The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-02
IT MAY COME TO HELENA.
States Which Will Vote TO Bring the
Trans Mississippi Con-
gress Here.
Mr.. Thomas q. Merrill Gives an Acc
count Of tho Proceedings
at Omaha.
Believes n Session In Helena Would Ba
More Desirable Than , Teachers
.r Convention.

's
Trans Mississippi congress- at Omaha, re-
turned to Helena yesterday. He is very on
thusiastic over the work Of that body and
brings the news that Helena can secure a
meeting of tho congress here in 1892 with
but little effort. Mr.. Merrill thinks the OBJ
jects Of this congress do not seem to be
fully understood. ut has in view" ne
says. "the uniting of all OF the states west
of the Mississippi river, that have a delega-
ton in congress Of 100 senators and repre-
sentatives, in securing favorable legislation
upon such matters as are Of vital import
ance to the west, and with this representa-
tion in conRress acting as a unit 1t is hardly
possible that We should fail to secure such
legislation. Among the subjects considered
by the congress- are the coinage of silver,
irrigation and arid lands, transportation.
mines, mining and mineral lands. United
States geological survey, manufactures In
the trans-M Mississippi states. deep water
harbors on the gulf, indian reservations,
sales of timber lands. Montana was repre-
sented in the Omaha meeting OF the con-
gress by Geo. Gould, of Miles City, and Martin
Maginnis and myself. The action OF this
body upon these questions was unanimous
on all questions considered except the COIN
age of silver. The committee on resolu-
tions, Of which Mr.. Gould and myself were
members, reported a resolution by a major
ity in favor Of tho free coinage Of tho
American product. The minority report.
signed among others by the members OF the
committee from Montana, was in favor OF
the free and unlimited coinage of silver.
Upon tho question Of irrigation and arid
lands we were united in asking congress to
cede the lands to the different states and tere
%ritories; also that congress should at once
select sites for the storage of surplus water
in reservoirs. Discussion arose upon intro
ducing as a part of this legislation such
action as would prevent interference by the
people of one state or territory with the
righta Of the people of another state. but it
was deemed best to make that a matter OF
separate legislation.
ment of a question so important to Mon
tana and of some OF the other gold ana
silver. producing states and territories, that
of preserving the mines n mineral lands
from becoming the property of the Pacihc
railroads under their grants, the following
committee and the congress by nearly a
unanimous vote: -
Whereas, The interest Of mining creates
and adds to the wealth of this country
nearly 800, 100000 annually of gold and
silver alone, a product whose scarcity
means the depreciation OF the values OF the
farms, the homes and all the real property
of the country. as we'll as the wheat, the
cotton and the corn produced by our toillnR
millions, and whose abundance means in
oreased comfort and prosperity to the great
mass of our people; and
Whereas. There are millions OF acres OF
the best gold and silver bearing mineral
of mining properties, both patented and
unpatented, within the limits of the grants
to the Pacific railroads, and which are in
imminent danger OF becoming the property
of these railroad companies. Now, there
fore, be it
Resolved, That this body earnestly ask
of congress such legislation as will protect
and foster our mining interests. and for
ever prevent our mines and mineral lands,
bearing gold, silver, copper or lead. from
becoming the property of these corpora
tions under their grants; and that the pres
citizens of each of the territories of Ari-
IONA. Utah and New Mexico, and the states
of California, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming,
Oregon. Idaho and Montana, which hav a
common interest in this subject, who shall
form a committee for the purpose of So
curing buCu uulG0u duu 0uCAcAU hCblOH Oh
will save these mines and mineral lands to
the people.
And in conformity with this resolution
President Thomas appointed the following
committee in the order named: Thomas g.
Merrill, Montana; Monti b. Gwynne, Idaho;
A. E. Hyde. Utah; NJ. G.. Smith. Arizona;
VIM. M. Mcguire, Colorado; r. r. Heating.
Nevada; j. Il. Brennan. South Dakota; S.
NJ. White. California; f. +. Wolcott,
Wyoming.
..In respect to securing a meeting of the
congress in Helena during the season of
1892 kilograms of invitation from the mayor
of Helena and the Board Of Trade were
ton WAS made that the meeting of the con-
gress to be held after its session in New Or
leans in February be held at Helena. From
assurances which Ihave personally received
from members of the body, had the reso-
luton been put to u vote it would have car
ried by at least three-fourths of the mem-
bers present, but the attention of the con-
gress was called to the fact that at Denver,
in May last, the congress voted to loave the
decision of the next meeting to the congress
converting at New Orleans. We have
pledged to assist Montana TO secure the
Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Col
orado, Minnesota, the Dakotas, California.
Oregon, and a large number of the delegates
from Kansas, Nebraska II Iowa. II
seems to be the wish Of the convention ia
select such q time for the meeting al will
be most acceptable to Helena. Our active
competitor for the next meeting was Salt
Lake City. A meeting of this body will
be a great deal more to Helena
and Montana. 1 believe, than a
convention of the National Educational as
ISOLATION. The members of the congress
are composed of a large number of United
States senators and congressman, besides
these there are representative business men
of the entire western country who will
take an interest in our resources and the
opportunities for Investment.
II believe that il the people of Montana
appreciated the Importance of the accom-
plishing of the results sought by this con-
gress they would be fully represented al
these meetings. One of the most deslra.
able things in having the meeting durine
the summer of 1892 held in Helena 10 that
the people of the state may realize the i'm
p~ottance of the work being done. l think
we should nave a good delegation at New
Orleans in February when the congress
meets. About this time the Mardi Gras
will be held, nffordine another attrao.
tion.'
DR.. Salvail has moved his Office to rooms 3, {
and z Granite block.