The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-02-01
THE BOOM
That Benton Needs is a Boom Across the
River,
And an Extensive Saw, Lath, Single and
Planning Mill.

sWhy don't you talk up q saw mill for
Benton as well as a Touring mill ?" asked a
prominent citizen Of q RIVER PPEss man the
other day.
81 don't see what you would do with a
saw mill here-and timber forty miles
away" was our response.
'.Why, bring the timber here. 1t is the
easiest thing in the world, and only requires
the capital to carry out the project with the
greatest ease and safety
"Please explain yourself" said the report
er, becoming interested in the matter.
1.-THE timber must be foated down the
river and in my humble opinion it Can be
done with the greatest of ease and safety.
In the first place the river must be doomed
just above town, where the saw mill and
other machinery could be planted. The To-
Cation is q favorable one for such an enter
prise. The timber can be secured in mex
haustible supply any place along the river
above the Falls. The logs are simply to be
cut and rolled into the river and the current
will take them down to the BOOM"
but in going over the Falls will they not
be split and battered up ?"
T ONE extent, probably. The logs can
be cut say twenty feet in length, and then if
the end is battered or split a few feet, the
damaged part can be sawed off and used for
fire wood, for which their will be ready sale.
l have seer a great many logs that have pass
ed over the falls without being in the least
injured, and think it would be safe to calcu-
late that two thirds Of them would be in this
condition. The damaged logs would sell Tor
fuel ard pay q nice per cent. on the cost Of
getting them out"
"What amount OF capital would it take
to s., into this enterprise?
mot a vast amount. One-tenth of the
money inve ted by some of our general mer-
chants would insure its success. | have given
the subject some thought and have figured it
out in this way: A boom that will be ire
sistible Can be put in for SIS, 600 the mill
machinery can be secured for $50, 900 and
$40. 900 more for iucidentals will put the
project on a money making basis. If a COM
pany would take hold of the enterprise and
carry it through to completion feel assured
that it would be a better thing than a stock of
merchandise, a new hotel or even a 'bonan-
"a in Barker. Besides, see what a great
benefit it would be to Benton. The mill could
furnish lumber and fuel at half the present
prices and make good profits in the opera
ton. 1t would %inaugurate a building 'boom'
that would soon place Benton in the front
rank of Montana towns. Until this enterprise
is in successful operation | do not expect t.
see Benton make the progress that her natur-
al facilities and extensive trade warrant"
We were quite convinced by the arguments
of the gentleman. II his premises are true.
that the project is safe and feasible, there is
no doubt but the investment would be a prof.
table one, and of immeasureable benefit to
Benton. Some of our capitalists should
.s'look the matter up" and ascertain the pre-
else facts in the case. If pronounced feast
bic by practical men, we believe that the
capital essential would be forthcoming.