The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-12-17
A FIGURING MILL.

| should be Tut forth by our cltlZenS at
| once 10 secure the establishment Of a
| Touring mill at this place next season.
| It is no longer a matter of e%xpediency
| and beneft, but of necessity. Montana
| farmers have sensibly come to the con-
| clusion to produce their own breadstuffs
| and if. there is not a mill at Fort Benton
to grind their wheat they will go else
| where for that service, and at the same
| time purchase their supplies where they
can market their wheat. It does not
require any foresight to see that Fort
Benton will lose a vast amount of trade
that naturally belongs here unless a
| Touring mill is established here next
year. Our business men, and those who
are interested in the welfare of Fort
| Benton, cannot afford to let the matter
go by default. There is too much at
| stake. No time can be lost, either.
| Complete arrangements for the erection
| of the mill should be made this winter
SO as to secure it's completion III time to
turn into flour the wheat grown in this
section next season.
The mill should be one Of large capa-
city so that it could produce not only
| the flour consumed in this immediate
| vicinity, but as well for a country Of
much greater extent. Mr.. L. G. Power
has secured at Bozeman' this year the
| -four to fill his contract at the Fort Bel
KNAPP agency, many thousand pounds.
| No reason can be offered why this flour,
and as we'll that for the Piegan agency,
should not be made here at home.
In speaking with Messrs Griffith &
Ingersoll, civil engineers, a. to the
available water power at this place. we
We're informed that the Shonkin creek,
by means of the tunnel already 0 n
| structed, would furnish power enough
to run half a dozen such mills as are
needed at Fort Benton. By running a
ditch or fume to bedrock an unfailing
supply of water sufficient at any time of
year TO turn the wheel could be had.
The fall is about seventy feet, and with
such a head a small stream of water
| with a wheel less than thirty inches in
diameter will furnish a 2O0-horse power
if needed. These gentlemen, who have
looked into the matter some, say there
is no question about this scheme of wa
ter power to the extent required being
entirely feasible. The cost of making
the power available would be very
small.
With good water power at q slight
| expense assured; with unnumbered
acres of unexcelled wheat lands ada
100 miles, without a Touring mill, tribu-
tary to U town; with a population of
1000 or Is, 900 people counting Indians)
in this circle to supply with breadstuffs;
with a country that is certain to develop
and advance in prosperity at a rapid
rate, would not a first class fosring mill
at FORT benton be an enterprise of great
promise and profit?
Under the circumstances it ought to
be no difficult matter to interest capital
in this enterprise. But our citizens
ought to agitate the matter. They ought
to take steps to interest the proper par
ties, and do it at once. If necessary
they ought to offer liberal inducements
to any one who will come. here and
build such a mill as is needed. In short,
they must take such steps Immediately
as will insure the erection of a Touring
under the changed order of things in
this portion Of the territory. and u
citizens cannot afford to overlook the
fact.
Gentlemen, what are you going to do
about it?