The Benton weekly record., 1882-12-07
BENTON SLANDERED.

Although Benton did not give Major
Maginnis as large a majority as he had
right to expect from it, it is generally sup
posed that the Democratic organ OF Helena
is still friendly to the interests Of our town
and county. We were, therefore, not a
little surprised to find in Wednesdays is
sue of the Independent a communication
containing some slanderous assertions
about the river metro polls, which the edl-
tors should have known were without
any foundation in fact, but were, never
theless, we'll calculated to do the town
considerable injury, especially at this time
when SO many strangers are seeking IL :.
vestments i'll Benton and real estate is
rapidly rising in value. We are not IN
the habit Of answering anonymous scIib-
blers, but viii give the facts in contradict
ton Of the following paragraphs for the
information Of the Ildependent,- public
generally, are better informed.
"We found Fort Benton much improved
since our former visit, and the numerous
brick buildings displacing log and frame,
give evidence of an Inclination 10 stay
tsright here.n But I cannot see how the
present town is going to be much Of a mani
ufacturing center, with no prospect OF any
tributary towns north or west, and only
partially so in the south. Besides, the
fiat on which the town is built is liable to
be swept clean at the breaking Of the ice
each spring, us witness in 1881. The op-
posite side Of the river offers q far more
favorable situation, as there is q gradual
slope to the river. The near approach Of
the bluffs on each side makes a suspension
bridge an easy matter.
Fuel is enormously high here, a load Of
pine (sad to be cord), sells for SIS or $40.
Two of our party propose putting in q
boom above here and floating logs down
from the upper river next season. 1t
strikes me that the residents OF Benton are
strangely apathetic in many things that
concern their own interests; there is
marked lack of enterprise by individual et-
fort. Nothing can be done unless Pow
er, Baker, or other public men take 1t III
hand. The streets and sidewalks are IN
filthy condition, and instead Of each one
improving his own frontage, groWls are
made against the Commissioners anG efforts
made tor city cnafIet
The prospects Of towns north and south
OF Benton are at present very f1attc1ng, as
every one knows who knows anything
about Benton, but they are not necessary
to make Benton manufacturing town as
the same advantages which made her the
supply depot Of the Territory will operate
equally we'll in the direction Of manutac-
turies. AS the ice has never troubled the
fiat on which Benton is built since old
Fort Benton was established, i'll 1915, the
present residents do not feel seriously
alarmed. The fiat on the opposite side OF
the river, however, is lower than the Ben
ton bottoms, and its slope is lot so steep.
Furthermore, the opposite flat mas been
flooded several times from high water
while the Benton flat has never suffered.
The proximity Of the Missouri Falls pre-
vents any danger from ice gorges, as sutll-
cient ice can not accumulate between Ben
ton and the falls to cause serious gorge.
This scribbler is evidently near sighted or
he would not have said ''the near approach
of the bluffs on each side" would facilitate
a suspension bridge at Benton. The bluffs
are at least three miles apart.
In the last paragraph this smart CORES
pondent gives himself away. He wants to
boom the river above Benton, and the
merchants Of Benton won't assist him.
Some of the merchants Of Benton have
been there before. They have assisted
parties to build booms, probably before
this gentleman ever heard Of Benton or
Montana, and all they have to show for
such assistance are long accounts OF the
debit side Of their ledgers.
That fuel is high no one will deny, but
not so costly that any one but fool would
accept less than a cord of wood for SIS.
Wood is scarce because no one with suffi-
cient capital to supply the demand is n
the wood business. We have a good coal
mine within thirty miles Of town THAI
could supply us with fuel at q reasonable
price, if the owner had the means and the
enterprise to haul it during the summer
months and not wait until the winter sets
in and the roads become impossible. 4
still better article of coal can be laid down
in Benton for SIG per ton from the Whoop-
up mine, but parties who desire to obtain
it at that price must contract with outgo-
ing trains before the snow flies. The i'm
provements mentioned are evidence
enough that there is no marked lack Of
enterprise by individual EFFORT as this
genius puts it, and we are not aware that
Power, Baker or other public men have
ever been requested to clean the streets.
WINTER PROSPECTS.