketchy, readable article
Cabinet Speculation.
WASHINGTON, February 1.-The latest Cab
net bulletins from Blaine sources are as fol
oWs: Blaine for Secretary Of State, and
Allison for the Treasury. No appointment
or the Interior has yet been ogreedl upon.