The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-08-10

towards making the upper Missouri easy OF
navigation. The Shonkin bar which is the
most troublesome one in the river should be
removed and il can be done at no great ex-
Dense. Work on a more extensive scale
should be continued on the rapids and at
other points between Carroll and Benton.
The expenditure Of a very small portion OF
the money voted very year for the improve
ment Of streams that are scarcely nayigable
at all would make the Upper Missouri, 9
river next to the father of waters in impor-
lance, easy Of navigation from Benton to It's
mouth. Our Delegate should be impressed
with the necessity Of securing an ample ap-
preparation to have this work done. Nothing
could be Of more beneftto Montana, whether
she has railroads or not, as in the latter event
the river will keep the railroads in check and
render exorbitant tariffs simply out Of the
question. The entire Territory as we'll as
Benton is interested in this matter and unite
in the demand for an improvement OF the
uDDCx CuhEauCls Ill GU AAS AoA ~
Congress Delegate Maginnis can induce the
Committee on Rivers and Harbors to make 8
liberal appropriation for this purpose he will
performed one Of his first duties to the
Territory and won the gratitude Of all Mon
tanians. We understand that Major Magin-
mis- will pay a visit to Benton ere he returns
to the States and it would be well at that
time to impress upon his mind in an appro-
PIRATE manner the necessity for accomplish
ing the end indicated. a committee should
be appointed to lay before him the needs Of
the Territory in this respect and ask his per-
sistent efforts to accomplish the desired re-
suit. We have faith in the ability of Major
Maginnis to do this thing, as he has accom-
plished much in other directions for the ben
eft of the Territory, if only he is made to see
the necessity Of the work and the benefit to
be derived from the same. Benton as the
head Of navigation and chief beneficiary
should take the initial steps and see to 1t if
possible that the desired aid is received from
the government.
Another necessity is a small boat or a line
Of small boats to ply in the upper waters. If
at the present time there were a few small
boats on the river, say they could carry fifty
tons Of freight, all goods left at Cow Island
or between Benton and that point could be
brought up without difficulty and al small
cost comparatively. These boats could con
tinue work until checked by the ice and
they would prove q profitable investment.
Their services would be in demand at all
times, carrying wood, stone and other freight
to Benton, and there is no reason why such
an enterprise would not prove profitable.
Another year should not roll around without
seeing one or two such boats, they need not
be expensive, on the upper waters of the Mis-
souri,. The best interests of Benton demands
something of the kind and we hope it will
not be long until the want is supplied.
One hlndrance to navigation during low
water between this point and the Coal Banks
is the scarcity Of fuel. Capt. Massa, of the
Rosebud, informs Us that if he were not re-
quired to put On wood enough to last three
or four days (from fifty to seven-five tons)
several miles below Benton, he could easily
bring eighty tons Of freight here until Octo-
Der. But when the boat is weighed down
with wood even the little Rosebud can not
get here. This difficulty should be met next
season by having wood yards established at
convenient distances between this point and
the Coal Banks. The services of the small
boats mentioned above could be readily
brought into play in establishing yards at the
proper places. This is evidently one of the
hindrances to navigation late in the season
and the proprietors {. the several lines of
boats should provide a means to overcome
the difficulty in the future.
The drawbacks Of the present boating sea-
son have been great, and should impress
those interested with the necessity Of taking
ell possible precautions for the future. Our
citizens should take a deep interest in this
matter as the welfare Of the town depends in
a large measure on maintaining and improy-
ing river transportation to the natural head
Of navigation, Benton.
NEWS NEBULE.
The State Prohibition Convention met at Column