The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-04-25

A Building Boom all Along the L1ne-A
New Stage Route and improvements
on the Benton & Billings.
MARTINsDALE, April Is, 1888.

ApIIl Id, 1000.
The progress OF stage events III the
Benton Southern and connecting lines
may be of interest to the readers of the
RIVER Press. The roads are now in
good condition from one end to the 9th
er, and the coaches are pulling in on
time, notwithstanding the fact that they
are loaded down with passengers and as
much express matter as they can pile
on. Leaving Benton in the morning we
reach Billy Winchell's station at the
Springs for dinner and Stanford for sup
per. We then travel all night, pulling
up at Ubet for an early breakfast land of
course a good one), and an hour or two
more takes us to Okla. where connection
is made with the Billings line. Billings
is reached the next day at noon, SO that
the trip from the river metropolis to the
magic city Of the plainsn is easily made
in two days and a half; Martinsdale in
less than two days, and White Sulphur
Springs early on the third day.
[ travelled to Okla with Walter Burke,
superintendent Of the Billings line, and
he informed me that the business was
growing SO rapidly that they would be
required to increase their facilities for
handling it at once. He was then on
his way to locate additional stations and
put on four-horse stock. Two post off
ces have already been established on
this line-one at Moule's ranch, eighteen
miles from the Gap, and known as Ber-
cali; the other Iavina, at the crossing
Of the Musselshell, where Walter Burke
has an excellent ranch. After the pres
ent week new Concord coaches will be
run from Billings to Okla, and the pas
sengers can count on all the comfort that
any stage line offers.
But Mr.. Pound of the Benton South
ern is not going to be behind. [ met
him on his way to Benton with a band
of good horses, which he was distribute
ing along the line, and hereafter four
horses, instead of two, will take the
coaches through on double-quick time.
He will also put on some wagons,
and then the line will be in first rate
condition-as good as could be wished
until daily service between Benton and
Billings is ordered. Then we ought to
have one of the best stage lines in Mon
tana, because it will be among the best
paying. The business that is 'offered
now, with such meagre facilities for
managing it, is an assurance of this fact.
Another tri-Weekly line, connecting
with the Benton Southern, is about to
be established from Martinsdale to the
railroad at Big Timber. The bids are
already in and will be opened ia a few
days, service to begin on the first of
May. The distance from MartinsdaIe to
Big Timber is fifty-elght miles, and the
distance to the railroad from Benton is a
little nearer by this route than to Bill
lings. The new stage line will be a
great convenience to the people of this
section Of country, as it gives them easy
access to the railroad. A station will be
established at Big Timber, and it will
become the distributing point for this
portion of the MusselshelI valley, as it
is SO much nearer and easier Of access
than either Billings or Livingston.
There have been a good many changes
along the road to Martinsdale since T
went over it a little more than a year
ago. There seems to have been a build
ing boom all along the line. At Lake
station, the first we reach, Tom Har-
wood has replaced his tent with a snug
cabin, and when Benton Nimreds wan
der in that direction for game ducks
and geese are plenty now, Tom will
give them the best accommodations at
his command.
Billy Winchell has a snug place at the
Springs, and he is still improving. He
what will some day be a valuable
ranch, either for farming or for stock.
The reputation of the Springs station
gone away up since Billy became a
Benedict. 1t is a good place to get a
meal.
Col. ). A. Wall is now proprietor of
Stanford, but he was not at home when
[ passed through. His son is in charge
his absence. 1T was dark when +
reached the station, and the changes
could not be noted, although they have
not been few. Stanford is in Wolf
creek valley, which has settled up more
the past year han any other
Of the country tributary to Ben
Of Philbrook, Utica, TIBET, Okla and
M~artinsdale I will have something to
in subsequent letters, as they demand
more tina a passing notice.
PERSONAL M GENERAL.
Richard Clendenin and wife, of Mar
tinsdale, left for the east last week and
will not return for some weeks. Nj. c..
is on a purchasing trip, and will ship
his goods by railroad to Big Timber.
A McGregor, one of the prominent
from the east.
Frank Gaugler spent the winter back
Pennsylvania-his first visit home III
t%Nenty-six years.
Ell. O. Wareham, of the Shonkin, has
taken up a ranch on Wolf creek and is
now improving it. He expects to move
to his new location as soon as possible,
and will go into the horse business on
an extensive scale.
Kleinschmidt & Bro. are closing out
their stock Of goods at Martinsdale. and