The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-16
"a Letter from w. H. Todd.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo-. Jan. 2, 1884

INDEPENDENTS, Mo. Jan. 2, 1884.
Terry Collins, Esq, Fort Benton, N. z.
DEAR SIR AND FRIEND VIII you
please send me. to this place, the
WEEKLY RIVER Press until I order it
changed. If you have them please send
me the four back numbers, commencing
with December Sd or Whereabouts. We
are we'll, and enjoying ''hog and homi-
NY, possums and sweet potatoes and red
applesn in abundance. The weather is
variable, at times clear, then sleety
and muddy, then snow and cold. Yes
terday and to-day very cold and consid-
cradle snow-altogether, [ think [ pre-
fer a Montana winter to what | have
experienced since / came here. As to
business, and the prospects for making
money, Montana is away ahead of this
country for a man wi n or without mon
ey. When / left Fort Benton her
people were complaining of dull times,
etc. You may tell them that I have
visited Helena, Butte, Ogden, Denver,
Omaha, Kansas City and other points,
anu I0dk 4 CdlnOI SEC kA0u DAoIAOSo -
any livelier than in Fort Benton inpro-
portion to the population. / do not see
that it is any more lively, or that the
people generally are any more prosper
GUS. Taken, all in all, if the people Of
u section only knew and appreciated
it they are right in the center of one
of the most prosperous sections Of the
new northwest, and if they know their
interests they will stay right there and
hold on to what they have and get as
much more as they can, for the time is
not far distant when the wisdom of such
a policy will be manifest to even the
dullest brain. Far away the hills are
green, but they are not half as green as
the man who leaves good pastures to
hunt for better. You don't know how
good a country you have around you
until you try to find a better one.
From what T can learn Benton and
the adjacent country will get a large
immigration next year. 1T is now the
only section Of Montana that is yet COM
paratively new and without a railroad.
The superior grazing lands of That sec
ton are attracting universal attention
amoug men interested in stock growing,
not only in Montana, Idaho and Color
ado, but also futher east, and you will
see a heavy increase in your stock I'M
~terests.
Railroads will reach You quicker than
J.aa~a of o,lror nrn1aI1Xy 4Icn,
the average old-timennges to see them.
They will wonden1ngy it was that they
did not know they were coming so soon,
and bemoan their luck that they
did not seize on some of the loose
valuable real estate and other good
things laying around while it was not
yet too late.
I expect to return to Benton before
early spring, unless unayoldably ae-
tanned by sickness or something Of that
kind. In a week or two I expect to &c
south to Mrs. Todd's home, where we
will remain, probably, until ready to
leave for home again.
Imet Sam. Word in Omaha. w. w.
Norris, of Virginia City, in Wintering
in Kansas City, where ] met him.
Kansas City is a second Chicago, only
on a smaller scale.
Denver is a beautiful city, far beyond
my expectations, elegant residences and
splendid business blocks; but [ saw too
many placards, ITO Rent" which prov
ed that there was plenty of room for
more people. Yours truly,
VIM. H. TOpD.