The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-26
THESE MEN TRANSFORM
THE ARID DESERT INTO
A GARDEN OF FLOWERS

them here you would be welcomed in a
far more eloquent and fitting manner
than l am able to do, but being the
third removed from the most exalted
office in the state, / have been desig-
mated to perform this pleasant duty"
He spoke of the governor, who was
absent In San Francisco, gone there to
welcome home the soldiers of Montana,
returning from the duties they have so
well performed Were the governor
present he would say to you delegates
from all over the land, but chiefly from
our western states, We are glad to have
you here, not only for the sake of hos
pitality, but also for the profit that
will result to us from the deliberations
of the congress; for the benefits that
will result from the study of men fa-
miliar with the needs and means of ir-
riga ton
He spoke of the good fortune of the
delegates in being able to meet in the
Garden City, in a section so well en-
dowed by nature. He said that he had
not imagined more pleasant spot than
Missoula, and that her citizens have
every reason to be proud of her loca-
ton, OF her salubrious climate and of
her grand agricultural resources.
He spoke of the hills about the val
ley. upon whose submits one could gaze
and behold the SHOWS of ages, SHOWS
that remain there always; and this
same snow melted, flows down into the
valleys, transforming the deserts into
gardens and orchards. When warm, it
cools the atmosphere, and we have
climate thoroughly enjoyable 10 those
who have tasted of it.
OF Montana he spoke as the treasure
state, producing largely those minerals
that brought wealth and compared with
this the agricultural possibilities which
We're developing yearly and which
AL ,nIi tI,a
eral products. He cited the instance of
California, from where there once
flowed such wealth of mineral as 10
place the state in a class to itself the
queen of mineral producers; yet she
has ceased almost to be known thus,
not that her minerals have disappeared
or haveZ been exhausted but because
agriculture has become far more valu-
able. He spoke of minerals as being
dug out and their source gone; but
agricultural land continues producing
an and on, as long as time shall
last.
I'VE are glad to have you with us;
we are glad to extend to you the hand
of welcome, and, in fact, wish that you
could stay with us as residents. But
men of your ability are needed by your
own states, and so we will wish to ex-
tend to you the hospitality of our noun
tain state"
Mr.. Booths Response
To this address C. B. Booth of Cali
fornia responded briefly, as follows:
AT a late hour the secretary Of the
association suggested that l might be
called upon to respond to the address
of Senator Norris. l feel very much as
did than man who, at his wife's funeral.
was invited to take seat with his
over-officious mother-in-law, If l must,
l must; but it will seriousl mar the
pleasure of the happy OCCASION"
The speaker wished that there might
have been some one present who could
respond as it should be done.
"When I reached the city of Mis-
soula 1 received the first badge of well
come and the glad hand and had
taste of Montana hospitality. / reached
the border of the state and / breathed
freer this morning when / arose than
usual. There was something in the air
that was exhilarating in the extreme;
here seems freedom that / have never
before experienced. EVERYTHING sooms
to be hospitable, the mountains, the
streams, the atmosphere. as well as the
people. Where was / born in Connecti-
cut, it was customary for members of
the family to assemble in the house of |
one of the members, and talk over fam |
lily matters; and upon hearing the
words of Senator Norris / bethought |
me of those by-gone days, how men, |
bers from other states came down here |
to consult together and of the welcome |
they received.
co. behalf of my fellow delegates, |
thank for you and for your very gen.
erous welcome, and we hope to avail
ourselves of the good time offered by
this congress-
This response was seconded in some
brief remarks by George H. Maxwell of
California.
For the Board of Trade.
On behalf of the board of trade and
citizens of Missoula, Hon. Frank III.
Woody welcomed the delegates in an
address typical of the Montana pioneer
Il stand before you something like
Yesterday l was told for the
first time that / was to deliver an ad-
dress of welcome to the congress; and
felt very much like Mark Twain, who
was one time called upon for a similar
duty, and who said that You have the
welcome but the address has been
sidetracked and had best be left alone
"On behalf of the board of trade and
citizens of Missoula, ] extend to the
delegates cordial welcome. Perhaps
some of us have not great deal to
,ffer, but whatever we do have we shall
iivide: even If there is only drink left
n the bottle, we will divide that. The
ltopit III HiOHldId nave lpi Soiht tiiiN
,ast been noted for their hospitality,
md are perhaps more proud of their
hospitality than of their godliness; but.
nevertheless you will find us kind or
rood people before you leave. We ex-
'ect to take you on a little trip over
'ur country"
He spoke of the resources and beauty
Il the valley. of the several points OF
interest that could be seen from the car
windows; of Fathers DeSmet and Ra-
ALI, beloved alike by Protestants and
He mentioned the famous
tables where could be seen all that
he most extravagant imagination
ould picture in this line: told of the
onquerors of the turf, of the horses
Tammany, Inverness and a
core of others: of the veterinary hos
ital, better equipped than many
lace for the care of human beings; told
f the vast tract of land that had been
nee a barren waste known as bench
md, which, by system of irrigation,
ad been transformed into a fertile
arm. He said that the congress had
luch to discuss and study-questions