davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
Meteorological Data for the Year ending December 81 st, 1883.
u. S. SIGNAL OFFICE, FoRT BENTON, M. r.,
December 31a, 1888.

Mean Barometer for the year. 80. 10
Mean Temperature for the year, 43.4.
Total Rainfall for the year, II. 90 inches.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02

in quality that are marketed from any
part Of the plains, because they are the
descendants of animals brought mostly
from the states and graded up by many
fine bulls. The cost of raising a three
year-old steer varies upon the different
ranges, according to the system prevail
ing, and upon the size Of an individual
herd. In Choteau county, which is con
coded to be unsurpassed in grazing facil-
tiles and the character of its herds, the
average cost is in the vicinity of 81 per
head. The past year, three-year old
steers sold at S47.5o upon the range, and
the superannuated cows at $40 to $45 PEI
head. The writer knows of many for
tunes rapidly acquired in the cattle
business in this county with u facility
and freedom of life that could not be
enjoyed in any other occupation. One
investment of 81 900 ten years ago has
made the happy maj king among kings
upon his range, with a comfortable for
tune of nearly $500, 600 another person,
LOtStIiy lISA pei tCEu, Has ~ hFC NS61p
sold SIS, 500 worth of beef and acquired
a herd worth $40, 900, on an investment
of $12,0 900.
At first the life of a stockman may
seem very uncouth to the uninitiated-
None but those who have tha nerve to
mount the festive cayuse and face the
elements in all their manifestations Of
sunshine and storm, car know what a
fascination it possesses. 1t has APPLY
been said that - this favored region is
the home Of the cattle King; his throne
is the saddle, his scepteg the stout @lariat,
his kingdom the unconfined leagues
over which he rides free as the wind,
and his source Of wealth, more fruitful
than the goose that laid the golden egg,
we'll merits the title of Queen Cow
STOCKMAN.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
A Montana Captain Payne.

Henry Kennerly, the acknowledged
leader of the party that is Q to invade
the reservation for the purpose of locat-
ing mineral or agricultural claims, left
for his home on the Teton a few days
since. A RIVER PRESS reporter met
him lust as he was about to start, with
his wagon we'll loaded down with pro-
visions, ard naturally enough inquired
If he was bound for the reservation.
mo, not this trip vas the response.
II am laying in a supply of grub at
home now, but expect to return in a
week or two and prepare for the trip be-
low
saThen you are going for certain?'
"You can just bet [ am"
"WilIthere be many in the party?u
1T looks as If there will. / believe a
party of 800 could be organized i1 this
town for the purpose intended, and it
may reach that number, although no
effort has been made as yet to organize
the party
What do you expect to accomplished
1--WE expect to locate on land and
camp until it is opened to settlement,
or until we are foreibly put off. If the
latter, we will return lust as soon as the
field is cleas. There are thousands, ]
might say millions Of acres Of good land
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
THOMAS MORGAN.
Observer, Signal Corps, g. s. A.

had been developed to any considerable
extent. As a result the company, from
the start, labored under great disadvant-
ages in the matter of securing ore, and
it was not until recently that this en-
barrassment was overcome blythe pur-
chase and development of the Silver
Belle mine, which gives forth abundant
promise Of being a real bonanza.
Just at this time, however, an unfore-
seen and unexpected calamity occurred,
in the failure of FL. G.. Tillinghast, of
Chicago, that gentleman being largely
interested in the smelling company.
His failure caused the temporary en-
barrassment of the smelling company at
Barker, but we are pleased to be able to
report that such an arrangement has
been effected with the creditors as will.
within the next ten days, result in the
resumption of operations at Barker, up
On a substantial basis, and with most
encouraging prospects for the company.
Mr.. FL. d. Burghardt, the manager of
the company, is entitled to great credit
for bringing about this good result. To.
this end he has labored incessantly il
the face of almost unsurmountable OBJ
~stacles, never losing confidence in the
ability of the company to make good its
every obligation. IF the results antIci-
pated are accomplished, and we have
no doubt they will be, it will be due in a
large measure to the perseverance and
indomitable energy Of MI. Burghardt.
It is not our intention SO make special
mention of the numerous fine properties
in these districts, as to do SO would re-
quire more space than we have at COM
mand. It is sufficient to say that there
are a great many fine prospects in the
Barker and adjacent districts that ia due
time will be heard from as bullion pro-
ducers.
The Silver Belle, Wright & Edwards
and Barker mines have had the most
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02

work done upon them, and the first
named is the one ponSWhioh the smelt-
ing company now depends for it's ore
supply, and it is a pretty safe reliance.
The mine is now tapped at three Or foa2
different places, and shows up an inn
mense body of high grade ~carbonates.
It Is in splendid condition to be worked,
and the ore can be secured in any guam
tity desiled almost at a comparatively
small cost for mining. This property
was purchased by the smelling company
the past summer, at a cost of about $780,
600, and before the close of 1884 it will
have paid for itself many times over.
The Wright & Edwards and Barker &
Grey Eagle mines are now idle, but can
not long remain SO, as they are known
to be splendid properties. To work them
properly will require extensive machin-
cry, but by sale or other arrangement
we may look to see them producing
plenty of good ore in the very near flu
ture. The general development of the
camp or the advent of a railroad in that
region will render them too valuable to
lie idle.
The Montana district, only a few miles
from Barker, can show some of the finest
prospects in Montana, and the mine
owners are diligently at work devepop-
ing their properties. There is an abund-
ance of free milling ore in this camp,
and the time is not far distant when nu-
merous mills will be in operation in the
district.
Some rich strikes were made on Snow
and Carpenter creeks between the Bar
ker and Montana districts) the past sea-
son, and SO far as developed these new
discoveries are not excelled in the Belt
mountains. The Snow creek ore is free
milling, and there is every prospect of a
good camp at this place.
The mineral districts of the Belt
mountains are only now in the first sta
ges of development; in fact, they have
not been thoroughly ~prospected as yet.
The era of ore and bullioG-producins on
q ldlSC pCdiC Will tlC dLUCliQlIS RiOSJ CSS
and prosperity is yet to come. and the
time is not very far Off. Already Fort
Benton, which as the natural supply and
shipping point for these many districts,
derives an extensive trade from that
quarter " ich will grow each successive
year with the development of that grand
mineral region. And here might be
pointed out the great advantage Of Fort
Benton's location. 1t does not depend.
upon any one industry alone, as do other
towns of the territory, but derives trib-
ute from the great stock ranges, fine
agricultural region and mining districts
at its door-the three great of
Montana.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02

down there, but there are choice Local
tions, of course, and we expect to catch
on to them. That is about all there is.
is it. In my opinion the expedition will
be a success, and those who join it, pre-
pared for a seige, VIII never regret it,
Henry is in dead earnest andif this
nice weather continues will be on his
way to the land of promise before
long, with, doubtless, a considerable fol-
lowing.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
ALTITUDE AND CLIMATE.
Causes that Operate to Render the Climate
of Montana SO Delightful.

In connection with the meteorological
table presented herewith compiled by
Signal Service officer Thomas Morgan,
of this city, from his annual report to
the Department. we desire to present the
following facts in reference to the alti-
tude and climate of Montana, which
fully account for the very favorable fig
ures presented in the table: Even the
passes over the highest ranges in Mon
tana usually have an altitude of only
about 5000 feet above the sea level-no
greater than the plains Of Cheyenne,
Wyoming. Nearly all the arabic Mon
tana valleys average from 500 to to 1000
feet lower than the most fertile ones of
Colorado or Utah. Mentana's highest
peak would hardly reach timber line in
Colorado. The tables compiled by Prof.
Cannot, of the Hayden survey, show
that $1,000 square miles of Montana's
area are less than 1000 feet above the
sea, while only 5000 square miles of Col
orado's area and none of Utah's are at a
less altitude than 1000 feet. Montana
also possesses valley and bench lands
covering an area of 40, 700 square miles,
at a less altitude than 5000 feet, while
neither Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
nor Wyoming contains an acre of sur
face as low as 5000. The official reports
referred to make the mean average
height of Montana above the sea, $500
feet; that of Nevada, 5000; New Mexi-
CO, $500; Of Wyoming, 6,400; and Of Col
orado, 1000. Montana possessing an
average altitude Of $500 feet less than
the general average of the before named
states and territories, equal to more than
seven degrees Of lower latitude, and
thus compared with them, the lower al
titude of the grazing lands Of Montana
more than cempensates for their higher
latitude.
Coming more directly to the question
of climate, we find that the isothermal
line of 500 Fahrenheit, which passes
through the wheat growing districts Of
southern Russia, through southern
France and westward through Harris
burg, Cleveland and Chicago, in our own
country, rises north Of Montana in the
British possessions. This apparently ex-
traordinary phenomenon is readily ex-
planned by the influence of the great
Japan ocean current flowing northWard
from the equator with a temperature of
$50, which pours its heated breath
against the low coast lines of Oregon and
Washington and thence inland, over
plains and mountain tops, even east of
Montana's eastern border. This warm
wind from the Pacific, known as the
"Chinook,'' often causes the deepest
on thebenches and valleys of Mon
tana to disappear in a single night. The
Westernly winds are more prevalent in
the winter than those from the cold
northeast quarter and those from the
cold northwest quarter and therefore
the country, as first observed by Gov.
Stephens, in his survey, although so far
inland, partakes of the well known
climate of the Pacific coast.
BARKER AND ADJOINING DIS
III l
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
Abstract Of Choteau County's Assessment
Roll, 1888.

Daniel Mckay, who IS just in from
the upper Teton, reports that the chop
pers are Cutting about $50 cords of wood
a week for the spring drive to Benton.
He expects they will get out about $500
cords this winter.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
School S Statistics.

We are indebted to DR.. J. w. Wheel
ock, county superintendent Of schools,
for the following statistics, taken from
his report to the territorial superin-
tendent:
Number OF districts in the county. ...... 8
Number enrolled between i ind 81 years Of age. GIL
Average attendance 1U3
length Of school term. ~ days
= wages per month. $50
Taxes collected {estimatcdA.. 5000
Townsire school fund 1900
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
BARKER AND ADJOINING DIS
TRICTS.

&
The Barker mining district is situated
about sixty miles south of Fort Benton,
in the Little Belt mountains. Like all
quartz camps its development has been
comparatively slow. Capital to any
great extent has not yet come in, and
the numerous "~bonanzasn of the district
lie in a great measure ulldeveloped, but
that there is q grand future for this camp
none who have informed themselves Of
its resources doubt for q moment.
Adjacent to Barker are the Montana,
Belt Park and Yogo districts--aI rich
in mineral and waiting only the tondes-
tone Of capital to render them great
bullisn-proudueing camps. The advent
of q railroad, bringing cheap freights
and carrying the products Of the mines
to the eastern markets, would have q
like effect, fastening rapidly the devel-
opment of the mines.
The only smelter in this extensive
mineral region in that of the Clendenin
Mining and Smelling Company at Bar
ker. twas built very soon after the
first discoveries at Barker were made,
and before a single mine in the camp
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
Montana Statistics

COUNTY ASSESSMENT ROLLS.
The assessment rolls Of the several
counties of Montana for the year 1883
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
were as follows:
COUNTY TAXATION

COUNTY TAXATION.
The tax levy in the several counties
Of Mont-na for the year 1888 was as
follows:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02

The expenses of the penitentiary for
the year ending November 80, 1883, were
$2O,O16 80.
The expenses of the insane asylum for
the year ending November 80, 1883, were
$27, 1888 Is.
The bounty paid for killing wild ami
mails, from March 9Th to December 20,
1883, was as follows:
Bears 131. ,O4S 90
Mountain Lions liz 90
Wolves 223 28 %
Coyotes 223..... Iii 80
-
S1.499 so
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08

An official German publication makes
the following interesting revelations
touching the pamphlet entitled ''Berlin
Society,"" which recently created q con-
siderable sensation in the political and
diplomatic circles of the continent. The
material that served to compile the first
half of the work was taken from conf
Dental letters which the former reader
70 the Empress Augusta, Nine. Gerard
addressed to the late M. Leon Gambetta.
That French statesman's literary heiress,
Nine. Adam found them amongst his
papers. The description of character is
due to the pen of an Alsatian named
Weiss, tutor in q Russian family. The
notes furnished by Herr Weiss were
handed to Mime. Adam by Mime. de
Novikof, who took them with her to
Paris. Nine. Adam. assisted by the
ex-Secretary of Legation, NJ. Otto de Loe,
prepared the material for publication.
Possibly others contributed from behind
the scenes to the pamphlet in question;
but its principal authors were the per-
sons above mentioned.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08

For many years past past a large,
long-leaf pine tree has stood near the
ford of Gum Swamp in Kershaw Coun-
ty. S. c., where General Gates was de-
feated by the British forces in the war
of the Revolution. 1t has been handed
down by tradition that Baron DeKalb.
who received mortal wounds in that
battle, was laid under this tree to rest
in its shade until vehicle could be pro-
cured to convey him to Camden. From
that time forward the historic associa-
tons connected with the tree have saved
it from m~olestation until the great for
est fires which prevailed in that section
of country the past spring, when it was
80 badly injured by the fire that it re-
Gently fell to the ground and has almost
DISAPPEARED.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08

Cakx~l GaAz = - 1aA 49, ~
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A. Ip1.sx gr1aE- a-azs t@a -
ear - isz1 - ~za ~~ "a 'GAz
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a-ss e.s.t@.f@s - ~@ -T
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laIlsn. "a ~Nss Aau~ * AsI = ~~a@FT
49, Bal 4 30 80 aUat Ia -
shAhexrs s1ea.ltae~ Sae Ls-s AsaH&S 49,
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amAztoas - ~afu - 90 AF& e. "a
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rs sa~gh. Tie tAmsss asas4 m tA@s
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naa s~as~ FnsA css % wN
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Is 1855 be 49,. 49, 3 Gs t%t1
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,fea sv~usassi ghs Fsasss - AAs 81 hSfle@
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sso-. No asst tsk Aa @ftr taFf % -
~I.lilsrs - ue asf. IL fea hr @s&sei a
DlAgsse k4assa sna eassusssasd u@ -
~. q BE tfsfas.A " As snrtsa @tas
~enat.s ffan Juhn~sa CsssHfY Eu fw4 tnt
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lrfu4 lie Ras pssstussig t~Esv lie
i.epusIiraa tonssAfhu faf arssFta4
Z kantzs ia iSa aHd A~fsoi to assa
nGa i~-sslsss~i h8su bs bs state ~fsapfss~
Auss1siisn. &iihuuxh an srieuf satsf
znre sdFsrass fs4ssss3 "A 4stw wRa mWa
nassst % tbr ksss4s L-nasn~ fs
sos sf1of ia issn zlsi eiesa93 - = tafE@
naaiuSily. lie SO ~ assfnkatnt I'D ~~ t<f
IN is-S w&a agan ~nlsh.bz'@l au isa2 @s
iofsagsi hs thr pFyasn{ '.ss*sftss 20 hsa
"a Sine. rrtlftng ffusn nHau ..sseFsns ~
Ibhn haA drsutzt mus q tsae D. ihe usaas q
c~mt-faars pFssif&- ~hsl ttf.aEh ats.
more than Az atisf e1. sssh Ia 1888
grated uss1H ia. f~sssians~aGi las - -
adopted St@te.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08

A DISASTROUS hail storm is reported
b have originated in the vicinity of
Gnndin. OAK. doing much damage.
Crossing the Red River, it passed south
lht, striking the Northern Pacific Rail-
vsy about two miles east of Glyndon,
MINI, doing great damage on the farms
a Captain Smyser and the Grants.
Other damage was done in the track of
tAe storm, but the approximate am unt
VlN not obtainable,
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08

The Sandwich islands boast of two
natural wonders. the largest extinct and
the largest active volcano in the world.
The former is located on the Island of
Maui. the summit being nearly eleven
thousand feet above the level of the sea,
and the crater over forty-eight miles in
circumference. One can look down
into the crater two thousand feet, the
sides now terraced -and covered with
sandalwood. giant ferns and q wonder
full ~profusion of flowers and shrubs.
The active volcano is situated in the
Island of Hawaii. The crater is situated
on . spur of Mauna Loa, four thousand
feet above sea level. The crater Is not
. cone, but q great pit on q level beach.
nine miles, in circumference. You 60
down, down over this almost perpen-
dicular Exn eight hundred feet, and
stand on the floor of the crater. This
IS the place of eternal bumings the
house of everlasting fire of Hawaiian
mythology. The area at the bottom Of
the crater is not 3 liquid mass. but
for miles and miles around there
spreads . scene at unearthly grandeur.
Five or six lakes Of fire lie TO the left
Ind right; the floor beneath is 30 hot
ono can scarcely walk over it; lava
oosss up through the assures. Huge
cones twenty or thirty feet high. made
1y the bubbles Of lava, rise through the
eeomg and are cooled BY the air.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08

A GOOD story is told at a New York
chb of a prominent artist who, in his
htry to finish a portrait, collect the
mtuey, and get away to the country,
oay gave his fair subject four fingers
on the left hand-the fact not being
diSovered until the portrait had been
delivered and hung up in the owners
patior. The surprise the discovery
created is increased by the artists reply
that he was not engaged to paint the
hand, but the face! He will, however.
remedy the defect when he returns in
the fall from the old hills of Berkshire.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08
THE WORLDS DOINGS
POLITICAL AND pxssoxar.

FOLITICAL AND PEBc8OSAKS
THE Republicans Of Maine are preparing
20 celebrate the thirtieth ~snniversary Of
the birth Of that party ss Strong. In Frank.
lin County, whore the Wings, P~ree-Soilen
and independent Democrats united In con-
vention and the next year swept the Stat~-
A DEMOCRATIC barbecue, for which TWEEN
ty-ave beeves and ifty sheep had besn pro-
vided, was given At Lexington. Ky..on the
18th.
GOVERNOR CLEVELAND was formally no
titled Of his nomination by the Democrats
for the Presidency At Albany, n. Y, on
the 9th. W. r. Villas made the introduc-
tory speech, when the address was cad by
the Secretary Of the Notification COMMITTEES,
Governor Cleveland replied, expressing
bis sense Of the honor and Of the RESPONSE
bility involved.
THR Democratic committee OF the Third
Congressional District Of Virginia nomi-
mated George ID. Wise for Congress.
Oh the 3)th, at the Grand Union Hotel,
Saratoga, N. Y, Thomas A. Hendricks
was waited upon by the Notification Com
miitee and formerly notified Of his nomi-
nation by the National Democratic Con-
ven.ion TO tho Vice-Presidency Of the
United States.
Mr.. BLAINE was reported busy on his
book. He was forced TO secure the aid OF a
stenographer, his time being greatly en-
croached upon by callers, social duties and
correspondence.
REPRESENTATIVE ~CULBERrsos, OF Ken
lucky, who attempted suicide in Washing
ton, was reported b tter, with hopes Of his
recovery.
The members of the Democratic Notiica-
ton Committee were banqueted by the
Manhattan Club at New York.
DEMOCRATS In the Ninth Congressional
District Of Virginia have nominated o
nelly +. Trigg for Congress.
The West Virginia Republicans nomi.
mated F. NJ. Reynolds for the Second Con-
gressional District.
F. g.. BERRY was nominated for Congress
in the Fourth District Of Mississippi.
THOMAS DICKSON, President Of the Della
ware & Hudson Canal Company, who had
been i'll for some days, died at Morristown,
N. j., on the 3lst.
BISHOP GRACE, on account Of old age, has
resigned as Bishop Of st. Paul diocese. and
at his request Bishop Ireland succeeds him,
| with the approval Of the Pope.