The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-08-09
HuRRAH- FOR MAGEMMlS I!

We doubt if there was ever quite so
much excitement in Benton as obtained
last evening. AS oon as the twilight
shades came On there was hurrying to
and fro at the lower end Of town, and
wagons loaded with light stakes, lumber
and barbed wire could be seen fastening
to the reservation; then commenced in
vigorous style the work Of making rude
Enclosures and stalking off the reserva-
ton lands. The first parties in the field
were observed by others, and it soon be-
came bruited abroad that the reservation
bill had passed, and the work of ''gobb-
ling up'' the lots wasin progress. Others
then rushed to the scene Of action, and
within three hours from the time the
first stake was driven the entire reserva-
ton of probably three hundred acres was
staked off and claimed by various parties.
The rapidity with which the work was
done is simply amazing, every available
team in the city being drafted into the
service to haul fencing material to the
ground, and men who had probably not
handled an AK before for years were out
in their shirt sleeves and working with
8 hearty will.
And there was cause for this unusual
excitement. Word was received by w.
G. Conrad from a private source in
Washington, during the early part of
the afternoon, to the effect that the res
ervation bill had passed. Judge Tattan
also received a telegram about 2 o'clock
stating the bill would probably pass the
House yesterday, and later in the even
ing an additional message to the effect
that it had passed both houses. Mr..
Conrad received the first definite intel
ligence, and he utilized it to the fullest
extent. During the afternoon men
were employed in making stakes, and
all things were got in readiness for the
evenings programme. The whole force
of [. G.. Baker & Co., including even the
senior member of the firm, were first in
the field, and succeeded in inclosing a
goodly lot of ground before there was
any one else their right to dispute. Then
came r. A. Luke, w. S. Baker, John
Power, Tom Cummings, Ed. Dunno,
and in the curse of an hour or so nearly
everybody in town, including women
and children, were rushing In the direc-
tson Of the reservation. BY the time
the RIVER PRESS is read this morning
thara will no acaronIv ono of tho three
thousand lots not claimed by somebody.
Delegate Maginnis must be given q
big share Of credit for his part of the
work. Nobody expected he would get
the bill through SO near the close of the
session, but the fact that it passed both
houses within three hours goes to show
that he did some good parliamentary
work in the premises. The following is
a copy of the bill as amended by the
military committee of the Senate and
reported unanimously to the Senate by
said committee May 10th. 1t is doubt
less the bill passed yesterday without
change of aWord
Al Bill TO RESTORE THE FORT BENTON
MILITARY RESERVATION TO III PUB
Lie DOMAIN, AND FOR OTHER PUR-
POSES:
tBe it enacted By the senate and house
of representatives of the United States Of
Aneerica ia congress assembled, That the
secretary OF war ii hereby directed to
restore to the secretary or the interiorti g
custody and control or the military reser-
walton at Fort Benton, Montana. The