davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Big Sales OF Montana Land,

HELENA, Dec. 3l.-Never before in
the history of Montana was the de.
mand tor land SO great as at the pre-.
sent time. More land changed hands
| in this state during 1902 than in any
other year. Indications point to a
continued demand for lands in Mon
tana, and the realty transactions of
the state during 1903 promise to ex-
ceed those of the year just ended.
These facts are not alone brought out
by the records of the state and federal
land office. All the real estate men
agree that there was an exceptional
demand for Montana farming and
grazing lands during 1902. BY far
the greatest real estate agency in the
state is that conducted by the land de-
partment Of the Northern Pacific Rail-
way company. The business of the
state land department was insignif.
cant SO far as the number of acres
sold was concerned, compared with
hat of the railroad company.
During the last few months Karl
Simon, who has charge of the sales
department Of the Northern Pacific
company in this state, has sold vast
tracts OF grazing lands. A few farms
have been disposed of, but only a
very small proportion of lands re-
naming to the railroad company is
OF the lands sold during 1902 would
become farming lands if water could
be introduced upon them.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
A Statehood Merger.

SANTA FE, N. NJ, Jan. 2.-W, S.
Hopewell, chairman of the territorial
central committee of the democratic
party in New Mexico, today announced
himself in favor of admitting Arizona
and New Mexico as one state with
three representatives in congress, the
capitol to be fixed for 10 years at
Santa Fe. He had just returned from
Chicago, where he had an interview
with Senator w. Fl. Cousin, a close
friend of Senator Quay, and his an
nouncement today in favor of the
joint statehood is taken to represent
the views of Sen ator Quay in case it
should not be practicable to force the
omnibus statehood bill through the
senate.
President Roosevelt also declared
to New Mexico workers for statehood
that he is in favor of joint statehood
for Arizona and New Mexico. Hope
we'll says bill etfecting the merger of
the two territories into one state will
be introduced probably some time
next week.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Senator Clark's New City.

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 2.-Word is
expected daily of the consumm alton of
the negotiations pending for some
time past between United States Sena-
tor Clark of Montana, and Stewart OF
Nevada, for the purchase of the Las
Vegas ranch in southern Nevada by
Clark. The object of the purchase is
said to be the building of new city
nearly midway between Los Angeles
and Salt Lake on the San Pedro, Los
Angeles and Salt Lake railroad. Las
Vegas ranch is in Lincoln county, Ne
vada, aud the property is described
as exceptionally fertile. Included are
800 acres Of tillable land, with 500
inches of water. The purchase price
will be about S55, 900. 1t is intended
to establish in the new city, round
houses, shops and other adjuncts nec-
essarv for railroad town such as
that proposed. The ranch property
is said to be garden spot, produc-
tive of semi-tropical, and citrus pro-
ducts of all kinds.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Reception at the White House.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-President
Roosevelt's New Years reception was
one of the most brilliant events in
Washington's society history. All
callers were afforded the opportunity
of greeting the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt and exchanging with them
the compliments of the new year. No
distinctions were made except such
as were rendered necessary in preser-
walton of order and the greetings ex.
tended to all, high and low, rich and
poor, were alike cordial and sincere.
Today the general public for the
first time had an opportunity to see
the widely heralded improvements
which, when completed, will have cost
about S6O0,OOO Just l02 years ago
today President John Adams and his
wife opened the White House with a
New Years reception to their friends
and to the public generally. The
dawn of the first day within the walls
since it became historic was accom-
panied by the noise of saw and ham.
mer, as was this day. On account of
the unfinished condition of the lower
floors President and Mrs. Adams re-
ceived their guests in the room on the
second floor now occupied by Presi-
dent Roosevelt as Ii library.
While the improvements now are
more nearly completed than was the
several months before the workmen
will have finished their task.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Labor Is Well Paid,

CHICAGO, Jan. 2.-"The wages paid
now in the United States are higher
than ever before in the history of the
country.' That is the statement m ade
today by Commissioners of La Dor Car
roll D. Wright. the worlds recog-
nized authority on this and kindred
subjects.
Although the absence of government
facilities for the collection of wage
statistics caused this to be the most
difficult topic upon which to make au-
thoritative announcement, Commis-
sioner Wright has made considerable
inquiry with the means at his dispos al
and the result is that he is able to de-
scribe the conditions in the single SEN
tence quoted. y cOmpil ilation Of the
work done by the statistcians, frag-
mentary as it is, will be issued to the
public within three months.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Railroad Sues for Millions.

SAGINAW, Mich, Dec. 3l.-Deputy
Sheriff L. A. Hovey, of Wayne coun-
ty, tonight served summons on Gov
ernor Bliss in the case of the Michi.
gan Central railroad versus the state
of Michigan. The suit is for So, 000,-
600 damages alleged to have been sus-
tanned in one year by reason of the
repeal of the railroads special char
ter. Under this charter the road was
permitted to charge three cents per
mile per passenger instead of two as
the general law provides and was
allowed to pay a special tax on gross
earnings in lieu of all other taxes,
the railroad taxes being about doubled
since the repeal Of the charter.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Evidence Against Beef Trust.

JEFFERSON CITY. Mo-, Jan. g.
Special Commissioner |. H. Kinley of
Kansas City, appointed to take testi-
mony in the custer proceedings of At
torney General Grow on the charge OF
the existence of beef trust, filed his
report in the supreme court tonight.
1t finds that the Armour Packing COM
pany, Nelson Morris & Co., Swift &
Co., the Hammond Packing company,
the Cudahy Packing company and the
Schwarzchild & Sulzberger company
are guilty Of entering into an agree.
ment to fix and maintain prices for
the sale OF dressed beef and pork in
Missouri, not all of the companies,
however, operating in St. Joseph,
Kansas City and St. Louis. 1t is set
forth that prices were fixed through
agents, manufacturers and solicitors
and many times by managers of cool
ers in these cities.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Rescue Party Drowned.

SEATTLE, Jan. 5.--The flood stua
tion in the district south Of Seattle
does not seem to be greatly improved
this morning. The first casualties, as
result of the rising of the waters
are reported from O'Brien, on the
Northern Pacific between Seattle and
Tacoma. There the water is six tC
eight feet high and last night it was
rushing past the houses with the
swiftness of mountain current. Two
men, Martin Cummings and f.
Shaughnessy, were in boat rescuine
people from second~story windows,
and on one Of the trips the boat cap
sized and Cummings and Shaughnes-
sy were both drowned.
From Orilla comes the news that the
water has receued about six inches,
but that half of the town is still in.
doors or compelled to be about in
boats Many head of cattle are i'm
prisoned in barns, standing in two
and three feet of water. No trains are
running through the Hooded district,
the Northern Pacific this morning
making no effort to resume opera
tions between this city and Tacoma.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Trainmen Want More Wages.

ST. PAUL, Jan. 5.-Prelimin aries in
the negotiations between the railway
managers and trainmen, resulting
from the latter's demand for a 20 per
cent increase in wages, opened here
today. D. F. Miller of Grand Forks
is the Chairman an of the Great Northern
committee. The members of the North.
ern Pacific committee were not all here
today. The coast lines will not grant
as large an increase as the others, as
they claim to be now paying higher
wages, especially on mountain divis.
ions.
One general manager said today:
"For number of years there has
been standard scale of wages for
railway trainmen throughout the
west, which went into effect in 1890.
The scale allowed conductors 3 cents
mile and brakemen cents. There
has been some advance over this scale
in the pay allowed conductors and
brakeman on way or local freight
trains, but the standards have not
been changed materially. The de.
mands now made upon US is for fiat
increase of 20 per cent.
"The demand is also made by a
portion OF switchmen, which fact seems
to have escaped the attention of the
press. Recently the switchmen EN-.
ployed in the larger yards secured q
raise. Foremen were allowed 33 cents
an hour for night work and 81 cents
an hour for day work. The men now
ask that this scale, which is called the
Chicago scale, be extended to include
the switchmen employed in the smaller
Ylrds.N
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Bank Robbers Captured.

GALEsBURG, ILL.,, Ian. 3.-Five men
entered the First National bank of A b.
ington early today, bound and gagged
the night watchman and leisurely blew
open the vault, securing 81 SOC. Thir-
teen charges of dynamite were explod.
ed before the cash was reached.
>QUINCY, ILL.,, Jan. 3.-Two of the
I've men who dynamited the First Ma
tional bank at Abingdon were arrested
here on the arrival of the fast mail OF
the Burlington from Galesburg. Both
men carried pistols and tried to draw
them on the officers who made the ar
rest, but were overpowered and dis
armed
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Divorced Persons arc Eoycotted.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ? 2-The minis.
tiers of this city have boycotted di.
vorced persons, and the divorced man
Or woman who wishes to take a second
plunge into matrimony must conceal
the fact Of the former marriage or
have the knot tied in a Justices Office.
This condition of affairs was
brought out yesterday when a couple
came to Washington from Virginia
to be married. The woman had been
divorced. Under the new law, the
prospective bridegroom must find a
minister who will perform the cere.
mony, and the clerk of the district
court issues the license directly to thu
minister.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
To Prosecute Coal BarOns.

CHICAGO, Jan. 5.-The directors of
the Illinois Manufacturers associa-
tion held meeting today to consider
the advisability Of instituting criminal
proceedings against the coal dealers
and coal carrying railroads, charged
with being responsible for the present
fuel famine.
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. 5.-Members
OF the legislature are considering the
coal famine in western and central
Kansas counties, and will try to cor.
rect the situation at the session of the
legislature which begins Jan. II. The
charge is made that the railroads
freely confscate much of the coal that
is shipped to the counties in question.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07

storm. At midnight they rode for
ward down the section lines, setting
stakes as they came to the corners.
AS the first stakes were being driven
they were greeted by a volley of gun
shots from opposing locators, but the
bullets all went wide of their marks.
Swinging into their saddles the party
darted forward, nor did they cease
until they had located every section
open for fling. Then, retracing their
way, they found that opposing parties
had in many cases pulled their stakes
and burned them in fires. They were
replaced and the triumphant party
returned to file their claims. In the
Spring valley country there were fist
fights on every side, but men refrain.
ed from the use of firearms.
A Big Thank Offering.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
RICH GOLD DISCOVERY.
A Former Citizen Of Montana Makes a
Big Strike In Alaska.

TACOMA, Jan. 4.-News of the won.
derfully rich placer strike on the
north fork Of Koyukuk river has been
received here from letters written to
Dawson friends by Allan II. Joy, at
one time speaker of the Montana
house and a former mayor of Living.
ston. Mr.. Joy writes from Coldfoot,
near the arctic circle, under date Of
Nov %.
His message reads like the first re-
ports from Klondike, when the riches
of Eldorado and Bonanza began to
startle the world. Late in the fall
several new creeks were opened up on
the north fork of the koyukuk river,
producing pans running from S2s to
$50 each. The biggest pay was found
on Mascot creek, producing $50 per
pan.
On Preacher creek, tributary to
the Mascot, pans yield S2S. On Blue
Cloud creek, tributary to Seattle river,
results almost as good were obtained.
Conglomerate creek, the tributary of
Seattle river, also shows fine pros
poets. koyukuk district lies over the
mountain divide from producing creeks
which were worked during the past
three years and which are tributary
to Koyukuk's middle fork. On Ham
mond creek in Septembe Frank
Smith secured nugget worth S937.
The second largest nugget was found
on the same creek by John Frisby.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Would Suspend Coal Duty.

ASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-When the
senate rcconvencd today after the hol-
iday recess few senators We're absent.
Almost Immediate discussion began
regarding the coal situation. Mr.
7 .odge prefaced his introduction of a
bill pending for 80 days the duty
on coal with the statement that in New
England there was much distress
owing to the scarcity of coal and that
unless relief was afforded at once a
number Of factories would have to
shut down. He was aware, he said +,
that the bill should originate in the
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07

WINNIPEG, an. IN arconi is pre-
pairing to install a wireless transcon-
tinental service through Canada. Two
OF his experts passed through here
yesterday on their way west to arrange
for series of tests in the Rockies.
Winnipeg is to be the halfway house
of the system. 1t is understood the
station will be located at Stony noun
tain, an eminence twelve miles from
Winnipeg. It will receive messages
from Montain Royal, at Montreal,
and it is the work of these experts to
Rockies.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
HEALY'S NEW SCHEME.
Former Sheriff Of ChOtcau County May
Become Railroad Magnatc.

TACOMA, Wash, Jan. 5.-Captain
John j. Healy announced yesterday
that building of the Valdes, Copper
River and Yukon railway from Valdes
to Eagle and thence to Dawson, dis.
tance of nearly five hundred miles,
will be pushed from this time. The
contract has been awarded to J. P.
Mcdonald Of New York, who has
three years to complete the line. The
contract provides that the railroad
shall be finished to Copper Center
next fall. Five thousand men will be
employed and sent north next spring
and summer.
Healy has the contract for feeding
and clothing these men. He says tn at
money for building the road has been
subscribed in New Y ork and London.
1t will cost S5,000,000 The company
has already spent quarter of a mill
lion dollars in buying land, surveying
and assembling material.
The first shipment OF rails is ready
for shipment north and large orders
have been placed in Pennsylvania and
Europe. A party composed of Cap.
tain Healy, Contractor Mcdonald, j i.
T. Rogers and r. G.. Helm of Abbott
& Helm, New York, will leave, Feb.
|, for Valdes, going thence over the
entire route by sled to ascertain just
what the conditions are when snow is
deepest.
Healy expects that a million per-
sons, engaged chiefly in agriculture
and mining, will reside in the Copper
River valley within few years.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM.
Much Work to be Done Before Adjourn
mcnt In March.

WASHINGTON, an. 4.-Many of the
sen ators who left Washington for the
Christmas holidays are still absent
and the present indications are that
when business is resumed at noon to-
morrow there will not be very full
attendan Before the week is far
advanced, however, the senate will
again be in regular working order
and there will be little cess alton of
work before March 4. The predic.
tion is very general that the emain-
der of the session will be exceedingly
busy, because of the number of i'm.
portant questions which will be pre-
sented for consideration before final
adjournment.
During the present week and for
some time to come the omnibus state
hood bill will be the chief topic of dis
cussion on the floor, but under the
unanimous agreement by which the
bill was made the unfinished business
it cannot be taken up any day before
, O'Clock. 1t is the purpose of the
friends of the bill to press considera-
ton and not to allow the bill to be
sidetracked unless under very great
pressure.
No complete program is mapped out
for the house for the first week of the
new year. The leaders are very anx-
ious to force the appropriation bills
as rapidly as possible. The Indian
bill is on the calendar and headway is
making in the committee with the post
Office, diplomatic and consular and
District of Columbia bills. The lat
ter, at least, will be reported to the
house before the end of the week.
Sherman of New York, chairman of
| the Indian committee, is i'll at Hot
Springs, Ark, and his absence may
delay consideration OF the Indian
bill. Until the appropriation bills
get into the hopper, the house proba-
bly, will occupy it's time with miscella.
neous matters brought up under calls
of the committees.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
A Big Thank Offering.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Jan, L.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Jan. Ion
the authority of the written reports of
the representatives of our various in
stitutions and organizations, I de.
clare that $40, 900, 900 has been pledged
in good subscriptions to the Methodist
twentieth century thank Offering" z"
ity Methodist church tonight by the
Rev. Edmund H. Mills: secretary of
the twentieth century thank Offering
fund committee,
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07

house of representatives, but it was
desired to call attention of the finance
committee to the state of aft airs. Mr..
Culberson followed with resolution
providing for the removal of duty on
anthra acite coal and asked for it's i'm
mediate consideration. Mr.. Plat, of
Connecticut, objected, saying it was
his understanding there was no duty
on anthr acite coal. Mr.. Vest took
exception to this statement and said
that the board of general appraisers
and President Roosevelt had decided
that such a duty is imposed. Mr.
Vest also introduced a resolution on
the subject.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Fighting for Oil Lands.

EVANSTON, Wyo., J an. 1.-The rush
for claims in the Uintah Oil fields still
continues and from the present out
look not more than a week will
elapse before all the claims will have
been staked up. SO far as known
there has been no bloodshed, although
shots were exchanged in many cases.
Col ketchum, at the head of II des-
perate cowboys, we'll armed and
mounted, carried Aspen county by
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Making War On Rabbits.

SALT LAKE, Jan. IA jack rabbit
hunt by the farmers and ranchers o1
Juab county in which scores OF expert
shots from other parts of the state
took part has just been concluded, re.
sulting in the slaughter of more than
5000 of the pests. So numerous have
the ':lhbi!s bccun!e ia tha. part of the
sta ( tha, serious injury has been
done to cr1vs aod u war Of cxlermi-
nation wa, finally decided upon by
the farmers in order to save them
selves from ruin,
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
New Pacific Cable Completed

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2.-San
Francisco and Honolulu are now con-
nected by cable. The first word )
passed under the ocean a few moments
after II clock last night. The wire
worked perfectly.
The Silvertown, just before splicing
the ends, some thirty miles Oft shore
from Honolulu, telegraphed both ways
for the land stations 10 wait until
lilo O'Clock, San Francisco time. be.
fore trying the cable. That time was
desired to insure the perfect harden
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Fire Losses IN 1902,

NEW YORK, J an. 2.-The fire loss of
the United States and Canada for the
year 1902, as compiled by the Journ al
OF Commerce, amounted to Sl49, 260, :
so.
This is gratifyingly less than the
figure for 1901 of sl64, 347, AGO and 1900
of Sl63 1862 .2oO.
During the entire year of 1902 there
were 2,4OO fires of greater distruc-
tiveness each than 81 900.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
Every Bottle OF fChamberlain's Cough
Remedy Warranted.

We guarantee every bottle of Cham.
berlain ; Cough Remedy and will re-
fund the money to anyone who is not
satisfied after using two thirds of the
contents. This is the best remedy in
the world for la grippe, coughs, colds,
Group and whooping cough and is
pleasant and safe to take. 1t prevents
any tendency of cold to result in
pneumonia. For sale by D. G.. Lock-
wood, druggist.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07
RECORD YEAR IN LIVE STOCK.
Sales In Chicago Market Reach EnOr-
nous Value Of 100000.

a. E-s - l. Z
" ~
,ooo oop"o'' ,'7
''0 s'' e1,' a,e'
-o ~ 'A"' 'ns.'0o''on' NC
1o o19 ~ 'Ae 'e". - VIC al 'ou'
c 'o" '''0'9 'o'"'
% CaI~es WY 1de 1t'900 900
Hogs 1926 900
Sheep. Observation-Disclosures. 10, ,139, 300
Horses. ............. l3,260,O0o
To+o,e s212 oo7 eoo
rho naoo;a+s -, +ho Wow, - tho
avn, aoao,t.,,o,,s ,,o.a.
Cott1a . o,a 20,
Calves 951 S55
Hogs. ..... 1889, 1872
Sneep'. p'.'...''...'... ....... a, ol3, ,4o4
1Aolse' ''.'''.:'''''':' Ao@' Ao'
w VIC '1'o''o'A VI ao'
v.oA ~ viz p"'' 'oo'' Vic n'o'eio
'ou1 "i
1"' no cause W oe a9lia aul
eu u i'er 1--WE s'ocA recoro III l9o-'
Az 'ooo' 10 "e'o o'oAen' oo'l. '' "
i71e'p0' "nu pr1oes' anu 81 Lax 's
values "eie conoerneu ~ as ''le l'los'
p o11va''o year 'VoeAli!on e'e' nao'
IL eplVe " 'l4e uepiess4ou 1a'e III tlle
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1903-01-07

ing OF the gutta percha in the splice
after the joint should be lowered over.
board from the ship in about $500
feet of water.