Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-04-10

stroyed by fire last week. The conia-
grafton started about 4 o'clock in the
morning in the Odd Fellows hall, over
the large store of j. C.. Adams, and every
building on the south side Of the town
was destroyed, with the exception Of
the Augusta hotel. The losses were:
J. c. Adams & Co., on building SIS, 200,
on stock $4,000, on which there was
insurance of $50, 500; Barnard's saloon,
loss s $500; Weaver's saloon, 81, 500;
Manniz' saloon, $4,000; J. Smith, store
and fixtures, $1,000; one dwelling house,
81, 200.
The tide of immigration is being rap
idly turned toward Montana, as is
evinced by letters continually received
by ]. A. Ferguson, commissioner of
labor, agriculture and industry for the
state. In most cases the inquiries are
from a very desirable class Of immi-
grants; those who saved money and are
DESTROYS of entering into business or en-
gage in ranching. One letter was from
Paris, France, sent by a society DESTROYS
of settling in one of the western states
of America, and who are anxious TO find
a locality where they can engage in
the occupation Of truck farming. This
class of people would undoubtedly
| n,al.a axoa11ant cttizanS
State Superintendent Of Public In
struction w. w. welch desires that the
schools Of the state properly observe
Arbor day and this is the reason given
for the circular letter he has sent to the
county superintendent and the teach
ers of the state. lie asks them to do
their utmost to make the observance of
the day general throughout their eoun-
ties, and especially in the public schools.
He says that it is the schools more than
ANYTHING else that Arbor day is intend
ed to benefit. To instill an ambition TO
beautify their surroundings and 10 ere
ate a love for the beauties Of nature
these are the primary objects of Arbor
day, and the superintendent proposes
to do all in his power TO make the holt
day a success.
The Roundup Association will meet
at Fort Benton April 10Th. A move
ment is on foot TO have the Montana
S~tockgrowers' Association meet annu-
ally in Helena, instead OF in Miles City.
andhave the Northern Montana Round
up Association meet there at the same
time or the day following. The advo.
Gates of this plan point out that the
cowmen will find Helena a central
point, with facilities for entertainment
that the smaller towns do not afford,
and that a couple Of hundred miles,
more or less, do not amount TO much in
the range country. Its opponentsclaim
that such u move would reduce the at
tendance of the smaller stockmen who
belong to the organization and decrease
Cnelr lutercht III us SuctSNS'
The $40, 900, that came into the hands
of the state treasurer through the mem
orable investigation Of the sixth legis-
lative session two years ago, says the
Helena Independent, will now be dis
tributed among the counties Of the state
in proportion to theirschool course. All
doubts as to the probable course State
Treasurer Barrett would pursue respect
ing the disposition Of the money were
set at rest Saturday, when he made ont
and mailed 81 county treasurers Of the
state checks for the amount due to them
from the fund. As the bill passed by
the legislature apportioning the money
became a law before the creation of
Rosebud and Daily counties, Mr.. Barrel
referred the matter TO the state super
intendent of public instruction as To the
amounts the two new counties were en-.
titled.
The receipts Of gold and silver in the
United States assay office in Helena for
the month of March amounted TO si23,-
0li.l5. This was divided as follows:
Montana, SOS, 1868. %; other states, So
1905; British Columbia, Sis, 2l9.02.
More than half the receipts from Mon
tana came from Lewis and Clark coun-
ty, namely s~3i,s52.1i. The assay Office
receipts are not by any means a true
statement of the gold production Of
Montana, for almost the entire produc-
ton of Silver Bow county is contained
in copper matte, which is shipped east
for refinement. Some mines in the
southern part of the state ship their
bullion to the Boise assay office. The
receipts of the first three months of190l
show a considerable increase over the
same period of 1900. The figures are:
1900, 1859, 5lG.33; 1901, si0l, 70l.25.
One hundred copies of the Argus
souvenirs arrived Sunday and as quick
ly as possible they were distributed to
the persons and firms Immediately con-
cerned in the publication and who kind
~ gave their assistance when our soli-
citor was about some two months ago.
The remaining thousands of the edition
are now en- route by freight and assoon
as they reach this Office, which should
be within Il few days on a week, all
orders will DC AZ nee filed and wr Will
be prepared to supply the wants of the
public. The weight of each volume il
about one pound and as express rates
are more than ten cents q pound it was
imDracticJblc 10 ship more than n few