davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19

HELENA, March 1.-THE republican
city convention convened at Harmonic
hall Saturday evening, March 18th, at
7:30 O'clock
After an organization had been effect
ed the nominations for mayor were
made and an informal ballot taken, re-
suting as follows: III. M. Parchen, % !;
Joseph Davis, 13 John Stedman, 5; HI.
Klein, 2; A. Ill. Hotter, 2; Moses Nor
ris, / J. B. Sanford, 4. The formal
ballot was then taken and resulted as
follows: FL. M. Parchen, 35; Joseph
Davis, Is, and on motion the nomination
of II. M. Parchen was made unanimous
John N Heldt, L. Ii. Clewell, John
Moffit, Chris. Kenck and r. Jockey
were placed in. nomination for city as
SCISSOR and treasurer, and the formal bal
lot resulted in the selection of t. H.
CleWell upon the following vote Heldt,
Is; Clewell, %; Moffitt, 3; Kenck, s.
Upon motion Mr.. It. III. Clewell was
declared the unanimous choice of the
convention for city assessor and treas
urer.
The nominations for police magistrate
were next made and the ballot resulted: :
Armitage, 80; Eddy, 13; Wells, 7.
On motion the delegates from the sew
eral wards were instructed to present
the names of members to compose the
central committee, resulting as follows:
1st ward, William Lorey; I'd ward, /.
d. McCutcheon; Sd ward, Chris.
Kenck 4th ward, ]. e. Sanders; 5th
ward, John B. Sanford Mr.. I. Salhin-
ger was elected chairman Of the city
central committee, and r. Jockey Sec
retary and treasurer.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
It Will Be a Stampede.

When the reservation bill becomes
law and the rich mineral fields of the
Bears Paw, Little Rockies and Sweet
Grass hills are redeemed from the In
dians there is going to be rush of for
tune hunters to these mountains that
will assume the proportions of stam-
pede. 1t will come about the time the
Cnur d'Alene stampeders will get on
their biggest disgust, and hundreds of
them will come to the more inviting fields
of northern Montana. But there will be
almost as great rush of steckmen and
land grabbers generally to the promised
land,n and altogether there is promise
of lively times in northern Montana
this summer with Fort Benton as the
diverging point and center Of opera
tons.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
The Indians Must Go.

Sheriff McDevitt received telegram
Monday from Gen. Brooks, command
ing officer at Fort Shaw, instructing
him to give all the Indians in Fort Ben
ton and vicinity the grand bounce, or
in other words, make them return to
the reservation. To-day the sheriff and
his deputies will put the order into ex-
ecution, and see to it that it is enforced
hereafter. They will probably return
to the agency, and help to devour the
flour and bacon now on its way there.
IF the treaty regulation requiring these
Indians to remain on their reservations
unless they have a permit from the
agency to cross the line were strictly en-
forced, there would be but very few In
dian depredations to record. We trust
that this order from Gen. Brooks means
that hereafter the reds are to stay at
homen at all hazards.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
The Railroad Question.

1t has been suggested by several of our
citizens that railroad meeting should
be held here at once, to show those at
the other end of the proposed line that
we are in hearty accord with them on
the subject, and ready to do something
towards securing the success of the en-
terprise. One gentleman, who is not
merchant-nor is he ranked among our
wealthiest citizens, by any means,-
says he will take stock to the amount of
$1,000, on the proposition that it is paid
back in freights over the Northern Paci-
fic and this branch, which, we believe,
is the basis upon which assistance is
asked. But without regard to the mat
ter of raising finds, meeting ought to
be called at once to lend encouragement
to the project, and those who have SO
earnestly espoused it at Helena.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Bound for the Bears Paw.

A letter from a Helena party to citi-
zen of Benton says:
1--WE are coming-eight of us, and all
#miners--just as soon as the weather is
favorable, to prospect in the Bears Paw.
If the reservation is opened by that
time, all right; if not, We propose to go
in anyhow"
The Bears Paw are known to be rich
in the precious metals, and there will
undoubtedly be q grand rush to that re-
gion when the reservation bill passes,
but we do not believe it would be the
part of prudence to go in before that
time Fort Assinaboine is too conven-
lent and the invaders, if in any consid-
erable number, would be certain to be
hustled off of the reservation in short
order.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Steam boat Business.

Capt. Voolfolk returned on Thursday
from Sioux City, Iowa, where he went
to look after the steamers Behan and
Gen. Terry, which will be employed by
the steamboat company, in which he is
large stakeholder, in the river trans
portation between Bismarck, Pierre,
Chamberlain, and intermediate points.
The captain states that the Gen. Terry,
recently purchased by his company, is
in first class condition, and will 60 into
active service just as soon as the river
opens, which he predicts will be about
April 1st. Capt. Voolfolk has also been
engaged by the Northern Pacific rail
road company to take charge of two
transfer boats at this point, and they are
already being put in readiness for the
spring break up.-Bismarck Tribune.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Danger Ahead.

Sheriff McDevitt informed us last
evening that he is fully convinced the
Piegans who have been ordered to re-
turn to the reservation have determined
upon farewell raid, which is likely to
prove serious one. Their programme
will be to steal as many horses as they
can manage, on the Teton or Marias,
with whatever else they want, and
strike for the north, and it will be fortu-
nate if some white man does not lose his
life before the end is reached. The In
dians are aroused, and their movements
yesterday were such as to excite suspicion
and alarm. There are between twenty
and thirty young bucks among those on
the Teton, and they are capable of doing
plenty of mischief if they take it into
their heads to do so. IF he is convinced
there il danger ahead, the sheriff should
take every step in his power to avert it,
and protect those who are in the way of
harm. 1t is an exigency that demands
prompt attention and action.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19

tan, JAS. NJ. McDevitt and J. J. Healy
John Hunsberger is president, and T.
E. Collins secretary and treasurer.
The land has already been surveyed
and plated, and before many days d
portion of the lots will be placed on the
market-that portion of the plat from
Mike Lynch's residence up the river to
the line of the company's possessions.
That there will be brisk demand for
these lots at reasonable price is scarcely
a matter of doubt for the time is near at
hand when they will be valuable.
All that portion below Lynch's is re-
served for the present, and the company
will no doubt, in course of time, offer
the railroad company terminal facilities
at this place ground for their yards,
round house, machine shops, etc. The
indications amount to almost certainty
that the railroad will come from the
other side of the river, in which event
the Benton Townsite company will have
some valuable property over there.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Butte Wants Connection, Too.

The Importance of Fort Benton's pos
ition at the head of navigation on the
great Missouri is best shown by the cry
that goes up from nearly all the other
towns of the territory against the extor-
ton of soulless railroad corporations,
and the expressed desire of these towns
to secure railroad connection with this
city. The following is from the Butte
Inter Mountain:
The proposition to build an indepen-
dent line from Helena to Fort Benton
should be encouraged by the citizens of
both towns and by those Of Butte. There
is no reason why road from Butte to
Benton should not be constructed. It
would for ever insure the prosperity and
independence Of all the tributary coun-
try, embracing the richest mineral and
grazing lands in Montana, and would
do much towards checking the exercise
of the corporate power of the railroads
now operating in Montana. The exhib-
ition of some degree of that public spirit
for which Montanians are so Justly not
ed, would soon result in the accomplish
ment of that useful enterprise. There
is no reason why the citizens Of Butte
should not be alive to their own inter-
ests in this important matter. In Hell
ena public meeting has already been
called to discuss ways and means, and
the citizens of Butte should tender their
hearty cooperation in furtherance of the
scheme. Butte must look out for the
future 1t must become au independent
town, and the best means to achieve
that end is to ''stand inn on the build
ing of the Butte, Helena and Benton
line
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
90 %WRf p
Alfalfa.
TETON RIVER, March Ia, 1884.

TETON RIVER, March IA, 1884.
Editors of the River Press
Noticing in one of your issues an in
quiry as to the raising of grass for fod-
der and asking for information on the
subject. I thought | would give your
readers the benefit Of my experience.
I will say that alfalfa is the most yalu-
able grass as fodder that ever tried. It
will yield most abundantly in this coun-
try, as it roots so deep that dry weather
does not affect it, its roots reaching into
the soil from two to four feet. 1t does
best on sandy or gravelly SOIL, but you
need not expect crop the first year.
You war fine, mellow soil, well culti-
waited, and then it will yield a most pro-
digious crop for from six to ten years
without sowing or cultivating again. 1t
can be cut four times year. Its growth
is very rapid. When it is cut it will
astonish you how it will shoot up again,
and the after-groWths are always the
best, while the yield is simply wonder
full. In the dryest and most sultry
weather, when every blade of any other
grass withers, alfalfa, or lucerne, is az
green and fresh as in spring. Just as
soon as the ground is bare you have
green grass, which keeps SO until COW
cred with Snow. There is no danger in
using it green or dry. Although such a
prodigious yielder, it does not wear out
the soil, but on the contrary .bimproves
poor soil. Alfalfa ought to be soWn
broadcast, about twenty-five pounds to
the acre, the thicker it is sown the finer
will be the quality of the hay The fall
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Bids for Transportation.

The bidding at Fort Smelling for gov
ernment transportation in the north
west took place on the 10th inst. Lead
freighters were present. Only the Glen
dive and Poplar River points, Terry's
Landing, and Helena and Assinabcine,
Pierre and Mead, and Bismarck and
Fort Yates contracts were bid on. The
footing are not yet made, but it is be-
lieved that Fred Evans will get the
Mead route, Graham and Buford the
Terry's Landing and Assinaboine, Jor-
dan the Poplar River, and G. Fl. Walter
the Yates, With close contest between
BreadWater ard Power on the Helena
and Assinaboine. The bidders were
Evans, Broadwater, Power, Baker,
Douglas, Carpenter, Peunell, Graham,
Buford, Burns. Jordan, and Meteor
mack.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Es g1L g.

The railroad meeting Tuesday evening
attests the earnest purpose of our people
to proceed in good faith and with all
possible dispatch to an organization that
will result in the building of the Helena
and Benton railroad. We think prob
able that surveyors will be in the field
at an early day in April. Should Mr..
Hill, president of the Manitoba road,
who is expected here shortly. take a
hand in the road, it will be pushed for
ward to the northern coal fields near
Great Falls during the present season.
Herald.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19

Articles of incorporation of the Ben
ton Townsite company have been for
warded to the secretary OF theTterrltory
to be filed, SIS the law requires. This
company is the owner of $50 acres Of
land in the bottom across the river from
this city, including all the land from
Higgins ranch up to Ed. Smiths house
or claim. The capital stock Of the COM
pany is 100000, divided into 1000 shares
of SlOO each. The trustees under the
first or temporary organization are +. +.
Collins, John Hunsberger, j. w. Tat
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
The Permanent Character of fSMontana
Leads.

The favorable reports from the Drum
Lummon continue to come III. The
richness of the ore body in the lower
tunnel has increased, much of it assay
ing as high as 500 in silver and $500 IN
gold per ton. The fact that the mine
has proved so remarkably rich at
depth Of six hundred feet adds another
proof of the fact that Montana mines
are deep and permanent. The Allce
and Anaconda of Butte, like the Drum
Lummon, have grown richer with IN
creasing depth, and the same Is true OF
the Alta Montana, Comet and other
permanent mines. 1t may be set down
as a fixed fact that Montana mines are
as a rule deep and permanent, and this
characteristic adds immensely to their
ue.-Independent.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
WILLIAM HENRY HUNT,
Garfeld's Secretary of the Navy, and Late
American Minister to Russia, VINO
Died at st. Petersburg,
February 27, 1884.

Hon. William Henry Hunt, American
minister to Russia, and ex-secretary OF
the navy, who died at st. Petersburg on
Wednesday, February 9th, was born at
Charleston, S. c., in 1824-the youngest
of five sons of an influential lawyer and
member of the state legislature.
Mr.. Hunt was brought up in New
| Orleans, to which .city .his father re-
| moved on account of the Calhoun nulli-
fication excitement, but attended school
at New Haven, Conn, and afterwards
entered Yale college. He studied law
with an elder brother, and was admit
| ted to the bar in 1914 in New Orleans at
the age of twenty. He soon took a high
| rank as a profound and eloquent lawyer,
and was for time professor in a New
Orleans law school. When the war
came ON he refused to Join in the seces-
sion movement, and was consistent
Union man. When Admiral Farragut
entered New Orleans, Judge Hunt in
vited the officers of the navy to his
house. He assisted in the reconstruc-
ton of the state, and was elected attor-
ney-general on the Packard ticket in
in the United States court of claims
President Grafeld took him into his
cabinet as representative of the south,
and when President Arthur succeeded
to the executive office, he appointed him
minister to Russia
In this capacity Mr.. Hunt performed
an admirable service to his country in
looking after the survivors Of the jean
nette expedition, and assisting them in
making their way from remote corner
of the Russian empire to ST. Petersburg,
and thence to their homes. Through
his efforts the good services of the Rus
sian government were secured in bring
ing the remains of Lieut.. DeLong and
those who perished with him from the
western coast Of Siberia to the Russian
capital.
Judge Hunt was four times married.
His first wife was a daughter Of Com
modore Ridgley. His second wife was
a daughter-in-law of the late Bishop
Hopkins, Of Connecticut. In his per-
sonal characteristics Mr.. Hunt was one
of the most winning of fmen-handsome
learned and eloquent, he possessed all
the graces of a finished gentleman. He
lleaves widow, one daughter and four
sons.
\ 1ne lOllOWlHg was IecelVeQ Dy PIesl-
dent Arthur the day after Mr.. Hunts
death:
10 THE RUSSIAN MINISTER, WASH
TNGToN: The Emperor instructs you to
express to the President and govern
ment of the United States the sincere
re5ret which the death of Mr.. Hunt
causes His Majesty.
have no need to add that the govern
mdnt and Russian society are much
affected by his loss GIERs.
Russian minister af foreign affairs.
By order of Secretary Chandler the
navy department. will be draped with
mourning for thirty days.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
THE HELENA & BENTON r. r.

We reprint the following extract from
the report made by Mr.. E. w. Toole,
chairman of the committee appointed to
consider the feasibility of constructing
railroad from Helena to Benton. and
which was read at the late railroad
meeting at the capital:
It will develop the immense and in
exhaustable coal mines along its line,
unequalled in extent and quality it is
believed by any within our reach, and
thereby furnish abundance of business
for the road, cheap fuel for the city, in
sure the erection of works for the reduc-
ton of our ores, and the construction of
factories, foundries and machine shops,
to utilize the other productions from the
vast and varied resources of the country.
1t will secure direct communication by
river and rail from Helena to the mouth
of the Mississippi. 1t will become a
check upon all other roads, and cheaper
transportation by water, by securing a
supply of freight in exports and imports
to and from the head Of navigation. It
will open up vast region rich in min
erals and fertile in soil, contribute to our
trade and increase our population. 1t
will enhance the values of real property,
business, and stimulate every enterprise
and industry. It will invite capital and
secure its investment. 1t will inspire
confidence and insure success. 1t will
dissipate all apprehensions of the re-
moval of the capital, and eventually re-
suit in the erection of public buildings
suitable for such q metropolis 1t will
give us advantages, in the transporta-
ton of passengers AID shipment of our
freight which will establish here that
populous city which il is now conceded
will somewhere be built along this great
transcontinental line. It will disburse
the moneys spent in constructing main
tanning and operating this road, among
our people at home, instead of paying it
over to foreign capitalists and contrac-
tors.
For the foregoing reasons, which your
committee do not believe transcend the
results reasonably to be expected from
the consummation Of this enterprise,
under the auspices of a home company,
we are of the opinion that it is entirely
feasible.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Discharged.

The eight or ten Indians held for the
last two weeks for supposed completely
in the Jones murder were brought be-
fore Judge Tattan Saturday and dis
charged. There was no evidence what
ever against them. However, it was
learned from some Indians that arrived
from the north Friday who the real
murderers are - three Bloods, whose
names are known to the officers-but to
capture and convict them would prob
ably cost a good deal more money than
will be forthcoming from any quarter.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19

Tn reply to your letter endorsing and
ferring letters of James A. Wells, of
Judith, Montana, and of n. Hilger, of
Helena, Montana, and of petition, you
are informed that the service from Ju-
dith to Andersohville will be included
in next advertisement, service to begin
July /, 1884.
In reply to your endorsement Of the
petition for service from Musselshell to
Martinsdale, you are informed that the
Snute will be advertised to begin July /,
1884. Very respectfully,
III. d. LYMAN,
Second Asst p. M. General.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19

About nine o'clock Saturday the ice
in the river opposite the city commenced
disappearing slowly, in the center of the
stream, and within an hour the channel
was open in the middle as far up and
down as the eye could see, and the
"black streak" kept gradually widen
ing This morning there will be but
little of the second crop left. Crossing
on the ice was Kept up briskly all day
yesterday, and the wonder is that some
serious accident did not occur.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19

is the best time to SOW, about the first of
Septem Der, The yield is about three
tons of the best of hay each time you
cut, or twelve tons per acre u year. It
does not require irrigation. would ad-
wise all stockmen, particularly sheep
men, to SOW plenty of it, for it is the
best feed for sheep there Is. It is as
good ascommon hay with fair supply
of grain, and I would advise all ranchers
and stockmen to try it.
THOMAS TEEEERs
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Signs of Breaking Up.

MINNEAPOLIS, March IA Mandan
special to the Journal says that the ice
in the Missouri river is gradually getting
rotten, and shows signs of breaking up
From present appearances it is likely to
break up by degrees and do no damage.
Machinery and stock on the low lands
are inthe meantime being removed to
the bluffs SO as to be ont of the way OF
any possible danger.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19

In reply to your endorsement of petit
ton for service from White Sulphur
Springs by Sunnyside to Livingston,
you are informed that the service will
be advertised, once week, to begin July
|, 1884.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Important Mail Routes to be Established

The following letter, addressed to
Hon. Martin Maginnis, is self-explana-
tory. The routes to be established are
all-important, and their establishment
viii! not only be convenience to many
citizens of Meagher, but will do much
to advance the material progress Of the
county:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 1884.
SIR:-In reply to your endorsement
of the petition for service from White
Sulphur Springs to Clendenin, via Nei-
hart, you are informed that the route
will be advertised to begin July |, 1884.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
The Helena Republican City Convention.

THOMAS JEFFERs.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-27
LONG ISLAND.

FARNnvGDALE-The Methodist Church, (Which
has been rebuilt enlarged and Tefqrnished VIII be
dedicated to-day. The Rev. William Carolt, lhe
newly appointed pastor, will conduct the services.
NORTH BABYLoN.-OrlandO Peterson a farm
hand in the emplO; of Austin Corbin, was badly
gored by a bull that he was driving III the BARN
yard on Friday evening.
PATCHOGUE.-The last act in the tragc-c comedy OF
the bank of E. S. Peck was reached yesterday when
there was an assignee's sale of the bank building,
the furniture Peck's private residence ana some
vacant lots representing the total assets OF the
concern which failed for $125,000. The property
fet ched only fraction of its value; and 1t seems
doubtful if the depOstors will get back much OF
their money. Mr. Potter the assignee thinks that
peck did not contemplate fraud when he started
what he was pleased to call bank, although It had
no charter and no legal existence. Peck and his
wife have given ND everything have left the place,
and are believed TO be living in great poverty III
{ Connecticut.