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

chants struggle for low rates only as it
gives those of one city an advantage over
those of another. IL they can secure the
business it makes no difference what the
rates may be. With miners and farmers,
however, it is a vital matter-every cent
saved by lower rate is kept in the terri
tory and in it's productive Industries
every cent exacted by high freight rates
helps to make stagnation and retard bust
ness II the wool grower gives up one
pound in every ten to transportation, the
business cannot flourish nor the country
get the benefits it would if conditions
were brought about whereby he could get
his wool to market at a cost of one pound
in every twenty.
By not using the river as it should have
been used the farming interest of Mon
tana in the last five years has lost thou
sands of dollars. Had independent lines of
railroad been built from the Missouri riv
er to Helena and Butte and those cam ps
kept up good river business, the opera
tors of mines and smelters would have
saved 25 per cent. of what they have paid
out for freights. The Union Pacific rail-
road has been drawing the life blood from
Butte But it is never too late to mend
what shall we do and exact in the future?
Shall we sit quietly by and see the Mani
toba run little bob-tail line of boats from
Buford to Benton and keep everything
else off of the river? No, it is time that
the river did it's legitimate work. The
producers of Montana should first last and
always do everything in their power to Sc
cure improvement in the river. This gov
ernment owes it TO it's people that all Of
it's great waterways should be improved to
their fullest capacity and kept in the best
possible order A waterway extending
| from the Rocky mountains to the Missis-
sippi river and over which produce can
be taken in direct east and west line for
over 1000 miles should be put in order
and should be used.
First of all then we must demand as our
right good appropriations for river i'm
provement Next to that we should en-
courage the running Of Independent lines
of boats, that is lines that do not connect
at the east end with roads that run into
Mostana. ItWas expected that rail con-
nection would be made from Aberdeen to
Bismarck this year. Had this been done
1T would have given boat line from Bis
marck connection with two more great
railroad systems, and Montana would not
only have had the n. P. and M. & M. but
the great n. W. & Milwaukee would have
entered the field for business. Let me
put what should be done in the form of
an address to the people of Fort Benton.
Your city occupies position at the head
of navigation of the Missouri river-you
of course, want to make of it distribut-
ing and shipping center. 1t will be made
such a center only when it secures the
best freight rates possible, and better
rates than other places in the territory
can command. When it secures such
rates all productive industries will be ben
Gifted Hence we see in that which will
make you great our greastest hope Of
prosperity. Our cause then is common
one. You should own and operate a
steamboat line, even if it is but small
one. This line should be perfectly inde
pendent and connect with any one of the
half dozen railroad lines that tap the low
or Missouri and that would make the best
rates for through business. This would
insure low rate to Fort Benton and
would be OF immense benefit to all of Mon
tana, for the Fort Benton rate would reg
ulate the rate to every other place in the
territory. Next to this you require indie
pendent railroad connection with various
parts of the territory Every indepen-
dent line that can be built to the Missou
ri river will be of incalculable benefit to
the section through which it is built,
while il it comes to your city it will help
it greatly. Branch lines controlled by
the great road are benefit, but they do
not compare with independent lines as a
benefit to a city or country through which
they pass. There can be no manner OF
doubt but that much of the coal and ore
and the produce of the farm will eventu-
ally go through the city at the head of
navigation of the Missouri, that it may
secure the benefit of low rate. The
Manitoba or any other ssroad running
through Fort Benton, can if it will, on the
water terminal privilege of the interstate
commerce law, secure every particle of
business west of your city.
A road west to Choteau from Benton,
and thence on to the coal fields of Leth-
bridge, with branch through the noun
tains to the Flathead country and beyond,
operated in the interest of the producers
of the country traversed- is connect ]!
ing at the river with that transportation
line east that would give the best rates,
would be boon to both tewn and conn