The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-26
MAKING SLOW PROGRESS
The Southern Pacific Rate Is AL
/ most Prohibitory.
PLANS HELD IN ABEYANCE
Utah's Experience in Attempting to
Charter Special Train for the Re-
turn of the Volunteers Is
Being Repeated.

The Butte committee having in
charge the arrangements for the recep-
ton of the Montana soldiers is not
making much progress. 1t is under
stood that the attempt to get a reas-
enable rate from the Southern Pacific
for special train to bring the soldiers
from San Francisco to Butte has So
far been unsuccessful 1t seems that
other states have had the same expert
ence with that road. Utah's experience
is indicated by the following from the
Salt Lake Herald: "Unless tho South
ern Pacific relinquishes its desire to
make the citizens of Utah buy it's road
for the purpose of bringing the volun-
teers home over 1t, the committee in
charge of the celebration will be com
PEELED to abandon the special train lea
Governor Wells said he had received
figures from the road but they were
so high as to absolutely prohibitory
He said that efforts were being made
to secure a reduction and that possibly
the Southern Pacific might be induced
to make more reasonable terms"
A member of the Butte committee
said yesterday that negotiations were
still going on with the Southern Pacific
and the committee had hopes of secur-
ing a satisfactory rate. As far as
preparations for the reception itself are
concerned they are necessarily held In
obeyance until it is learned when the
boys are going to leave Manila and
may be expected to arrive at San Fran
cisco.
The following communication on the
subject of the reception was received
yesterday from the mother of one of
the Butte soldiers:
ITO the Editor of the Standard:
In reading the Standard this morn
ing noticed a letter written by one of
the rough riders, in regard to the re-
ception the people of Butte intend Civ
ing our soldier boys on their return
to Butte from Manila, and l must say
his sentiments and mine are very much
the same on that point. Not but what
/ think our boys are deserving of all
the honor that Montana, or the whole
United States could give them, for that
matter, but it is as the rough rider said,
it is the future we should take into
consideration. Let our patriotism car
ry us further than just for day. Re-
member our boys are all very much
debilitated from the climate, and also
from sickness and wounds they have
received while in Manila and the grea-
ter part of them will be unable to work
for some time to come. 1t will be very
hard on them, especially those who
have no homes to come to- and have to
depend on boarding houses for home
for the winter, and if they have no
money how can they ever do that? A
great many will need medical assist
ance no doubt,for some time after they
get here. and how are they to provide
themselves withdsuch if they have not
got the means?~I am sure the people
of Butte are too rue-hearted to wish
to see any of their soldiers a county
charge. OF course I don't say that
there would be. but if a man is sick
and disabled, and has no money. what
else is there left for him to do? That
is why / think if it were possible for
us to give them a reception and still
have a surplus in the treasury, 1t
would be all right, but would we have
this surplus? Winter will be here al
most as soon as the soldiers, and they
will need warm clothing and a great
many other things, in order to 60
through the winter without suffering,
and there certainly will be any amount
of suffering if we have not relief
fund TO help them out until they can
help themselves. I am sure the boys
in general will appreciate that more
than they will great public demon
stration There will not be many when
they get to Butte that will feel like
taking much part in parade, and I
am sure if the people of Butte would
Just stop and consider this question for
a while they would see the truth of
this matter in the few lines ] have writ
ten here.
From mother of one of the Butte
soldier BOYS"