davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
FORT BENTON'S SCHOOL.
New Furniture and Everything Re-arranged
in the Rooms.

To Professor c. w. Danks we feel very
grateful for his kindness and courtesy in
escorting us recently through the various
departments of the school, which we
found as neat, comfortable and system
atically arranged as they possibly could
be. The school is divided into four de-
partments, viz: Grammar, intermediate
and first and second primaries The first
two have single seats, capable of seating
about thirty-six each, and the primaries
are double seated and will accommodate
a much larger number Each room is
very handsomely furnished with new fur
niture, provided by the trustees this Win
ter, including seats, tables, stands and
chairs, with an ample supply of maps and
charts and other modern improvements
necessary for a first class school. The
seats in each department are so arranged
as to get the best possible benefit of the
light showing upon the desks of each pu-
pill. The large stoves, instead of being
placed in the middle of the rooms, occupy
positions to one side so as to prevent the
burning and scorching Of the childrens
clothing, each stove being partly surround
ed by sheet-iron rehectors, in the shape of
half circle, about four feet high, which
throw all the heat to the center of the
room. The total amount expended this
winter, including the above mentioned
furniture and other apparatus, is about
1000, an amount that could not possibly
have been better expended. The school
is not only credit to the town, but the
territory, from which many will be edu-
Gated to life of usefulness and honor.
The new furniture was put in position
during the holidays, under the personal
supervision Of Professor banks, who un-
selfshly devoted the time that many
other teachers would have taken for
holiday recreation and enjoyment, to the
work Of rearranging all the rooms in such
manner as to afford the greatest com
fort, convenience and safety to the pupils.
Professor Danks is teacher who, heart,
mind and soul, is thoroughly devoted to
his work-one who has the love Of the
children and the respect and confidence
of parents. We are glad to see that the
school trustees are disposed to render Mr..
Danks all needed assistance, and that
they appreciate his services. Under the
janitorship of Mr.. Gordon the school
house is kept as neat and tidy as a new
pin. We believe we voice the sentiments
of the whole community in saying that
Benton has one of the very best taught
and managed schools in the territory.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Native PIuns.

In very interesting paper on fruit
growing in Dakota, read before the terri
torial Horticultural Society at is meeting
in Huron, by Mr.. Oliver Gibbs formerly
of this state, farmers were strongly re-
commended to set out sprouts or seed
lings of native wild plum trees. These,
he said, had three peculiarities to recon-
mend them. They are easily procurable,
require but little care in transplanting
and produce very palatable and useful
fruit. There are several varieties of these
plums, differing widely in size and flavor,
but all good The best are about equal
to the best favored tame plum. Most of
these varieties are known to improve with
cultivation, and it is believed that all will.
They are hardy and reach maturity soon,
only few years being required to insure
a good crop of fruit from the planted
plum grove. They differ in color, too,
some being yellow, though they are gen
orally Of different tints of red, and their
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
A Wyoming Bonanza.

A curious discovery has recently been
made by people living in the vicinity of
what is known here as Pine Ridge. This
ridge is the last one out, that is covered
with timber, east of the vast plains and
plateaux lying between the Black Hills
and the Big Horn mountains. This dis
covery is nothing more or less than long
range of hills Of pure soap, or an article
that looks like soap and answers all the
purposes of soap. Tt is yellowish in color
and about the same degree Of solidlty
and can easily be taken out in any de-
sired size. The people near to the find
have been using it for general purposes
for some little time. A few days ago a
specimen chunk was brought to the Sun
dance hotel and tested by every boarder
there and it was found to differ not ma
terially from the article purchased at the
stores. 1t makes fine suds and removes
grease or other substances from the hands
and clothing equal to the genuine article.
An analysis will be made and the finders
are confident there are millions in it,
Sundance, Wyoming Gazette.
Wesuggest thatpour Wyoming neighbors
build broad gauge railroad to their "soap
patch" Immediately. Has it ever occurred
to them that this is the year of political
conventions and elections throughout the
country, not to mention the great national
contest The color OF the article seems to
be just right, and if it has the proper
consistency, there will be a hole in the
ground where that range of hills stands
before snow flies next December.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Montana N ews.

Snow is reported two feet deep on the
level at Maiden.
Most every newspaper in the territory
is kicking about delayed mails.
The commissioners Of Fergus county
have fixed the tax levy for the year 1885
at Ia mills.
Mr. Chas. Wegner has been elected
chairman Of the board Of commissioners
Of Cascade county.
The New Northwest claims record of
100000 expended in buildings and i'm
provements the past year. This includes
water works system valued at $4,000.
In old stage days Benton got it's mail in
33 hours from Helena; now it takes As
hours at best, with rail most of the dis
tance. The Benton people very properly
kick, and ask the postal authorities for
more accelerated service.-New North
west
The people Of Benton are justly indig-
nant over the manner in which they are
treated by Uncle Sam as regards mail IA
cilities. Benton should have direct
mail line to Lewistown and the heart of
the Judith Basin It seems almost in
credible that this city should be shut off
from the best tributary country it has.
Argus.
Amongst the holiday entertainments at
Lewistown, was soft glove contest be-
tween Professor Maxwell andJ J. Weikel,
the former guaranteeing to knock out his
opponent in four rounds. At the end of
the fourth round, the professor found he
had bigger job on his hands than he
could get away with, and the purse and
gate receipts we're handed over to his in
tended victim.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Four New States.

Washington telegram: Delegate Jo-
seph Of New Mexico, who has been a
member of the committee on territories,
and will again serve on that committee,
expresses the opinion that this congress
will pass an enabling act for four terrific
ries-Dakota, Montana, New Mexico and
Washington. He says that the general
feeling in congress is that these territories
should be admitted to statehood, but that
Utah is not fit to become a state SO long
as the Mormon hierarchy holds the terri
tory. He added that none of these terri
tories would be admitted in time 10 vote
for president, but would be permitted to
come in shortly after the next presiden-
tial election He has made the question
a special study, and has sounded mem
bers of both parties upon it, and his judg-
ment is that of man who is not likely to
take too rosy a view of things.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
The Perjury Case.

The hearing before q. S, Commissioner
Luke, in the case Of the United States VS..
Cameron and Martin, was concluded Sat
urday night, the commissioner deciding
that the evidence was sufficient to de-
mand the appearance of the prisoners be-
fore the U. S, grand jury. In default Of
$1,000 bail each the prisoners we're re-
turned to jail.
The case is this: Archie Campbell. fin
the summer OF 1883, proved up on a ranch
at Great Falls which was sold to the town
site company. This claim was recently
jumped by Graham In the contest Cam
eron and Martin appeared as witnesses
for Graham and gave very long and NM
ute testimony to the effect that Campbell,
during the summer of 1883, worked fcr
the Hay Bros. and others who built she'd
and sheared sheep at Fort Benton-ia
short that he was in and around Fort
Benton during the whole season. Later
Cameron and Martin discovered that they
had made d mistake of a year and that it
was 1884, and not 1883, that the sheds
were built and the work done in and
around Fort Benton, and they went be-
fore a notary and made affidavit to that
effect.
Tt is claimed now by the prosecution in
the perjury case that in doing this these
men swore falsely and received bribes for
50 doing. The testimony in the main is
to the effect that John Hunsberger paid
Cameron S53 to make the affidavit, chang
ing the year from 1888 to 1884, and that
Hunsberger went with him to the notary
to see the job done. A little later in the
day Hunsberger, it appears in the testi-
mony, went with Martin to the same no
tary and had the latter make affidavit that
he, too, had made mistake of a year in
his testimony at the Falls S. H. McIn-
tire, Of this city, appeared for the prose
cution and Mr.. Holcombe, the Great Falls
Townsite attorney, for the defense.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Bill TO Repeal Internal Revenue Taxes.

WASHINGTON, January 10.-In the house
to-day Millikeu, of Maine, introduced a bill
to repeal all internal revenue taxation
and to admit free of duty sugars imported
from countries which do not lay an export
duty on such sugar. This provision is not
to apply to sugars imported in vessels
other than those Of the exporting country
and the United States, nor to countries
refusing to United States vessels the same
treatment in regard to port and other
charges which are granted to vessels of
such country in American ports. That
there shall be paid out Of the treasury to
American producers OF sugar sum equal
to the present rate Of duty on that pro
duct. The sum to be paid each producer
is to be ascertained through the internal
revenue and customs officials.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
American Tools Abroad.

Our American contemporaries have
every cause to be surprised at the aston
ishing fact that thousands of tons of scrap
iron are every year taken to the United
States and there converted into the sim
plest of American manufactures, the sad
or laundry iron, and then exported back
to Europe at no small profit. There is no
corner of Europe where American small
cast hardware is not on sale. The tool
makers and the machinists Of Europe
such as Krupp, Of Germany; Whitworth
L Armstrong, OF London; and Hotchkiss,
of France, with their vast resources are
unable to produce monkey or screw
wrench equal to the American Wrenches,
and consequently they have to import
these tools from the states. It is stated
that there are no less than $4,000 dozen OF
them exported to Europe alone every
year. 1t is interesting to note that Chas.
Moncky, the inventor Of this screw bar
wrench received only $4,000 for his patent,
and is now living at williamsburg, N Y,
in d small cottage bought from the pro
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
FORT BENTON LAND DISTRICT.
anaIvsis of the Bill Introduced in the
House by Delegate Toole.

Washington special to Pioneer Press:
Toole's bill providing an additional land
district for Montana, to be known as the
Fort Benton district, describes the new
district as follows:
Commencing at point in the middle of
main channel of the Missouri river oppo-
site to the mouth of Deep creek, thence
due east to intersect with the 108th me-
ridian of longitude, thence due north
along the 108th meridian to the intersec-
ton Of the 49th parallel of latitude, thence
due west along the 49th parallel to a
point directly north of Medicine Tree hill
thence due south to the main range of the
Rocky mountains; thence along the sum
NIT Of said mountains in a southerly di-
rection to the head Of the most northerly
branch of the Sun river that heads in the
Rocky mountains; thence in an easterly
direction down the middle Of said branch
of the Sun river to It's mouth: thence
down the main channel Of the Sun river
to the middle Of the main channel OF the
Missouri river; thence up the main chan
mel Of the Missouri river to the point Of
beginning.
Toole also introduced his bill Of last
session prohibiting the appointment Of
any person to federal office until he had
lived long enough in the territory to be-
come a qualified elector.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
"Oh, Where Have You Been Billy Boy 2

The Hon. Billy I'll. Clagett, once the
silver -tongued Republican orator of Mon
tana, and the only Republican ever sent to
Congress from this Territory, has got up
a consolidation scheme. The Hon. Billy
has been loafng over in Idaho for some
time past and Billy wants Idaho and West
ern Montana consolidated as follows
"Commencing at point in the middle
channel of Snake river, where the north
boundary line of Oregon intersects the
same; thence down the channel Of Snake
river to a point opposite the mouth OF
Clearwater river; thence due north to the
British Possessions; thence east to the
thirty y-third degree of longitude west from
Washington; thence south to the south
east corner Of the National Park; thence
west to the Idaho line and follow it to
the place of beginning"
The Hon. Billy's consolidation scheme
is a big one. It takes in the best part of
Montana The thirty third degree of lon
gitude runs through Montana east of Fort
Benton, White Sulphur Springs, Bozeman
and Livingston, and on to the National
Park. This is little the biggest arnexa-
tion scheme that has yet been thought OF
among the salmon eating statesmen OF
Idaho-Dillon Tribune.
William has never forgiven Montana for
not sending him to Congress a second
time, and Montana has never ceased to
congratulate herself over his defeat. Will
liam exhibits his usual modesty. He
would take in the National Park, all the
best and most populous portion Of Mon
tana including its capital city In fact,
William would take anything he could
get, even a congressional nomination in
the consolidated territory. We have the
satisfaction of knowing that he can't get
all he asks for.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Very Old Great Men.

The large number of living great men
who have passed the ordinary limit Of age
is astonishing. The German emperor is
90; DR.. Dollinger is 88; Moltke and Ban
croft, the historian, are each 81; Kossuth
is IS and Prof Owen is SO; the pope is II
and King William of the Netherlands is
we'll on in his list year Of the states
men Mr.. Gladstone is 70; Mr.. Bright is rs;
Prince Bismarck is 72; M. Jules Grevy is
"a; NJ. Leon Say and NJ. Leroyer are each
II; Lord Selborne is "a; and Lord Gran
vile is 72. Of generals, McMahon is 70;
Leboeuf is 49,, and Bazaine and Chaldina
are each rs. Of poets, Lord Tennyson is
IS; Mr. Browning is IS, and DR.. Oliver
Wendell Holmes is 78. Of musicians,
Nerdi is So. OF engineers, Lord Arm
strong is " and Sir John Hawkshaw is
76 OF painters, Missioner is p, and f.
nally OF showmen, Barnum is II.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Great is Barabbas.
News.

The "boodlers" came down like the
wolf on the fold. And they scooped in
the silver and greenbacks and gold; from
the town on the lake to the town by the
bay, they faked in the Doodle from q un-
to A.
The people were stupid and silly and
green, and the "boodlers" the checklist
thieves ever seen; in the street, in the of
fee, by night and by day, they grabbed
what they wanted and took it away.
They laughed when the newspapers gave
them blast, and they winked in the.
face of the judge as he passed; for they
knew while this land should be peopled
with men, that "boodlers' who'd "boodled"
would "boodle'' again.
People put them in prison, but then,
all the same, elected new "boodlers" to
keep up the game. From Tweed to Nc
Garigle; who but believes it's the fate of
the land to be governed by thieves.
Pickpockets and gamblers, thieves,
drunkards and toughs, ex-conyiets and
sluggers, bar tenders and roughs; forger-
ers, fencers and liars, and confidence men,
we've elected to Office again and again.
And we'll do it again; we1l let people
see there's a chance for the thief in the
land of the free. Long live St. Barabbas!
A pledge let us borrow-to the health OF
good Sodom and righteous Gomorrah.-
r. f. Burdette.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18

ceeds of this sale. In the matter of the
common boxwood rules, also, the Ameri
can manufactures SO far excel ali others
that, if not all European nations, certainly
all nations outside of Europe are supplied
from America. The manufacturers there
print on the rule whatever system of
measurement is followed by the country
for which the goods are intended. Ameri-
can augers and auger-bits are used the
world over, no other nation being able to
compete. The Americans with such facts
before them, may we'll be proud of their
manufactures-Lond Iron.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
The County Jail.

There is nothing we can imagine, more
disagreeable, uncomfortable and of
fensive to the inmates confined therein,
than dirty unkept jail, and we are fully
satisfied from the nice condition we found
everything in this morning, upon our IN
expected visit, that the superintendent,
Mr.. McNaught, is of the same opinion.
Upon entering the building, both the
corridor and cells, as we'll as the entire
building presented a very neat and at
tractive appearance beds in the cells
were nicely made up and clean, the fire
was buring cheerfully in the large stove,
and the room very comfortable as was
evidenced by the water dripping from the
tank which seldom freezes. The many
flowers which in summer used to be kept
in Mr.. McNaught's private room, and
whose delicate breaths ladened the morn
ing air with perfumes exquisite, are now
kept in the prison department and still
lends their aid to dispel the gloom ordi-
narily attached to prison life. There are
now prisoners for perjury, assault,
l murder, and for larceny. We inter
viewed each one separate as to their com
fort and treatment, and the chorus was
unanimous, that their wants were sup
piled as well as could be expected and re-
quested us to thank Mr.. McNaught
through the RIVER PRESS for the hand
some Christmas dinner furnished them
from his own table,
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
New Way to Mend Ribs

A young woman physician, who prac-
tees in Englewood, tells of queer case
III surgery which she heard of a few weeks
ago, or rather case of most unusual sur
gical treatment for common injury. A
young man had suffered a fall from the
that two of his ribs had been broken. The
doctor who was called to the case "a man
doctor, by the Way-told the patients
mother to make big bowl of mush and
milk, and to coax the wounded man to
eat as much of it as he could possibly
hold This was done, and then the doc
tor told the wondering mother to bring
him one of her old corsets, the largest one
she had. The good one blushingly obeyed,
and stood by with bulging eyes and
watched the doctor put the corset on the
patient and draw the strings comfortably
tight. "Keep the boy we'll filled with
musk and milk all night, if possible" was
the doctors injunction, as he packed up
his traps to go away; ''and be sure that
Gne cOfsetS uOn g6t any looSel o3dn OAley
are now. I'll call again in the morning"
The next day the ingenious medical man
declared that the broken ribs would soon
be knitted we'll together again, and that
they were growing as nice and straight as
you please. "The mush and milk on the
inside and the corset on the outside is
what did the business" he said.-Buffalo
| News.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
THE GREAT SNOW PLOW,
The Snow Can No More Trouble the Rail
roads by Blocking them Up.

Some weeks ago it was mentioned in the
Globe that the Northern Pacific had re-
ceived two rotary steam snow ploWs, the
principle Of which is by rotary motion
in front to draw the snow into the ma
chine and then blow it out through a fun
mel on the side. One of these machines,
or plows, was sent out to the sWitchback
on the Pacific coast, where the road has
been blocked for several days. The snow
was packed down. heavy and solid, for
about ten miles up the side Of the noun
tain from six to ten feet all the way. This
machine was put to work against this
body Of snow, and though it fought at a
disadvantage by having to run up the
mountain side on a grade of 300 feet to
the mile, it cleaned the track from one
end to The other, distance of ten miles,
in one day The officers of the road are
greatly pleased with it and regard the
feat performed by the machine, of clean
ing that track as satisfactory test of the
ploW. When the pillow first struck the
snow it marched steadily and uninter-
ruptedly against it up the zig-zag path
to the summit Of the mountain, and thus
opened the road without trouble. It looks
now as though the roads had all a corner
on the snow, and as if the Sioux City di-
vision Of the Omaha need never be block
ed up again.-St Paul Globe.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Death of w. S. Negus.

A telegram received at 5 o'clock p. N. on
Saturday announced the death Of Mr.. W.
S. Negus at the Grand Central no tel,
Helena, at 9:2O a. N. Friday, from an
attack Of erysipelas. Mr.. Negus was one
Of the owners of the Helens & Benton
stage line, and an old and highly respect
ed citizen Of the territory
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18

The editor of G paper at Storm Lake,
Iowa, is now in hiding in swamp near
the place in consequence Of the way in
which he mixed up the report of cattle
show and concert His paper said:
"The concert given last night by sixteen
Of Storm Lakes most beautiful and in
terestine young ladies was highly appre-
ciated. They were elegantly dressed and
sang in most charming manner, winning
the plaudits of the entire audience, who
pronounced them the finest breed of
Shorthorns in the county Several OF the
heifers were fne-limbed animals and
promise to prove good property
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Springer on Statehood.

Mr. Springer, chairman of the house
committee on territories, speaks as fol
lows as to their admission to statehood:
sVery probably enabling acts will be
passed for some Of the territories. That
is, we may pass an act enabling some OF
these territories to adopt state constitu-
tions and to construct the machinery OF
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18
Important to Cattlernen.

Kansas Cry, January Judge Kreck-
ell in the United States circuit court to-
day rendered a decision of Importance to
cattlemen. The case was one IN which
Charles B. Hudson had shipped 378 steers
from Pennington, Kas,, with orders to
have them in the Kansas City stock yards
next day in time for the markets. The
Union Pacific failed to do this and the
cattle were sold next day when the mar
ket was dull at loss of s166. Hudson
sued and got the money. Judge Kreckels
decision to-day was in form of refusal to
grant motion for a new trial.
"Are there no statesmen left?' asks
Col. A. K. Mcclure. Yes, Aleok, a good
many. There are dozens of them left at
every election. Wilkesbarre Leader.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-01-18

The first issue of the Broadaxe, in
Blakely, contained an advertisement:
"Boy wanted at this office" The next is
sue of the Early County News, published
also IN Blakely. contained the following:
''Born, to Mr.. and Mrs. W. A. Jordan, a
bouncing boy" w. A. Jordan is editor of
the Broadaxe. Some people pretend to
say that advertising don't pay Cuthb9rt
(Ga.) Liberal.