The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
RATES OF %ApYERTISIEG:
FORT BENTON IN 1854.


We think that a good many citizens
of our town, even among the business
men. don't realize the impetus that the
river metropolis will receive before
another year rolls around. We have all
heard of the initiatory steps which have
been taken towards opening up the im-
mense landed estate now nominally be-
longing to the various Blackfeet sub
tribes and stretching north of us as far
the British line, and eastward to the
Dakota line. Stop a moment and guess
on how much of the business of this vir-
gin section would be compelled to come
to our thriving town and how large a
proportion of the ranchers, stockmen
and prospectors just invading this new
Eldorado would have to outfit here and
buy their supplies from our merchants.
We do not think it is any exaggeration
to estimate that the ordinary business of
Fort Benton would be doubled by this
acquisition to the country tributary to
this town. Like the country already
opened to settlement this vast northern
Indian reservation will not be depend
ent for its resources Upon one class OF re-
sources or one industry alone. That the
cattle business will there be an immense
success is already demonstrated by the
few herds Of cattle that have been allow
ed to Craze on some of its millions OF I'M
l...aLaI ca,oo of h,,naI rpoCc. fhat
sheep raising and wool producing will
be as great a money making scheme as
in the southern part of Choteau county
is well demonstrated by the similarity
of climate, snowfall, elevation and
range as we'll as the success of the band
of sheep on Eagle creek, neal the Bears
Paw mountains. That good grain and
hay growing ranches can be found scat
tered all over this vast domain is the
testimony of all well posted travellers,
and is also shown by the fine crops rails
ed at Blackfoot Agency, Fort Assina-
boine, Belknap and other places where
any pains have been taken to till the
rich soil. That the r~ock-ribbed clusters
of mountains, with which the reserva-
ton surface is studded, are streaked and
scanned with argentiferous and aurifer-
Gus leads is the confident prediction of
all who have given any attention to its
metalliferous deposits.
In view of all these facts it is well for
us, lying right the gate way to this now
deserted domain, to consider what bene-
fits we, as a business community, are to
derive from the host of stockmen, ranch
ers and prospectors that are sure to in
wade this great land the coming sum-
mer.
To the north the towns scattered
along the Canadian Pacific are too far
away even if they had the requisite cap
ital to command this forthcoming
trade. The new "boom" towns of the
Northern Pacific lie too far to the south
to "catch on" to the business. That
great water way, the Missouri river,
still rolls on the even tenor of its way to
Bismarck, past wood yards and half
breed trading posts. Clagett and Carroll
are the only points in the 300 miles to
the mouth of the Yellowstone which
have any thought of business, and even
they are not in a position to take advan-
tage Of any sudden business boom, like
that with which we are promised anoth-
er summer. OF course, it will only be
q question of time, then, that those in
termediate river points will make thriv-
ing business centres for the surrounding
country. Fort Benton is so situated
naturally and has the business men and
capital requisite to profit by the coming
summers influx of settlers. The pros
perity of 1884 will be welcomed by all
and we may thankfully repeat after
the old revolutionary crater, "Let it
come"
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