The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-02-22
RIVER NIPPLES.

care to venture a surmiee.
<<pp,>
RIVER KzPPLES.
Col J. c. O'Conner will attend to the busi-
ness of the Power Line at Bismarck this sea-
son.
The boats at Bismarck, or quite number
Of them, are tied up just below the piers OF
the great bridge, thus .ffectually protected
from injury by the fl 'ating ice when the
river breaks up. Some of the masters are
protection. The lesson of last springs gen.
eral smash up has not been lost
The officers of the Benton ''P' Line this
year are T. G. Power, Manager John Fl.
Charles, of Sioux City, Superintendent l.
P. Baker. General Agent, with headquarters
at st. Louis. This line has four hoats-the
Bentou, Helena, Butte and Black Hills-a!l
in good trim, and the company expect to do
a large amount of business this season.
Sioux City Journal, February g.: "rhe
command of the steamer Eclipse, now at
Bismarck, has been given to Capt. Tom
Mariner. The Eclipse has had all kinds Of
luck heretofore, but with Capt. Mariner in
command it is safe to predict that she will be
steadily profitable to her owners, Leighton
and Jordon. Her new master leaves the
city in week or two to superintend the
thorough repairs of the boat before taking
her out for the season.
A Washington special says that move
ment is on foot to organize members of Con-
gress from States along the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers into compact, united SO that
they will act with telling force on legislation
involving the improvement of these rivers.
One object in view is to consider, first, what
legislation is needed, to agree on these meas
ures and then support them. Sufficient ap-
preparation for the improvement of the navi-
CATION of those rivers will be asked of Con-
gress, and it is evident most determined
effort will be made to obtain these appropri-
alions. 1t is said the attempt to secure ade-
quate appropriations in the past tailed mainly
because the members representing the States
directly interested have trittered away their
strength on bills for certain locations instead
of uniting tor the general purpose.
Bismarck 7,5bune: A gentleman who
takes goudly d. gree OF interest in the upper
Missouri river transportation, assures the
Tribune that all the indications point to u
greatly increased business On that stream
during the coming boating season. He
argues that the population OF those sections
Of Montana tributary to the distributing
points on the river, have been materially aug
meuted since the close of navigation. last
year. This, of course, will have the effect
Of increasing the shipping traffic by boats.
The Barker and Fort Maginuis mining dis
tricts are drawing u large population from
other portions OF that Territory, and these
Camps, which cut no figure in freight ship
ments heretofore will be important factors
in this particular hereafter, as the prospects
are Of very considerable emigration there
from all sections OF the country, and particu-
larly from the east. This indux by way of
Bismarck and the Missouri river. upon the
opening of spring, promises to exceed the
expectations of very many of our citizens,
and as this particular emigration will require
steamboat tonnage not reckoued on in the es-
innate of river transportation, the chances
are decidedly in favor Of a lively time for
the steamers plying between Blsmafck and
Fort Benton. That the freight demanded for
these new mineral camps, and the passenger
travel from the east will all go by way OF the
Big Muddy there is no question. IL Is the
shortest, most convenient and ch, apest route
and owing to the shortness of the wagon
transportation from the river terminus 10
Maginnis and Barker, it is the only practical
one. The distance from the river landing to
Maginnis is only about thirty miles, and
about seventy 10 Barker, while from the
Yellowstone it is from $50 to $50 miles.
Warrington Notes,