The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-06-04
GOES TO THE FALLS
The Customs House and Port Of Entry
to Be Located There.
1T is IN FORT BENTON NOW
Secretary Carlisle Issues the For
NAL order Of iransfer-I he office
Was Badly Wanted by Other Cit
ies-tiIstory Of the District.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

tana bureau Of the Standard to the ef-
feot that Secretary Carlisle of the
treasury department has issued a for
NAL order transferring the custom
house and port of entry Of the district
OF Montana and Idaho from Fort Ben
ton to Great Falls. TIE official order
was signed by Secretary Carlisle last
Thursday and was received by the Gus
toms officials yesterday. The order goes
into effect June 30, the end OF the fis-
cal year. The location of the port of
entry In Great Falls Is strictly a busi-
ness proposition on the part OF Secre-
tary Carlisle. who Is thoroughly ia
miliar with the fact that nearly. II not
quite. 30 per cent. OF the business trans
acted In the important district Is neces-
sarily transacted through this city by
reason Of Its geographical location and
Its railroad connections.
The question of removing the port
from Benton to Great Falls or Helena
has provoked considerable discussion
In the three cities during the past few
months. Benton was naturally opposed
to any change In the location. Helena
made an earnest fight for the port on
the grounds that the city was the
financial. commercial and social center
OF the western hemisphere and was en-
titled to everything In sight. Great
Falls demanded the Office by reason of
the fact that the city was the natural
location for the headquarters Of the
district Through the business sagaclty
Of the secretary of the treasury and the
united efforts OF Senators Mantle and
Carter Representative Hartman. Major
Maginnis and others the justice OF THE
claims OF this city was recognized and
Great Falls has been made the port Of
entry for the large district which en-
braces Montana and Idaho.
The question Of removing the port Of
entry and customs Office from its pres
ent location at Benton to Great Falls
or Helena has provoked considerable
discussion in the cities during the last
year. To those who have interested
themselves In the subject Great Falls
appeared to be the proper location Of
the port OF entry, and the official head
quarters Of the custom house officer for
the dae9ric< comprising Montana and
Idaho. The vast amount of business
transacted by the collector of customs
ls centered In that city. at the terminus
Of the Great Falls 4 Canada railroad.
Bonded warehouses are located there.
and every pound Of freight shipped
into Montana from Canadian points is
inspected by customs officers located
adjacent to Great Falls on the narrow
guage railroad that extends from this
city into Canadian territory.
The act OF congress creating the GUS
toms district OF Montana and Idaho
was approved April IL. 1866. and II Is
presumed the bill was introduced by
Samuel Mclean. then delegate In con-
gress from the territory OF Montana.
The firvt person named for collector
was Col Patrick Connor. the famous
Indian hghter. who resided In Salt
Lake. who was appointd by President
Johnson In 1856. The nomination was
not accepted by Colonel Conner. and he
never took Office. President Johnson
next appointed John \. Beidler. and
every old resident will remember TX"
who assumed the duties OF the office In
March. 1867. and served as collector un-
I'll June. 1862
The port OF entry was located at Hell
ene by Hon. Hugh McCulloch. who was
secretary OF the treasury under Presi-
dent johnson. Helena contrived to
hold the Office until 1865, when Hon.
John Sherman, then secretary Of the
treasury, made an order changing the
port Of entry from Helena to Fort
Benton. as the business OF the Office at
that time was all transacted at Fort
Benton. which was then the shipping
point for the Canadian territory. large
quantities. OF bonded freight being
shipped up the Missouri river. consigned
to the Northwest mounted police and
thousands of buffalo robes and other
peltries being brought into Benton
fpm Fort Mcleod. Walsh, and other
Canadian points. for shipments to the
eastern cities via the Missouri river.
At that time. In fact, all the important
business Of the collection OF the dis
trict Of Montana and Idaho was trans
acted at Benton.
John X. Beidler was succeeded as
collector of customs by Walter w.
Johnson. who was appointed by Presi-
dent Grant In July. 1863. and who
! served until April. 1873. Collector
| johnson was succeeded by Thomas A.
Cummings, who was appointed by
President Grant In March. 1873. Mr..
! Cummings served as collector until
June. 1881, when he was succeeded by
! william H. Hunt, now associate jus
tice OF the supreme court, who was ap-
pointed by President Garfield in June,
1881, and who served under President