The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02

tory. The Montana cattle company,
which owns more cattle than any other
corporation or person in Montana, has
an extensive stock ranch on lower Sun
river, and Con Kohrs, the cattle king of
the territory, has a ranch on the South
Fork. Quite a trade has been established
by Phil. Manix at his new store above
Florence, and in time this will probably
be here q nice business center.
The Crossing has had a genuine build
ing boom this last season, and the new
buildings now under contemplation
show that the carpenters and masons
will be kept busy for another season.
Geo. Steel, the pioneer merchant of Sun
| River, is still in the field with an assert
ed stock of merchandise. Dyas &
Murray and the Ford Bros. are also
doing a big business. The large stone
store building erected by Dyas & Murray
deserves special mention, as it is as fine
a storeroom as can be found in the terri
tory, with Murray hall on the upper
floor. The Largent house, a two story
brick structure, is to have al extensive
addition another season, and then the
proprietor, Mr.. James Glib, will be able
to entertain his numerous boarders in
first class style. Sun River can boast Of
the only Touring mill in northern
Montana. The mill is doing its best to
redeem its former bad reputation by
turning out good -four which can be sold
for less than Minneapolis flour. and then
the miller will realize a handsome profit.
This community is probably the wealth
lest in Montana for its population, and
the main secret of their competence is
the stock business. AS an Illustration,
Mr.. @. H, Churchill made enc cattle
sale, last fall, of $3.50, 900, and has now
probably q yearly income of $40 1000, all
derived from the cattle business. No
wonder that stock cattle bring prices
that seem fabulous to new conlers.
Following down Sun river to its con-
fiuence with the Missouri we come to a
bran new burg, which has been christen-
ed Johnstown, after that staunch old
pioneer, John Iargent. This is a beau
tifuI location FOR q large city, as the Mis-
souri, has no cut banks at this place, but
the land gradually raises on both sides
Of the river for several miles back, when
the bluffs are formed that a few miles
above and below close in zeal upon the
river. f. B. Iargent & Co, dealers i'll
general merchandise, have the business
here all to themselves. A substantial
ferry boat has been put in here and does
a good business in the summer months.
Great Falls, just across the river, is still
a paper town, but as it is backed by nat
ural advantages, the northern stboomer,n
Paris Gibson, and plenty of railroad and
private capital from the east, it seems
destined some day to be the Minneapolis
Of the upper Missouri. A saWmill and
planef will be erected in the spring by
the Hotter Bros, who will run in con-
nection a large lumber yard, the lumber
being RATED down the Missouri about
fifty miles. There is plenty of coal in
Sand Coulee, from five to ten miles of
e10 PAoSp1c1iSO toWll3 04Itk Will GACHP
fuel and lumber it will have a big adj
vantage over some other towns in the
territory. The city has been surveyed
and plated, and the lots will probably
be thrown on the market for sale this
coming summer. At the lower end OF
the townsite is Black Eagle falls, the
upper n of the series of waterfalls
known as the Great Falls of the Mis-
souri,. The fall at the town will furnish
power sufficient to run innumerable
Touring mills, WOODEN mills and Iaantl-
factories of various kinds. Tt Id pro-
posed to utilize this water power in 1884
by danming the river just above the
falls. It is intended to make this the
great manufacturing center of Montana
at no distant day, and If natural adyan-
tages count for anything the project will
be q complete success.
-r DAseA~---
"a report is going the rounds that Gll-
mer d Salisbury, the stage men, Will
put on q line of coaches from Helena 60
the G. r. r., via Benton. The best