The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-24
TRIP TO TILE DAM SITE.
What Can't Powell and tho HelenM Ger
tiemen Discovered Friday.

what Can't Powell and tho Helena Gen.
tlemen Discovered Friday.
"Giyen beautiful spring morning. roads
N tho finest possible shape, and good
toam we'll handled by a competent driver
and who would not enjoy drive from
Helena to Canyon Fsrry2 Such were ths
conditions under which Capt. Powell, ao-
eompanied by Judge Howey and myself,
made the trip to Canyon Ferry Friday
said VIM. Muth yesterday. TAT the ferry
We were met by Court Shoriff, who speedily
furnished us with good boat in which to
make the trip down stream TO Stubbs' Ferry.
me river between the two farries Ia very
t1no stream. and the run was very enjoy
able trip. French Bar was, soon passed,
but showed no signs Of life At this point
the proposed dam will be benefit, no dam
ago TO any Of the sapphire ground being
possible. In fact, this is really true of all
OF tho bars along the river. the back water
covering nothing except portion Of tho
Old dumps that are of very little, il OF any
value. The only place at which anv signs Of
activity were seen was on the old tailiugs
dump ut Spokane bar, whore two men were
busy IN 6luice washing over some ground
Tor gems. Hsre we were able to show Capt.
POWELL ths process by which the gems are
recovered. and some little time was spent
IN sorting over tho gravel and in picking
ont the precious stones. an employment
which interested the captain very much,
ana which resulted IN the gathering Of a
number of fine gems. We then visited the
alte OF the proposed dam, and examined il
with reference to its praotioability to sup
port the necessary structure, and also with
reference TO the feasibility Of adding locks,
II such an addition should at any time be
necessary.
For this purpose it is my judgement
n1 flyo0% nj$n idtu Ia
matter which is Of great interest to tho
region surrounding Helena, was very foroi-
bly brought to our notice during the trip
down the river, agid that is the fact thnt
the Butte y Boston company is, whether
legally or illegally, stripping tho hills along
the Missouri river Of every available log
that can be reached. It will be remem-
bered that this company is one OF the pro
tsstants to tho dam on tho ground that il
would interfere with their log rafting.
Even were their rights to cut this timber
undisputed, which is not the case, BY any
means, the dam could provide sluioe-ways
for their passage ae they do not raft but
sands OF logs lying on the banks Of the
river (son1s showing signs of age and de-
oay) and in the river stranded in the shoals.
Much Of this timber is Of small size and fit
for nothing but cord wood, and believe
that all Of it is illegally cut, and that if our
si1o O01 lAepeCtOIb ulu GQ6lT WQOl0 QQtY fAlG
spollatlon would be stopped and the timber
saved to future settlers. Here ia work for
the Helena Board of Trade, and an active
campaign will be at oncs inaugurated to
stop all timber stealing. To do this it will
probably be necessary to 90 to headquar-
ters, but this should at once be done and
unremltting effort put forth until the re-
salt ia attained.
Complaints of settlers have been numer-
ous, but | never realized until yesterday
the magnitude Of their grievance, and It
behooves as to at once move in the matter
For their protection. We saw the surveyors
actively At work near CANYON Ferry, at
which point the Helena. White Sulphur
Springs d Castle railroad will probably
cross the river. / certainly hope that the
right to bulld the proposed dam will be
because in the first place it will do
= greater good to greater number than
would navigation. and in the second place
u will give everybody in this section re,
sort for aquatic sports and pleasures that
will be highly appreciated and be-. 7 am
'ure, very popular and beneficial"