St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-17
FOR FREE COINAGE.
Helena Immigration Couyan.;on
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PRESIDENT 7. L. Schurmeier and Sec
retary David McGinnis, of the North
western immigration association. have
returned from Helena, where they at
tended the Montana Mining and Immi-
sratlon convention. Both gentlemen
were gratff1ed at the marked success Of
the convention. Said Mr.. Schurmeier
to G l b reporter:
1he immigration congress at Boise
city, Idaho, April next, will complete
the organization Of every state in our
association In the Northewest
Inc gathering at Helena was one Of
thc largest ever held in Montana. and
business OF great Importance to the
future or that state was transacted.
we met In the Auditorium building at
Helena, and over 1000 persons were
present. 1t was attended by keen in
terest and deep earnestness through
out Every county was represented
by a delegation, with the exception of
valley county. and in addition the
cities and boards of trade had dele
gates present. q Dawson county sent
thirteen delegates, who travelled 400
miles to attend.I There was not a re-
source OF the state that was not repre-
sented.
The resolutions passed embodied in
short the following principles: That
no more inviting field for settlement
and investment exists than within the
limits Of Montana; that all it's indus
trles are yet IN their infancy; that there
are no exhausted lands or mines: that
there is remuneratiVe market for all
or It's productions and the amplest op-
pCrtun1ty for all persons who shall cast
their lot IN Montana; that the great re-
sources of the state justify a growth
and prosperity for the state greater in
the future than it has been in the past;
that the western third of the state is
one vast mine of various minerals, as
yet hardly prospected, capable of fur
nishing large population with the re-
wards of toll for many generations to
come. The convention requested con-
gress to consider some law whereby the
owners of small herds of cattle may
obtain title to grazing lands without
further expense than that required by
homestead laws. There We're resolu-
tions also of granting lands to the In
dians, in seVeralty, for limited length
OF time; requesting the simplificatfon
of the act of congress granting to the
state 100000 acres of arid lands sug-
gesting that railroads give such reduc-
ton Of rates as will facilitate and en-
courage immigration, and favoring the
free and unlimited coinage Of gold and
silver at a ratio of 16 to /.
Inc convention resulted IN the for
nation Of strong, permanent eXecu-
tive committee, composed of one men,
ber from each county in the state This
committee, Immediately after the ad-
journment of the convention, elected
Hon. Paris Gibson, Great Falls, chair
man. The committee decided to at
once raise funds to push immigration
work
'"The weather was beautiful and mild
during the entire trip, and our recep-
tion was cordial at all points where
we visited. A day was spen in Butte,
the most productive mining camp in
the world, and another day at Great
Falls, where we inspected the vast coal
mines and immense water power at the
great falls of the Missouri, and the ex-
tensive copper and silver smelters, the
value of whose product is we'll up in
millions"
Among those from st. Paul who made
addresses were Messrs. w. J. Footner,
c. S. Fee, Moses Folsom, 7. d. O'Brien,
Theodore L. Schurmeier. E. V. Smalley,
S. l.. Moore and D. r. McGinnis.