The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-04-04

oAo I14SA WO4h clLd S1IOW GIIC COuIdSC W1lC1
our convictions warrant. Do not be sat
isied with knowing that these things
should be SO, but make them a fact at
the earliest possible day.
There are natural laws governing trans
portation that are as inexorable as those
which give us daylight and dark, as mex
orable as those which make water run
down hill. The Missouri river can and
must become factor in the transporta-
tion of Montana freights of much more
power than it has ever been as yet. This
law will operate Immediately if those
most interested assert themselves; it will
operate much later if those whose interest
it is to do so are allowed to hold the law
in allegiance.
Wool can be taken down the Missouri
river at high water, and at all stages when
the river has been properly improved, to
Bismarck for 25c. per 100 pounds; it can
be hauled across the prairie country to
Duluth for another 25c., and for SOC. can
be taken from Duluth to Boston and every
one make a profit. From Fort Benton to
Boston it should not cost cent over one
dollar per hundred pounds. 1t is little
that amount and to make the wool grower
! of Montana pay over ten per cent. OF the
value of his wool to transport it to mark
ct. California, through San Francisco,
| hnr vxyaCl to pNc4cTo o4 REa fa
81 per 100 pounds. California takes ad-
vantage of the great highway nature sup
plies. Shall we of Montana stand on one
side and see our opportunities for cheap
transportation slip by from simple neglect
and dfaint-heartedness?
The committee on resolutions was di-
rected to put in form for the association
their expression of the Importance of this
work.
| The following resolutions were drawn
up and offered in the evening, unanimous
ly adopted and forwarded to our delegate:
To the Honorable the Senate and House
of Representatives. of the United States:
| At Fort Benton, Montana, on March
31st, 1883, the Montana Wool Growers
association, in convention assembled, took,
by unanimous vote, the following action,
which is respectfully submitted:
| WHEREAS, The Missouri river at high
water furnishes the longest east and west
waterway on the continent, it being ], 100
miles in direct west line from it's mouth
to the head of navigation, against $50
miles directly west from New York to Du-
| luth, the second longest east and west
waterway; and
WHEREAS, The distance between the
| longitude Of Fort Benton and that of ST.
Louis is nearly one-half the distance from
the Pacific coast to the Atlantic, that is,
LOO miles out of $500; and
| WHEREAS, The most successful develop
ment of all the productive industries trib-
utary to the Missouri basin depend large
| ly upon transportation rates secured
upon this great waterway; and
WHEREAS, For lack of necessary i'm
provements in the channel the season of
navigation is very short; therefore be it
Resolved, That we believe there is no
river work which the country has to do
that is of more Importance than that of
improving the longest east and west wa
terway on the continent.
That we believe our industry, in com
mon with all others in Montana, would be
vastly benefited and advanced by improv-
ing said waterway; and
That We therefore earnestly ask that
your honorable bodies will give to this
waterway that attention which it's impor-
tance demands and such appropriation as
it's merits clearly calls for.
Several other important matters were
discussed and resolutions adopted, but
lack of space crowds them out.
The association adjourned to meet in
regular annual session at Fort Benton on
July 10th next.