The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-26
CLEANED BY
The WAYS|DE.
SKETCHES OF EVENTS HEARD IN
PASSING.
A BOAT COMING BY RAIL
~
Aid Land Commissions Quandary
as to Disposition Of Huntley
Flat Reservation.

There are still "oldtimers" here who
regret the passing OF the steamboat
on the Yellowstone, for according to
their ideas the day before the advent
OF the railroad was the one when life
was worth living and existence was
continual round OF pleasure, inciden-
tally with more or less excitement
to give it zest Although steamboats,
no longer ply the Yellowstone and
the sight of one on the upper Missouri
has become rarity, still if careful
watch is kept those who continue to
cherish a fondness for craft OF that
sort may be permitted to feast their
eyes on boat before long, for one will
| be coming this way 1t will not ar
rive in the conventional manner,
neither will it discharge and take on
cargo, but it will be here on it's way
farther west.
The expected boat is the property OF
the government and instead of fol-
lowing the river will pass loaded on
train. 1t is now building at Chicago
and will be shipped over the Northern
Pacific, knocked down" and is in
tended for use as a dredge in the
Snake river, between Riperia and
points above. The boat will be un-
loaded at Lewiston, Ida, where it
will be put together and launched in
time for subsistence OF the June fresh
ct. Reckoning the cost as applied to
steamboats,, the dredge is not very
expensive affair, having been contract
ed for at $35,O0O
According to information received
from Helena the state arid land board
finds itself in quandary concerning
disposition of the states lands down
on the Huntley flats. The board would
like to let go OF the land, but it can
| not see its way clear to do so. A
hitch has arisen that promises to
be more or less difficult OF solution.
The trouble lies in the fact that an
encumbrance rests on the lands and
some way must be devised to raise it.
AS memento of the old board and
| it's peculiar way of doing business
| an indebtedness of something like
I! $4,000 exists against the tract and
forms lien upon it. How to provide
for the payment of the debt is what
| is causing the present board to do
some hard thinking
With the exception OF the survey
made for an irrigating canal there
the debt was contracted, but it is
there and must in honor and honesty
| be met some way.
| Were it not for it's existence the
board would probably hesitate little
| in surrendering the land to the gen
| eral government, knowing that this
would probably result in it's speedy
reclamation and settlement, some
| thing the commission, as we'll as the
people hereabouts very much desire.
| To surrender the lands would be a
practical reputation of the debt, as
/! it would deprive the inocent holders
of the bonds of every form of secur-
ity.
! AS a remedy it has been suggested
that the next legislature be asked
to make an appropriation to cover the
amount of the bonds. To many this
seems to be the only way left, as it
would hardly help the credit of the
state to make default on the bonds.
! If no hitch occurred in the proceed
ings the Eighth legislative assembly
of Montana is now convened in extra
ordinary session at Helena, this being
i the date specified in Governor Toole's
proclamation calling it together.
| Because of the little business that
is to be transacted, many are of the
opinion that only few hours will be
required to dispose of it, and in cir
culating among the people The Ga
zette found general belief that the
session would terminate this evening
A little inquiry, however, disclosed
the fact that at least two days will
be required to dispose of the matters
that will be submitted to the legisla-
ture. There are great many details