The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-26
The Montana Commonweal Army
will Take tho Missouri River
Route 10 Omaha
VIII Be Sent 20 tho Hohd OF Nav
iRation and Provided Lum-
ber and Tools.
start to 10 mads In Day or so-Ths
Army at Arios IL Costing Unois
Sam Considerable MoRsy.

Helena Ia going 10 loss ita Cozey army In
q Vsr7 few dVyr. tho arrangements 20 that
end having been completed yesterday. Al
tho mSsting Of ths city council Tuesday
evening the matter Of what 10 do With the
CoIeyites now Ia osmp near tho fair
grounds WAS discussed for more than m
houL As result a COMMITTEES consisting
Of Mayor Weed, Aldermen Liasnsr. Free
man. EiWaidu. Morris, MeMurs by. Walker
aud Renck, was appointed 10 see the lead
ara OF tho army and devise means 10 help
the men on their way. The Great North
srn railway was first applied TO. The idea
was 10 charter q number OF freight cars
aud send the men 10 Fort Benton. There
lumber would be provided, and the CoxsJ.
ties would build boats and continue thslt
journey east by the Missouri The railroad
agreed TO haul the men and certain supplies
aud lumber to Benton for $500. and 10 addl-
tion IL required a bond from the city ia
the SUN OF $4,000 for any damages the
Great Northern might suffer by reason OF
the oommonwealers either In this state OF
outside OF II. OF course tbs committee
could no. aocede TO the proposition. aud
then other plans wero discussed. One Of
these contemplated the settling OF the men
in the shape OF colony on tract OF land.
providing them With tools and food for q
stated period, and then letting them work
cut their own salvation. The men were
willing TO try that proposition, only they
did not want 70 settle under ditch owned
by some one else. They said thsy were not
afraid Of work. that they wanted 10 work,
and what they did want was TO GET loca.
tion where they could take Out . canal
themselves. and then own 10 In com.
mon. ON the eo-opefAtive plan.
Yesterday the public iands of
the state that wore unoocupisd that would
answer the purpose were eanvssssd by sew.
eral land attorneys Of the city, In connsc,
K ton with tho local land offcers but no
such location as would be requisite for such
body of men could be found. The men
say they are mostly residents Of this state,
and thsv reooanizs the fact that u will be
more difficult 70 get along In she east than
10 10 here, and for that Tssaon. n thsy can
get work. and enough 10 eat while they are
at H. wish hops in the future. they would
prefer to stay here. The plan OF q colony
not seeming feasible. yesterday afternoon
the council COMMITTEES made o proposition
10 the men that the people Of Helena would
provide number OF wagons 10
haul their supplies and bed
ding and tools TO Fort Bsntou.
where lumber would be provided for then
to build boats and float down the Ilyet.
1he men have accepted the proposition and
In the next two OF three days ali the n :
rsnsements for their transportation will
have been completed.
| OF course the city proposes 20 give the
men q quantity OF supplies. and all who
desire 20 donate will be given tho opportu-
nity. The city will also provide the luu,-
Der for the boAts. While Helena 10 going
TO do ell she oan TO help the Montana com
monvealers, and TO keep them from want,
her action in this behalf 10 not TO be con-
sidered as a criterion for what she will DO
for the Washington commonvealers, ID
ease they should get 10 this oity. The HoA
gan army 10 composed largely of Montan.
ans, and ths people Of this city are patri.
otto enough 10 do what they can for them
because of that fact. Bnt they are not
able or willing TO sxpsud thousands Of doI-
lars on people Washington should pros
vide for. n
| The Washington eommonwsalers arrested
by Marshal Haley. and now under guard a
Arlse, are proving rather eIpensivs for ths
United States government The deputy
marshal who 10 guarding them has TO aasift
him seventy-hve deputies. These men sfs
paid 81 q day and their expenses. aud this
amounts TO AZ least $500 day. No wars
rnnts have been issued for the arrest Of the
eommonwsslers. though the federal ON,
oisls have their names, and when 10 10 a.
cided what TO do. II the decision ID TO try
them for oontsmps Of court. the warrants
can be quickly made ready. The United
states court has adjourned until NoadsJ.
and q, least until then the men will remaln
In custody, ualess contrary orders should
DO received from the department Of iustiee
by the district attorney.