The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-29

months ago and bought up the entire bar
ley crop of the valley. They paid good
price for it and shipped it to New York,
satisfied that Montana barley has no equal
III the country and is therefore worth a
good price. Their observations did not end
there, however. They formed syndicate
and purchased % 600 acres Of land from the
Northern Pacific Railroad company. and
paid the cash for it. This land is situated
in Gallatin county on an arid belt, but it is
proposed to reclaim it by irrigation. II
lies between the West Gallatin and Madi-
son rivers, the waters of which will be con-
veyed to the land by means of canals and
bitches. It is understood that four
parties of workmen are now tax
ing advantage of the fine weather
to build these canals, that the work
may be we'll under way for next spring.
The syndicate will send colony of Hol-
landers out next year to till this soil
undertaking, but with the ample capital
behind it ls bound to succeed and will tend
to more firmly establish Gallatin county's
title to 'the garden spot of Montana"
It is learned from a very reliale source
that there was considerable uneasiness
along the line of the Montana divi-
sion of the Northern Pacific last Saturday
and Sunday. A couple of suspicious char
acters boarded the train at Helena. The
conductor, who had never been in train
robbery. eyed the strangers closely and
wired his fears to Supt. Finn. Mr.. Finn
Immediately hurried out a special cal, load
ed with men and ammunition, and started
division, bound by all that was terrible that
no desperate should stop train under his
jurisdiction. The two suspects got off at
Big Timber. This is a small and lonesome
settlement on the road and the conductor
suspicious were still further aroused. He
imagined they were probably laying
for tho west bound passenger. Mr..
Finn was kept informed as to the
the movements of the men. The following
dny they boarded the west-bound train,
and the same conductor was aboard. He
finally summoned up courage enough to
approach the men, keeping one hand close
to his hip pocket.
.What did you people get off at Big Tim
"Why, to hunt for game"
Don't you know there is no game at this
placer"
SWELL we know it now, but didn't know
it yesterday"
The two suspicious characters were at
ired in SLOUGH hats and buckskin suits, 4
belt of cartridges around each waist and
shotguns in sight. The fears of Conductor
John O'Rourke-for that is the name of the
vigilant official-became allayed, and hi
finally boldly asked the men who they
were.
'These bold, bad men were none othel
than George A. Miner, the city ticke,
agent of the Northern Pacific. and my
stenoGrapher, Mr.. Craven" said Mr.. Edgar
yesterday. '"They had started out fol
some Sunday sport and donned the MIN
rods war paint, but returned gameless.
J The conductor teleeraphed his discovery I,
headquarters at Livingston and Gen. Finn
called in his posse. while Mr.. O'Ronrke hi,
himself in an upper berth the balance Q
the trip.
Superintendent Turnbull, of the Broad
water electric railway, states that prepare
! items have begun and have been il
! progress since the beginning of the wee
looking to the transformation of the bi
natatoriun into an ice skating rink
, Workmen are engaged levelinR the floor O
I the bath and in course of two weeks it
expected that the place will be ready 70
skating.
City Treasurer Folk will start ont mex
Monday on vigorous campaign of tax col
lectin0. He has already made several col
lections which were promptly paid, and a
{ far as his observation has gone, b
. cannot see that Helena is suffering from
tight money market. The revenue to b
!. derived this year from taxes aggregate
, $4,000, and Mr.. Folk says everybody vii
a have to walk up to the captains office. /
!. some counties in Montana the county treas
Q urer coll,cts both the city and county taxes
9 and after all is in deducts the city's share
y but Mr.. Folk will give the city tax collec
ton his personal attention.
= Take it before breakfast"
Leather Gooda