Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-12-29

Among the presents distributed a
the Methodist Christmas tree was ,
wheelbarrow for p. W. Watkins. 4
very useful article.
The county commissioners meet IL
special session Monday next to con
slider matters laid over from the
regular December meeting.
Saturday next the year 1898 will
be ushered in. Let us hope the new
year will be full of joy and that pros
perity will grow apace until it per.
meates every hamlet in the land.
Billings Gazette: Attorney j. B.
Herford returned Sunday from a
business trip to Winnipeg, which he
found a busy city of considerable
architectural p~retensions. Mr.. Low
Their went on to New York with the
intention of going to England.
Husbandman: A fine lot of grains
collected and designed for Fergus
county's exhibit at the Trans-Miss
issippi and International Exposition
has been put in boxes and shipped
to Billings, where it will be stored
until the exhibits in other parts of
the state are brought together for
shipment to Omaha.
Edward Niles, representing the
North British & Mercantile insurance
company of San Francisco, spent
Christmas in Lewistown. Mr.. Niles
came in the capacity of special agent
to examine into risks taken during
the past year by the company's resi-
dent agents, Wright Bros, and
seemed well pleased with the work.
Advices from Washington state
that the Benton and LewistOwn
mail contract has been awarded to
j. q. Profit at 81, 1000 per year, and
the Big Sandy and Judith route to
w. X. johnson at S597 per annum.
The contract runs four years from
July l, 1898, in each case. Where
these gentlemen reside or whether
they intend to operate thelines them
selves is not known. 1t Is hoped
that such arrangements will be made
that the excellent stage service be-
tween Lewistown and Benton will
not be discontinued after the expira-
ton of the present term. The new
contracts run from July /, 1898, to
July /, 1902.
Thursday last S. S. Hobson, in a
moment of deportation, telegraphed
the second assistant postmaster
general at Washington concerning
our stage service, COUGHING his mes
sage is no uncertain language. The
same evening Postmaster Stephens
received a copy OF this message from
the department by wire and the in
struction that il the facts set forth
by Mr.. Hobson were true to ascer-
tain at what price he could secure
the carrying of the mails from Great
Falls to Lewistown for the remain
der OF the term of the present con-
tract. Mr.. Stephens inquired for bids
and the following day wired the de-
partment the result of his investiRa-
ton. This would look as though the
department intended doing what
should have been done long ago,
take the contract from those who
are now holding it and let it to some
one who would al least endeavor to
comply with it's terms. The same
day that these dispatches passed the
coach arrived in Lewistown ahead
of time-the first time in about six
weeks.
David Hilger is in receipt of letter
from j. Warren Smith, section d.
rector of the Weather Bureau ut
Helena to the effect that the arrange
ment entered into for the furnishing
OF weather reports to Lewistown
and along the Great Falls telephone
line, will shortly be set in motion.
Mr.. Hilger has also communicated
with the operator at Great Falls,
who says he will communicate the
bulletins to the telephone office as
promptly az he receives them and
that the signal flags will be sem
from Washington at once. Mr.. Hill
ger is negotiating for the moving of
the Fit. Maginnis flag staff to Lewis
town and it's erection near the tele-
phone office and as SCOT as Il reason
able price for it's being moved to this
city and erection has been arranged,
citizens will be asked to contribute
the necessary amount. Several
prominent business men and stock
growers have already offered
amounts from So to 80. AS the
pole will be the only COST entailed
Mr.. Hilger's efforts should meet with
ready response.
W. Il. Mcfarland has been en-
gagged for two weeks past In taking
the census of the inhabitants Of the
district proposed to be Incorporated
as the city of Lewistown. Mr.. Nc
Farland will hold his list upon until
Monday next in order to add such
names as he may have omitted,
though he considers his work very
complete as he has visited every
house in the town. He has had
many funny experiences, such as
naming infants, etc. The total up
to date is SSl, being 165 in excess of
the number reported by W. E. Cort
when he took the census In March,
1896. While all know Lewistown
has increased considerably in popu-
lation since the spring of 1896 yet
few realized the increase had been SO
great. Adding to the number listed
those who live practically In town
but yet not within theincorporation,
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