The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-28
CITY news AND GOSSIP.
y
The First Skating Of the Season on
The Broadwater q :
Lake.
Proposed Legislation to Reorgan-
ize the System c'f United
States Courts.
Rapid Work on Street Railway ON Jack.
son Street.-The Exction Of
Colonel.

son Street.-The ElfEtion OF
Colonel.
The artificial lake near tho Hotel Broad
water is now frozen over and number of
skaters spent the afternoon of Thanksgiv-
ing day on the lake. The ice 10 not yet in
good condition, being filed in places with
chips and other distractions. II is not en-
tirely safe for large crowd, us the weather
has not been cold enough and the ice isthin
yet. The lake was pretty we'll covered until
a late hour last night with rapidly gliding
skaters, who thoroughly enjoyed the exhil-
Grating sport in the moonlight. Water will
be run over the surface Of the ice at inter-
walls to secure new and even surface. This
will rapidly make it more secure and afford
better travelling fer skaters. The motor
lines run close to the lake. affording an ex-
cellent opportunity to secure some good ex-
ercise as we'll as pleasure. No steps have
been taken as yet. it is said. toward carry
ing out the suggestion msde some time ago
that the interior Of the Broadwater plunge
might easily be turned into splendid skat-
ing rink. The time Is ripe for it.
Some of the lawyers think that the pend
ing legislation in congress to reorganize
the federal courts will be an improvement
over the old order of things. The jurisdic-
ton Of the United States district courts
under the present system is confined large
" to admiralty cases. There is no litiga-
ton of this character in Montana and these
courts consequently are not crowded with
business. With the circuit court, however,
it is different. There are number Of i'm
portant causes on the docket here. Judge
Knowles has expressed desire to have Cir
cult Judge Lorenzo Sawyer, who il as
signed to this circuit, to hear these cases
with him. At present it does not seem
likely that this will occur. Judge Sawyer
is in poor health and has expressed doubts
about being able to be here. He
has suggested to Judge Knowles
that he wait until a United States
judge is appointed for the new state Of
Idaho and call upon him. There are sev-
eral cases now pending in which Judge
Knowles was at one time interested as
counsel before his appointment. On these
his honor, Of course, does not want to pass.
The reorganization referred to contem-
plates giving the district courts original
jurisdiction and making the circuit courts
appellate tribunals with final Jurisdiction
in number Of cases; the idea being to
relieve by this means the labors of the SUI
preme court of the United States. as the
final determination by the circuit courts
would prevent appeals to the court at
Washington. Legislation of this charac-
ter has boon the hobby of several senator's
and representatives for years, but SO far
has not received the attention that has
been given to tariff bills.
At seven O'Clock yesterday morning a
large force Of workmen began tearing up
jackson street and Grand street between
jackson and Main. The scene of 80 many
men hurriedly working, while everything
else about the city wore Sunday appear
anoe, attracted some curious attention.
The work was begun yesterday, it being a
holiday, and therefore could be carried on
without fear Of impeding traffic. II was
the Winnie company's force of men en-
gagged in building street car track along
Jackson street, for which they secured a
franchise last Tuesday. by night the
ground had been excavated the entire dis
tance, and nearly all the ties and track
laid in position. The work will be COM
pleted to-day. it il expected. unless the
company is disappointed in receiving the
curved rails needed on the corner Of Grand
street and Broadway. This piece of
track is built not only for the purpose of
getting line in front Of thai opera house,
| but to make circuit connection with the
| ID
are to be placed at the intersection of
Broadway and Grand street lines with
Main street. Getting onto car at the
opera house passenger may ride down to
Grand, thence to Main street, running
north to Helena avenue ON the Consolidated
track. At Helena avenue the Winnie line
will meet its own track. running north to
Lyndale avenue, or continuing on to the
Flower Garden addition. Coming up Main
street again thes cars will turn up at Broad
wayt running out through the east side of
town on the Fifth avenue line 70 the Lenox
addition.
i Tho company, composed Of Peter Win
ME and his associates and Wallace 4
Thornburgh. will BIO known AZ the Union
Electric Railway company. They have re-
Gently secured control OF The Broadway line
and the Palmer franchises. They have
forces of men engaged in track laying on
the east and north sides Of town, the latter
route reaching out to tho Montana univer-
sity. When all their lines are completed
and that will be this year-the Union COM
pany will have nine miles Of street car lines
in Helena, and the entire distance may be
traversed without change OF cars. Owing
to the large demand for electric railway
machinery and cars this company has beer
unfortunate in not securing its electric plant
and for the present will DO obliged to u.s.
horse power. They will not have their cleo
trio appliances in position until next
spring.
The adjutnnt general Of the state militi'
will at II O'Clock this morning count tn
, ballots which have bean forwarded to hin
J and declare Who has been elected colonel o
the First regiment Of the National Guar,
. OF Montana. The election vas ordered O
the eleventh Of this month BY 0overno
Toole. Each comuanv oficor In entitled