The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-12-13
WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE P
A Discussion in Regard TO Benton's Future
Prospects.

u ENlN TN n VIM ASPoAS 'S"0 - ~ AAAAA5
listener the other day to a discussion be-
tween q resident and nonresident of
BENTON as to the future of this city and
particularly its prospects for a boom
next season.
mo Territory in the Union" saidthe
BentOnite, will make greater progress
the next few years than Montana, and
the river metropolis will be found in the
very front rank of Montana towns, per-
hans the chiefest of them. Benton has
grown rapidly the past two years, but
the progress made in that time is small
indeed as compared with what it will be
in the ensuing two years. The big boom
will set in next season."
~ don't fully agree with you," put in
the nonresident; "the approach Of the
railroad will cut off much Of Benton's
trade, which will go to the Northern
Pacific towns on the south, and the Can
adian Pacific will take away about all Of
the northern trade. What is there to
compensate for this loss %
ga good many things" retorted Ben
ton. "In the first place the advance Of
the railroads, and particularly the build
ing Of the branch of the Northern Pa
cific to this place, will bring in a large
immigration, swelling the population of
Benton and the valleys adjacent, fully
compensating for any losses at remote
points. The Indian reservation to the
north and east of us will undoubtedly be
thrown open, thus adding hundreds Of
square miles to the country tributary to
Benton-a land of wonderful grazing,
agricultural and mineral resources. This
single item again would more than make
up for the probable losses you speak of.
But this is not all. The recent develop
ments at the Barker, Warm Springs,
Montana and other mining camps adj
iacent to this city, their natural supply
point, 90 to show that these are to be
prosperous and permanent camps, and
their trade will swell to wonderful pro-
portions. A big boom at Barker next
season is even now fully assured and
Benton will be benefited in a large de-
gree by the same. But in addition to
these considerations it must be remem-
bered that Benton is at the head Of navi-
cation on the Missouri and will continue
as heretofore the cheapest supply point
in the territory. The river will hold
the railroads in check on rates and
the freight tariffs to this point will be
lower than to Helena or other points in
the Territory. This fact gives Benton a
decided advantage We competing
towns as a wholesale point and general
market, for people will 60 a long way to
secure their goods where they can be
purchased cheapest"
THAT is all very nice to talk about"
said the other, "but it is a dream not
likely to be realized SOON"
1T believe,'' Benton persisted, chat
it will be realized in q great part next
season. The Benton branch of the
Northern Pacific will be under way and
I look for q rush Of people in this direc-
ton, seeking investments in stock, mines,
ETC., while many will come with their
families to locate in our valleys and build
up houses for themselves. If our dele
gate in congress does his duty the Black
foot reservation can be redeemed from
the red men this winter, thus throwing
open Tor settlement the best stock and
agricultural country in the territory, a
result that would tell at once upon Ben
toms material prosperity. There is ev-
cry reason to believe that next season
will be the most prosperous by far that
Benton has ever known, and the build
ing of the railroads this way will account
for it. What they cut off in the way of
remote trade will be added ten-fold by
the settlement of new tributary country
and the general boom that will keep
pace with the railroad, or rather in adj
vance of it.h
We have given but the gist of Benton's
eloquent ~panegyric on the subject, and
it is entirely needless to say that he was
the victor in the wordy encounter, rout-
ing his cynical, unbelieving enemy
horse, foot and dragons.
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