The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-09-27
sTEvE's LETTER.
A Ride on tho Cars-Convention Notes
Butte'e Business and Prospects.

/ wrote YOU last On the eve OF uepar-
ture for Butte. Word had been re-
ceived that the Utah & Northern had
extended its eourtesies to the delegates,
and that special train would meet US
at Warm Springs to convey us to Butte.
We left Deer Lodge right after dinner,
so as not to detain the train, and arrived
at the Springs shortly after o'clock, but
saw no signs of the train. Well, we
waited there until after 5, when an en-
CINE and caboose came in right from be-
low, crowded with construction hands.
Some of those they dropped there, and
took number up to the end of the track
"a mile and half-and remained there
until the men quit work at 6, when they
brought them back to the boarding cars
at the Springs. After the conductor,
engineer and fireman had their supper
we were told to Jump on like SO many
tramps) if we wanted to go down, and
so, standing up in the caboose, we were
| allowed to ride to Silver Bow, where we
| walked up to the captains of1ce and
paid our fares to Butte just like anyone
| else. After waiting half an hour the
| regular train came up, and boarding
| this O half hour more brought us to the
| foot Of the town, from which a railroad
bus conveyed us (for fifty cents more) to
| the hotel. In connection with this ride,
1 o resolution was introduced in the con-
vention by one of the Deer Lodge dele
/ gates, thanking the Utah & Northern
| for courtesies extended, which caused
| snuch amusement, and was afterward
withdrawn. / understand Deer Lodge
would have vesed solid against it had ii
come to vote.
! There is considerable improvement
noticeable i'm the buildings on Main
street, in Butte, since nay last visit, but
business men are all complaining ofduli
times. It looks to ME as if the town had
doomed away ahead of the mines, that
the consequent reaction had set in, and
that Butte will not grow much more
until the deuelopule-a. of the lnines
catches up with the present growth OF
the town.
The readers of the RIVER PRESS are
ere tlis familiar with the work done ill
the renublican convention. But one
should have been there to realize the
good feeling and the quiet evidence oi
satisfaction with the ends accomplished
It was the happiest, most hopeful and
harmonious gathering it has ever been
my experience to witness. While the
enthusiasm was not of the noisy sort,
every delegate present seemed to feel the
assurance of a coming victory and the
impending downfall of the crowd who
have so long manipulated Montanas
politics for their own selfish ends. The
| feeling ON the streetsof Butte was equal
ly noticeable, the republicans showing
cheerful countenances and expressions
of confidence, while even great NUM-
Der of prominent democrats seemed to
feel perfectly satisfied with the evident
outcome of the campaign. There is s
general feeling of dissatisfaction among
west side democrats with the manner
in which Maginnis was forced upon the
voters of that party for sixth term, and
I venture to say that hundreds of them
will walk up to the polls next Novem-
ber and cast their ballots for Alex. G..
Botkin. Indeed, one prominent demo
crat Of Butte, one who has been honorel
with the suffrages Of his felloW-citizens,
! told me it was his honest conviction that
Botkin would leave the west side with
500 majority.
! My stay in Butte was very pleasant,
and i had the pleasure of meeting q
number of old friends and forming new
acquaintance whichII hope to retain
both for myself and tho RIVER PRESS
Sunday morning was awakened at
3:15 o'clock in order to take the coach
for Helena. Tt was raining steadily, and
the night was one of inky blackness.
The ride over the Boulder route is one
of the toughest in Montana, and if ever
| take it again it will be what is known as
a grounding case There were thir-
leen passengers in the coach, and the
trip would have been uncomfortable but
for the fact that it was my good fortune
to fall in with the most pleasant conn
pany, consisting Of Miss Sa1lie Amsol
ard her brother-in-laW, Moses Morris, Of
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