The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-07
The Committee on Rivers and Har-
bors Will Do Something for
the Northwest.
A Long Stretch OF That Water
way May Be Made
Navigable.
Gossip About tho Helena POST Onsce-The
Senate Committee Does Not Change
the Lead Schedule.

sentatives Of three new states were before
the senate commerce committee to-day in
behalf eff more liberal allowance for the
upper Missouri river, and as result of this
representation it is probable that the rivers
through the Dakotas and Montana will be
given $500, 900 or 100000 in place of the
100000 in the house bill. Senator Casey,
OF North Dakota, Senator Moody, of South
Dakota, and I. G. Power, of Montana, we're
present during the morning session and
later other senators of these states joined
in the representations of their colleagues in
urging that the Missouri river be given
more attention. Senator Casey said that
while these states were in a territorial CON-
dition they had little or no voice in prepar-
ing the river and harbor bill and no vote
against its passage; hence they had always
been neglected. Power, who is familiar
with the river, explained the needs Of the
improvements to be made, the removal of
essary to improve the river to
make 1,5O0 miles of river naviR-
able, 600 being in South Dakota,
400 in North Dakota and GOO in Montana.
This was naviRable now but was interfered
with by the Interruptions before alluded to.
Besides this there was above Great Falls,
Montana, about 100 miles of river that
could be made navigable. All of the gen.
tlemen present stated that the commerce at
the present time was greater on the upper
river than below Sioux City where the large
appropriations we're made. Senator Casey
called attention to the fact that where
money was expended at the present time
there were many lines of road crossing the
river. while on the upper river there were
wide stretches between Yankton. Pierre,
Bismarck and Fort Benton where there were
no railways and steamboat traffic was
necessity. The committee after hearing the
northwestern senators told them to prepare
an amendment to the river and harbor bill
which should embrace the recommends
tions they had made and divide the river
into districts by states so that the appro-
priation could be made judiciously. The
committee also promised the delegation an
appropriation of at least $500, 900 and it ID
hoped to get 100000. ~
The Helena postotfice is still exciting CON
siderable interest in Washington and many
stories are afloat as to the different phases
of the fight. A Washington paper to-day
stated that Walker, the nephew of Blaine.
is Russell Harrison's candidate, which ia
not in any sense the case. Wheeler is
Russell's choice, and he is making every ef-
fort to secure his appointment, although
the Montana delegation is not agreed that
Russell shall control the affairs in their
state. 3
Senator Aldrich to-day said TO gentle
man: "We have just voted on the lead
schedule and have kept it in the bill as it
came from the house." This was gratify-
ing to large number of western GENTLE
men.
Colonel Sanders is laboring with the com-
mittee on public lands to have inserted in
the land bill now pending provision relat-
ing to arid lands which will allow homestead
entries to be made forthwith; also, that
reservoir sites may be selected and set
apart, and an appropriation made for i'm
proving them. The row between the irri-
CATION committee and Director Powell has
grown 80 bitter that it is almost impossible
to get anything done that touches irriga-
ton. It is possible that nothing can be
done.