The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-10-03
Benton, Montana. Wednesday, October 3, 1888

Michigan, shows much sulphur and
chloride Of soda, with some sulphate of
iron and magnesia, and traces Of phos-
phate of soda, oxide OF silica bromide of |
silica, bicarbonate of ithia, fluoride of
calcium and several other chemical COM
pounds. DR.. J. NJ Kumpe assured me
that in his opinion the medicinal quail
tiles Of the water were far superior to
those of the World-famous Arkansas Hot |
Springs, and such being the case it is |
only question of time when the streets
of this (as yeti miniature city will be
thronged with sufferers from all parts of
the world fastening here for natures
remedies to cure their various ailments.
It will principally be question which
only time and experience can decide as
to the particular diseases for which these
waters are the proper remedy. 1t is now
known that they are highly beneficial
in skin, blood and venereal diseases, also
in rheumatism and Bright's disease of
the kidneys. The mud spring in the
little bath house in the rear of the hotel
is in itself quite curiosity and is found
valuable with patients suffering from
that worst Montana ailment-rheuma-
tism.
This town has many attractions, not
only for the sick in search Of natures
great boon-health- also the sports
| man and tourist in search of game and
recreation will find in the surrounding
| country and mountains all they could
| wish The great prize of anglers, the
brook trout, is to be found in the noun
| tain streams on every side of the town,
and deer, elk, mountain sheep, the
brown and grizzly bear, with smaller
| game, such as grouse and chicken, are
plentiful. We met several hunting par
| ties who had come from parts remote to
recreate with gun and rod, and they all
seemed we'll pleased with their trip.
Dr. Parberry's two story brick block,
now in course of construction, would be
an ornament to any town. 1t is 5OxS0
feet In the upper story the Masonic
hall will located while below, the First
National bank Of the Springs, with the
we'll known J. III. Moe for cashier will
take up one room, and the drug store, to
be started by DR.. Kumpe, the other.
Jonas Higgins has in contemplation
the building of q fine two-story brick,
53x80 feet, suitable for two store rooms,
at the head of Main street. Spencer,
Mayn & Heitman have completed their
new addition to their store, making the
| floor room 45x110 feet; this, together
with large and ample warehouses in the
rear, is all needed and is packed full of
their immense stock of general mer-
chandise, comprising dry goods, cloth
| ing, groceries, hardware, furniture,
drugs, farming implements, and in fact
everything needed to meet the varying
wants of the surrounding country. The
gentlemen comprising this firm are all
| good business men, and, in addition,
whoIe-souled, hospitable fellows, and
with their immense stock Of goods,
which are sold at a reasonable figure, it
is no wonder they do such a large busi-
ness Durham & Maloney's Saratoga,
Wilson & Atwood's Exchange, and e.
A. Kyes Sulphurado, the three thriving
saloons of the burg, are each doing q
| good business, and are thronged from
early morn till late at night with crowd
| of impatient customers. Our genial
friend, J. e. Sprague, of the Grand Cen
trail hotel, was doing rushing business,
the only trouble being to get room
enough to store away his too numerous
boarders when night comes on. 1t is the
| intention of the owners of this house to
enlarge it in the spring, which will be
necessary with the business they have
at present. B. r. Sherman can be found
as of old, at the :" Big Red Barn" doing
a fourishing business. We noticed a
new store room which he is putting up
| by the side of his property and which
will make a fine building when COM
pleted. We found Price & Price head
over heels in business, running two saw
mills, freight teams, big lumber yard,
and the principal contractors and build
ers in the place. They propose to have
one million feet Of lumber ready for the
market next spring, thus showing their
| faith ia the growth Of the Springs and
vicinity. A
! We had the pleasure of visiting the
schools SO ably presided over by Miss
| Nichols, the county superintendent,
assisted by Miss Hoover. Although the
teachers were laboring under the great
disadvantage Of running two depart
ments with room only for one, yet the
good order and smiling faces showed
that authority, tempered with kindness,
was dominant there. A hall in the
| vicinity Is being fitted up for additional
room, which will be blessing to both
teachers and pupils. We were much
| interested in the algebra class, composed
| of bright eyed misses from II to II years
of age, with the exception of one solitary
young man who did not like algebra.
| Their answers in a review Of the intri-
cacies of subtraction and the theorems
! showed that their natural shrewdness
had been supplemented by patient in
| struction.
We must not close this short sketch
without some allusion to the Husba,ad-
man, which was here almost before the
town and bids fair to be a fixture. AS
| it's name indicates, it has to do with
| flocks and fields, as well as purely local
y q