The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-01-18

era! of our business men in Benton are also
making arrangements to have their stores
and residences connected.
Last week the RIVER PRESS mentioned the
names of the parties who had Withdrawn
their children from the public school because
OF the admission of two octoroon children.
Since that issue one of the parties, who was
evidently ashamed to have people know that
he held such narrow-minded views of the
rights of man, and consequently felt angry
at this paper for telling of it, has stopped his
paper and ordered the advertisement Of his
blacksmith shop discontinued. But the
RIVER PRESS, like the school, still goes on.
The work of drawing the color line seems
to have been transferred from down South to
the extreme north of this transcendant re-
public. AS will be seen by items in our
"Melange' column, Fort Benton and White
Sulphur Springs are badly exercised about
the attendance Of colored children in the
public schools, and the latter place is about
to provide means for educating the picanin-
MES separately. Isn't it a little bit NONSENSE
cal to infict additional burdens upon tax
payers for so trivial a matter.-MadSsonSa n.
We publish to-day the statement of the
condition of the First National Bank of Ben
ton at the close of business December 31st,
1881. 1t is an excellent showing, and speaks
well for the management and the confidence
which the people of this and other counties
have in it. The capital stock of the bank
has been increased, since the last published
statement, to 500, 600, and the business of
the concern is constantly increasing. The
First National Bank of Fort Benton is one
of the soundest and best managed in the
West.
T. G. Power s. Bro. are finishing up their
new store building joining their present
quarters, preparatory to the arrival of their
spring goods, and Monday commenced the
opening of the archway between the two
rooms. The counters and part of the shelly
ing of the new room are completed,
and when filled with goods the store
will be one of the handsomest appearing in
the Territory. It is the intention of the firm
to use it exclusively for dry goods. of which
they will have a large and most complete
stock.
Miss Edna Waterman entertains her friends
this evening at the residence of her parents,
it being the Twelfth anniversary of her birth
day. Edna is one of the brightest of Ben
tons little ladies, and her intelligence and
happy disposition have endeared her to all
with whom she comes in contact, both at
school or in the home circle. If all her
friends in Benton attend the party this even
ing the house will not hold them. We &C.
knowledge the pleasure of receiving an invi-
tation, and if this paper can be got out in
time to allow US to six up will not fail to
be there.
Kevs. R. s. sClark and J. B. Whitford,
of the NJ. E. Church. held services in the
Court House last Sunday. We understand
that efforts are on foot to establish a church
Of tina denomination in Benton, and as
there are a number of Methodists here the
plan will most likely be carried to success
The NJ. E. Church South already has ground
on Franklin street between. St. John and
Baker streets. Since the above was in type
we have been informed that a church ediice
will be put up on this ground in the spring.
The building will be of brick and will cost
between 81. 500 and S., 1000 dollars.
Although the merchants of Benton shipped
an unusual large stock of goods last season
much larger than in any previous year
some of them are already out of a number
of staple articles. The shipments next sea-
son will far exceed that of last, and even
then, with the rapid settlement Of the country
tributary and consequent increase of bust
ness here, it q question if the merchants do
not run short next winter also. The fact is
that Benton's business is increasing so rapid
ly that it is impossible to order with any
certain knowledge of the amount of goods
which will be needed to supply the trade.
The holiday edition Of the RIVER PRESS is
every way creditable to the editor and pub
fishers, as we'll as to the enterprising pro-
g~ressiye town and county in which it is pub
lished. geographically the paper is fault
less. In it the business interests of. Benton
are ably aud fully written up the stock
ranges of Choteau and Meagher counties re-
ceiye deserved attention the sheep, cattle
and agricultural interests of Choteaa are