The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-04-28
BUTTE AND VICINITY.
photographic Pickings Penciled and Print
Correspondence Neo North West.

The principal theme Of conversation in the
city at present is
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
The conventions have met and nominated
for Office good men on both tickets. William
Owsley, the democratic nominee for mayor
is the strongest man the party could have
named for the place, and even at this date
wagers have been made, giving in some in
stances odds of two to one, that he will be
elected. But there's many slip 'twixt che
nominating convention and the ballot-box,
and it may be that William will be defeated,
The Republican nominee, e. G. Freyschlag,
is a young gentleman of deserved popularity
and If not our next mayor, will have no rea-
son to feel ashamed of the vote certain to be
polled in his favor. He has acceptably filled
the position of Alderman, and next to being
school trustee, no man to whom office Is
given, could have less remunerative office,
in which so much is expected and more an
athemas bestowed upon the incumbent.
AN IMPROVED ELECTION LAW.
The election laws of Montana need revising.
Take, for instance, city, the size of Butte !;
at the last general election, the judges and
clerks did not complete their labors until the
polls had been closed over twenty-four hours.
1t would be an improvement to have in all
places, polling vote as large as this precinct,
two ballot boxes Let the votes be deposited
in one for an hour and then change to the
other additional clerks and judges, or per-
sons empowered to do the work, could then
commence the operation of counting the bal
lots after the first hour, and the labors would
be completed within short time after the
polls are closed. l believe this system is in
vogue in the cities of the various Eastern
States, having a population of 10000 or more,
and offer it as suggestion to possible can
didate for the next Montana Legislature.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
There are nearly fifty places in Silver Bow
County licensed to sell spirituous and malt
liquors. OF this number about thirty-fve are
in Butte, Walkerville and Meaderville. This
estimate includes of course the wholesale
dealers. The business is certainly remuner-
alive one, judging from the number of per-
sons engaged in it. A majority are now
what is known as 'bit houses" there being
% cents drink.
GAMBLING.
A '49-er gave it as his opinion the other
day, that Butte has never been equalled on the
coast as place for gambling. Larger money
was played for in California, but the houses
were not run as they are in Butte. Here the
houses are worked on the principle of q mine.
the men working shifts of twelve hours each.
Faro Is the principal game, but Twenty-one,
roulette, high-ball and equine-poker, played
by all but the dealer, who takes a percentage
out of the pot for each pair,) has fair run.
The faro tables are scarcely ever vacated
There are five regularly licensed houses here;
of these, three never close their doors, except
for repairs S. necessary about once in six
months.
BEER AND BAR MAIDS
An enormous amount of malt liquors are
consumed. There are two breweries IN con-
slant operation, while Van Gundy's Deer
Lodge brewery contributes load or two
every week. In one place, Tvela, women
walters are employed and half dozen are
nightly kept busy, all ministering to the
wants Of the motley throng, that assemblies
to hear the music and singing, talk to the
girls and drink beer. There is another hall
where females are in attendance, and are
kept as busy as at the Tvola.
LoAFERs AND FREE LoDGERs.
In company with a prominent journalist,
your correspondent took in the town, a la
Talmage, the other night, for the purpose of
edifying the readers of the New NORTH
WEST as to the manner in which some men
live. In three Main street houses sirty.fre
men were counted, asleep in chairs, on tables
and under them, and in every available place
they could stretch out, even to the wood-box-
es. In answer to an inquiry, a policeman
said: "That's nothing; there are fewer to-
night, for some reason, than usual. During
the warm nights Of last week found dozens
of men asleep in the alleys and on stoops
They are men who do not want to, and will
not work; they hang around and beg four
bits day, on this they manage to subsist. 1
do not arrest them, because the Jail would be
overcrowded in two nights" Thanking him,
we walked on, more than ever convinced of
the number of idlers in the camp.
THE MINES.
In the several mines, mills and smelters
work is being actively prosecuted. A great
many buildings are being erected, which are
in demand and are taken as soon as they are
completed.
BUTTE, April oath.