The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-04-19
TIE MIGHTY MISSOURI
Is Open From the Mountains to its Mouth
and Several Gallant Crafts are
Headed for Benton.
All the River News that Gould be Picked
Up at this End of the Line.

Al1 the hlVSr news InaL COulQ De Eick6u
Up at this End of the Line.
The opening of navigation on the upper
Missouri is always an auspicious event al
Benton. No piece of intelligence is received
with more real pleasure and qualification
than the simple announcement that the river
is open and the boats have started up stream
It means closer and more direct connection
with the ''genial influences !" it means in
creased business activity it means more
rapid growth and development for Benton
and the country tributary with all their nat
ural concomitants it means new blood, new
life, new energy. Even now the change is
apparent. Merchants are busy preparing
for the arrival of new goods paint and
paper is being freely used new business
ventures are proposed-all in anticipation of
the arrival of boats and the increased bus
ness that is to follow.
Never in the history of navigation on the
Upper Missouri has the business outlook
been more favorable. The river is open un-
usually early, and the prospect for favor
able boating season is as promising as could
be. There is an abundance of snow in the
mountains, which, by melting gradually, will
maintain good stage Of water until late in
The fall Last season the February freshet
carried off goodly portion of the snow, ,and
as consequence navigation On the upper
river after July was attended with much diff
ficulty. No such results may be expected
to happen, and the close of navigation will
be scarcely less propitious than the opening.
Again, all steamboat men agree that the
business on the Missouri will be far greater
this year than ever before, fully compensa-
ting for the loss of traffic on the Yellowstone
occasioned by the extension of the Northern
Pacific to Miles City and beyond. This gain
in the amount of freight and passenger busi-
ness to Benton will have stimulating infu-
ence and render the boating season of 1882
particularly auspicious. The prospects are
certainly as pleasing as the most sanguine
could expect.
k1PfIESs
The river is full of boats bound for Ben.
ton.
The last boat in Benton was the gallant
little Rose Bud, which steamed out of sight
on the sth of August.
Last year the Far West was the first boat
in Benton. The honor lies between the Butte
and Tosenhine this time
The steamer Eclipse was the first boat to
leave Bismarck for up the river, but the
trip will end at Poplar river from which
place she will return to Bismarck.
The Bismarck Tribune is our authority for
the statement that the Government contract
from Yankton to Bismarck has been awarded
to Commodore Coulson instead Of John Fl.
Charles, as heretofore supposed.
The Josephine left Bismarck for Benton
on the 18th inst Besides goodly cargo of
freight and other passengers, she carries a
Canadian Pacific surveying party of thirty
five. who will outfit at Benton for their
northern journey.
Two years ago the Butte came to Benton
on her first trip up in thirteen days. If she
does as well this time, and there is a first
rate stage Of water, the boys who have gam
bled on boat being here before the first of
May will be happy.
John Mofitt, of the firm of Davidson &
Mofitt, has been appointed Benton agent for
the Peck Line, which will have several boats
on the upper Missouri this year. Mr.. Moff1tt
will prove an efficient representative of this
line at the head of navigation.
The Butte and Josephine left Bismarck for
Benton Sunday, the former two hours ahead
of the latter. Both are staunch, light run
ming boats and their race up the river will be
an interesting one A number of bets have
already been made on the contest
The river is now thirteen inches above low
water mark and rising at the rate of an inch
a day. The river at present is but four inches
lower than. it was last July when the
steamer Benton was here. At this early
stage the Big Muddy has never been more
favorable for navigation.
A telegram to Gen. j. G. O'Conner, general
agent of the Peck Line, published in the
Pioneer Press of the 7th inst, states that the
Peck steamer Far West would leave Sioux
City on the 10Th for Benton, and the General
Mead and Nellie Peck leave Bismarck on or
about the same date for the head of naviga-
ton.
The Red Cloud seems to be unfortunate.
On the 7th she was tied up for repairs near