davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Sugar Factory Comes West.

BINGHAMPToN, N. Y. April q
The work of dismantling the Bing-
hampton beet sugar factory, which is
to be removed to Blackfoot, Bingham
county, Idaho, will be begun within a
few days. The change has been made
because it has been difficult to per-
suade the farmers here to raise enough
beets to successfully operate the plant.
The Idaho soil and climate are we'll
adapted to beet culture and farmers
there are eager to contract to raise
enough to supply the factory. AL
ready 1000 acres have been contract
ed for near Blackfoot, more than ever
contracted for within a radius of 100
miles from Binghampton.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Land Frauds In Oregon.

WASHINGTON, April 2.-The in-
terror department. has received an ofti.
cial dispatch from Portland, Oregon,
saying that the grand jury will report
sixteen indictments in connection with
the land frauds which have been under
investigation for some months. The
frauds, it is claimed, were committed
under the lieu land law and the timber
and stone act.
CHICAGO, April 2.-Mrs. Emma L.
Watson, of Portland. Ore, was ar
rested today by the officers OF the fed
eral secret service on a charge of be-
ing implica lated in the land swindles in
Oregon. According to the officials the
government has been defrauded out of
thousands Of dollars by the operation
Of swindlers. Mrs. w atson, who is
also said to be known as Mrs. Porter
and Mrs. Puter, was arrested after be.
ing traced from the Pacific coast to
Chicago.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Floods Are Rcceding,

INDIANAPOLIS, April 2.-The floods
are receding today in every part of
Indiana and there Is a general belief
that every hour will now bring slow
Improvement in the conditions. A
funeral was held at St. Francisville
today in boats. VIM. Christians $
wife died Thursday and since then the
waters have entered the house to the
second story. A hole was cut through
the roof today by the undertaken,
through which the coffin was pulled,
and the funeral was held at Saint Rose
cemetery on high ground.
CINCINNATI, April 2.-Floods in
northwestern and central Ohio today
broke all previous records, but dis
patches late today indicate that the
waters are receding, especially along
the Miami valley. The damage from
Findlay south through Troy and other
points as far as Hamilton is estimated
at $4,000 Four lives have been
lost.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Funds Supplied By Railroads.

WASHINGTON, April 4.-Under rapss
id questioning by the opponents OF the
desert land laws, in the house COM
mittee on irrigation today, Geo. 81.
Maxwell detailed the information that
the Great Northern, Northern Pacific,
Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Union Pa
cific and Burlington railroads each
contributed $4,000 a year and the
Rock Island $4,000 a year toward
fund to be used by the National Irrt.
CATION association and disbursed by
Mr.. Maxwell in the interest of that
organization. Other contributions to
this fund bring the amount up to $780,
600 year. 1t was used in campaign
of education to secure the passage of
the National Irriga CATION act.
This informatinn was the result of
an assertion that the transcontinental
railroads were endeavoring to secure
the repeal of the desert land laws to
increase the value Of their land hold.
ings and the land scrips which they
are said to own. Mr.. Maxwell re.
piled that he was in position to
know all the interests behind the move-
ment and he knew of no syndicate of
land scrip holders formed for the pur.
pose of securing the passage of the
repeal bill.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
War News Brieflets.

LONDON, April IA dispatch to
The Central News from Toxic, says
Vice-Admiral Togo made another at
tack on Port Arthur during the night
of March 30-3l. The dispatch adds
that it is understood the attack was
the purpose Of taking soundings and
ascertaining the effects of the last at
tempt to bottle up the Russian feet.
The correspondent of The Daily
Telegraph at Seoul reports that there
is continuous skirmishing between
Ping Yang and Wiju and that many
japanese have been killed. The cor.
respondent adds that Korean party
at Ping Yang had been shot by the
japanese.
Another dispatch from Seoul says:
1t has been learned that the Russian
cavalry, in much distress, is retiring
toward Wiju. They are cutting down
telegraph poles to use as fuel and their
horses are dying for lack of proper
food.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06

Ju, and about 40 miles south OF Wiju.
The Japanese advance was made very
rapidly. 1t was anticipated that the
Russians would resist this advance,
but they failed to do so, and it is now
not probable that there will be any
further opposition south of the Yalu
river.
PARIS, April 2.-1he military at.
tache of one of the embassies says It
is clearly part Of General Kuropat-
kin's strategy to permit the Japanese
to have a small number of victories in
Northern Korea, so as to draw them
northw ard toward Harbin. He adds:
"These we're the Russian tactics dur
ing the Turkish war, the Russians
permitting the Turks to win small
skirmishes, which drew them forward
until the Russians were massed at
Plevna. Several victories in North
ern Korea will so stimulate the Jap
anese ambition that they will adopt
the cry of 'on to Harbin, which is ex-
actly the point to which General Kuro-
patkin seeks to lure them.''
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Investigating the Beef Trust

ST. LOUIS, April "A corps of
agents of the department of commerce
and labor are inquiring into the oper-
ations of the so-called beef trust. Ac-
cording to information they have been
sent here by Secretary Cortelyou in
accordance with resolution of con.
gress, instructing him to investiga ate
"the cause of alleged low price of beef
cattle in the United States in July, and
the unusually large margin between
the prices of beef cattle and selling of
fresh beef.''
The resolution directs Secretary
Cortelyou to ascertain and report
whether the prices have been manipu-
lated by any corporate combin alton,
and IT SO VIII at the capitalize alton, N an
agement and profits of such com bina-
tions are. From St. Louis the in
spectors will 90 to Chicago, Kansas
City, St. Joe and probably Omaha.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Flathead Bill Has Passed,

WASHINGTON, April 2.-The bill to
throw open the Flathead Indian reser.
walton, introduced by Congressman
Dixon Of Montana, passed the house
this afternoon. The bill on the Grow
reservation will be favorably reported
on Thursday, with an important
amendment to investigate the condi-
tion and area of irrig a bic lands.
The Flathead bill has Jared we'll
since its introduction, and its prog.
ress through the house has been un-
usually smooth. The measure had
from the beginning commended itself
to those interested in the development
OF the West, and it has also received
the support of the Indian Rights asso-
citation people by reason OF the emil
nently fair manner in which it deals
with the allotment of lands to the
wards OF the government who have
rights upon the Flathead reserv alton
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
SENATOR GIBSON'S BILL.
Provisions of the Measure That Would
Effect Changes In Land Laws.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-Following
duced by Senator Gibson to repeal the
desert land act and the communication
provision of the homestead act, which
has precipitated so much discussion
in the senate:
THAT an act to provide for the sale
of desert lands in certain states and
territories, approved March 3, 1877,
and all the laws supplementary thereto
or amend atory thereof, be, and the
same are hereby repealed: Provided.
that this repeal shall not affect any
valid rights heretofore accrued or az.
cruing under said laws, but all bona
fide claims lawfully initiated before
the passage of this act may be perfect,
ed upon due compliance with law, in
the same manner, upon the same terms
and conditions. and subject to the
same limitations, forfeitures and con.
tests as if this act had not passed.
"Sec. 2. That section 2,3Ol of the
IesASo StdbutcS, duu dill the laws Sup'
Elementary thereto or amend atory
thereof, and all other laws authoriz-
ing the commutation of homestead
entry into a cash entry, be, and the
same are hereby repealed: Provid-
ed, that where application for final
proof and purchase of land under the
provisions Of section 2 3O1 Of the ra.
vised statutes, or any other similar
law hereby repealed, shall have been
filed in the United States land Office in
the land district in which the claim is
situated prior to the passage OF this
act said claimant may be allowed to
perfect his or her title, upon due com.
pliance with law, in the same manner,
upon the same terms and conditions,
and subject to the same limitations,
forfeitures and contests as if this act
had not passed.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
MENACED BY FLOODS.
Residents Of Ohio Town Fear Overflow
from Immense Reservoir.

CEL1NA, Ohio, April l.-Much ap.
prehension is felt around the Grand
reservoir, in which the water has been
rising rapidly since Saturday night.
St. Mary's is one of the largest arti-
fetal bodies of " water in the world, be-
ing ten miles long and from two to
four miles in width and covering
about 10000 acres. Its banks are from
10 to 25 feet high. It was constructed
on the summit between the Ohio river
and the lakes, so as to feed the canals
both ways. Having outlets into the
Maumee and Wabash rivers, its wa
ters take opposite directions, and in
the event of serious break the dam
age would be beyond description. The
state was engaged from 1887 to 1916 in
constructing this great lake, and it
has been the scene of much trouble.
Many families near the lake are flee
ing for their lives.
INDIANAPOLIS, April 1.-The flood
conditions throughout Southern In
diana and Southeastern Illinois are
still serious. The heavy rains last
night added to the danger. At Port
land, where a week ago three lives
were lost and heavy damage was done,
only three or four business houses are
above the water. At Peru, also, the
stu alton is serious, while at Alexan-
dria, where the worst food in the his
tory of that town is being experienced,
the inhabitants were rescued from
their homes by fremen in boats.
LIMA, April l.-Many narrow es-
capes from drowning were reported.
In many cases where people lived in
one-story houses they were taken from
the roof by rescuers just before the
buildings collapsed. A family named
Stewart was driven to the second
story, and later Mrs. Stewart shouted
to rescuing party that daughter
had just died from pneumonia, the
husband was near death with con.
sumption and that two other children
were dead with pneumonia.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Charged With Grating.

MILWAUKEE, April 3.-The indict.
ments returned by the grand jury at
its final session are directed against
ten individuals. The testimony upon
which the indictments were brought
related to alleged illegal acts in con.
nection with work on the county hos
pital. The original estimate of the
cost of the building was $50, while
the actual cost was Sl75, 600. The
building is still incomplete, and more
money will have to be expended.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Russians Have Retreated.

LONDON. April 4. 4.-Eight weeks from
the opening of the war sees Japan
without real fighting, apparently in
complete possession of Korea and the
first stage OF the campaign ended. Ac.
cording to the Mails correspondent,
who telegraphs under date of April 4,
a Ping Yang dispatch has been re.
ceived confirming the report that Jap
anese scouts entered Wlju at II a. m.
Monday. and the Russians apparently
retreated beyond the Yalu river.
1t will possibly be month, how
ever, before big battle will be fought.
as the artillery moves slowly on ac-
count OF the poor roads and the bad
management of the horses. Otherwise
the organization of the japanese
forces is almost perfect. An immense
quantity of supplies is going forward
by coolie carriers.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Weather Conditions In March,

The March weather report issued by
Observer Ling, of Havre, shows un-
usually low temperature and excessive
precipitation compared with the aver
age for March in former years. With
two exceptions it WI as the coldest March
In "a years.
The mean temperature of the month
was Is degrees, compared with an
average of 26 degrees in former years.
The highest temperate recorded DUR
ing the month was 48 degrees, and the
lowest Is below zero.
The precipitation recorded during
the month was 0.86 inches, compared
with an average of 0.54 inches for
March in "a years. 1t was the heav-
lest March precipitation since 1898.
There were fourteen clear days last
month, ten partly cloudy, and seven
cloudy days.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
DEFENDS DESERT ACT.
Senator Warren Opposed to Repeal Bill
Introduced By Senator Gibson.

WASHINGTON, April 2.-Mr. War
rem, of Wyoming, occupied the greater
part of the senate's time today with a
speech attacking the bill of Mr.. Glib
son, of Montana, to repeal most of
the existing land laws. He contended
that the land laws were beneficial and
IN the main honestly administered and
urged that there was no demand for
repeal.
Mr.. Warren took a position in op.
position to the Wholesale repeal of the
land laws and said that the dem and
for a change had already been met by
the senate in its action on the tim ber
and stone act. He also called atten-
ton to the fact that the president had
indorsed the recommend ations Of the
Richards commission which were in
the interest of modification, but not OF
the repeal Of the law.
Mr.. Warren expressed the opinion
that we are in no danger from the abb
sorption Of the public domain.
"What is the public domain for" be
asked, "if not to be absorbed?''
He added that he would be pleased
to have it taken twice as rapidly, pro-
vided it be taken by settlers. He said
that more than one-third of the total
area of the United States, includin
Alaska, is still public. and concluded
that the government should offer lib.
eral encouragement to settlers.
With vast area of billion or
more acres awaiting settlement, Mr..
Warren said there was no need to
have hysteria. Mr.. Warren was
asked how much of this area was in
habitable, with or without irri alton,
and then he quoted from the speech of
Mr.. Gibson to show that there were
about fifty million acres of the arid
regions fit for irrig alton. Mr.. War.
ren said that in 25 years about five
million acres had been disposed of by
homesteading and at this rate it would
take 500 years to dispose of what was
left.
Mr.. Patterson asked how the cattle
men of Wyoming obtained their titles
to $4,000 to 10000 acres of land. Mr..
Warren said the greater part of it
was bought from the railroad COM
panies, to whom the land was given
by the United States government as a
bonus for railroad building. He de-
clared that the cattlemeu were better
off to have the land laws repealed, so
that they could roam over the entire
lands of the state.
Mr.. Gibson said be knew cattlemen
and that in his state there was not one
who wanted the land laws repealed. .
He denied mphatically the correct
ness of Mr.. w arren's statements so
Tar as Montana was concerned.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Big Prizes for Airships.

ST. LOUIS, April LIN addition to
the $3.50, 900 offered by the World 5
Fair to the winners in the aeronautic
contests, a change in the rules has
been made by which prizes in the
shape of testimonials: medals and the
like will be given to contestants who
have not won cash prizes, but who
have made meritorious performances
in the balloon or airship races. This
change was made in connection with
the invitation extended some time ago
by the exposition management to the
Archduke Leopold Salvador of Aus
tria to take part in the contests.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Estimating Number OF Troops.

PARIS, April 2.-The Figaro's St.
Petersburg correspondent telegraphs
as 'follows: A detailed list of the
Russian troops in the far east was
semi-officially communicated to me to-
day. The list was drawn up on the
evening of March 28 by the general
staff at Harbin. There were then in
Manchuria 10000 infantry, 1900
cavalry and 256 cannon. 1t is esti-
mated that the Japanese troops landed
do not exceed $4,000, and that l0O,-
900 are waiting until the commissa ariat
is assured before being transported,
as it is impossible to feed them IN
Korea.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06

engine and demanded that Messenger
O'Neil open the express car. He re-
fused, whereupon they blew up the ex-
press car with dynamite and deliber-
ately killed O'Neil by shooting him
through the head. The bandits then
robbed the express car of it's contents,
but it is not known how much they
got. After robbing the express car
the men cut the car loose, and getting
on the engine, compelled Engineer
Joesing to go ahead. When near
kerwick the men dropped off the en-
gine and disappeared in the night
with sheir plunder.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
To Amend Exclusion Act,

WASHINGTON, April lin the SEN
ate today Mr.. Patterson introduced a
bill for the amendment of the Chinese
exclusion act of 1902, giving notice
that on Wednesday next he would ad-
dress the senate on the bill. Ia Civ
ing this notice, he said, he had re-
ceived what he considered definite in
formation that the Chinese govern
ment has denounced the treaty be-
tween that government and the United
States, and that the treaty would ex-
pire Decem ber next. Unless the law
should be extended, Chinese could
come into the United States after tn at
date without obstruction.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Largest Family In Illinois.

SALEM, ILL.,, April l.-President
Roosevelt would have little cause to
complain as to the possibility Of race
suicide were he to make a canvass of
Marion county. John Sinclair and
wife Of Romine township can lay cl aim
to the largest family OF children in H.
linois, if not in the West, they being
the parents OF twenty.one children,
eighteen boys and three girls. The
boys are all voters, but differ from
President Roosevelt politically, be-
ing true. blue Jackson.Bryan demo-
Gratis.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
SENATOR GIBSON SPEAKS.
He Denies Thnt a RailrOad Lobby Is
Working for Repeal Bill

WASHINGTON, April 4.-The post
Office bill was laid before the senate
today at the conclusion of the morn.
ing routine business. MIR. Gibson of
Montana took the floor to speak on
his bill to repeal the desert land act
and the communication provision of the
homestead act. He denied that rail.
road lobby is back Of the proposition
for the repeal of the general land laws,
and refuted the statement that the mo-
tive of the men favoring the repeal is
to increase the value of private hold.
ings.
Mr.. Gibson read from Senator
Hans brough's speech to the effect that
a railroad lobby was back OF the deal,
and criticised Mr.. Hansbrough for not
naming at least one of the railroads
or persons he alleged to be back of
the movement for the repeal of the
land laws.
Mr.. Hansbrough asked Mr.. Gibson
if he did not know that George H.
Maxwell is receiving a princely SAL
ary from several land-grant railroads,
whose principal business has been to
advocate the repeal of the land law
and denounce all that do not agree
with him.
Mr.. Gibson answered that the Ma
tional Irrigation association is inter.
ested in the repeal of the laws. He
says he is willing to admit that Mr..
Maxwell is the ''main push"
Mr.. Quarles said he had heard q
great deal about a "lobby" for the
repeal of the land laws, and wanted
to know why it was that this lobby
had manifested itself to the opposition
only. He suggested that the lobby
looked like a bogey man which land.
grabbers are trying to raise here, and
that these land-grabbers are tying to
people the air with ghosts and
hobgobIins.
MIR. Hans brough protested against
the term 'land.grabbers' being ap.
piled to the opponents of the bill, and
referred to letters which had been ad.
dressed to himself to show tn at q Wig
orous effort was being made for the
repeal of the land laws.
Mr.. Gibson spoke OF James j. Hill
and his railroad building and the fact
that this had not been a scrip rail.
road. AS Mr.. Gibson started to read
from speech by Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Hans.
brough Interrupted him to say that an
unfriendly issue cannot be raised be.
tween him and Mr.. Hill, as they are
friends, though not agreeing on the
question of land laws. He said they
did agree, however, on the question of
irrig cation. Mr.. Gibson paid tri-
butte to Mr.. Hill and his work IN de.
velopiug western states.
Mr.. Warren said 1t was wrong,
however, to refer to Mr.. Hill as not
interest in land grant railroads, as he
is the president of the Northern Sc.
curiti"- company. which owns both
the Great Northern and Northern Pa
citic railways.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
pettigrew Threatens to Bolt.

SIOUX FALLS, S. D., April latter
announcing an intention to bolt the
Democratic national convention If
Grover Cleveland or any other demo-
crat like him is nomin ated, former
United States Senator Pettigrew was
elected chairman of the state delega.
tion from South Dakota. In was be-
fore the democratic state convention
had adjourned, and after Pettigrew's 8
selection as delegate: that he de-
clared explicitly his intention of bolt
ing under the conditions named. Pet
tigrew's election as chairman of the
deleg alton followed today.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
To Block Port Arthur.

NEW YORK, April l.-Twenty-
eight old and useless steamers have
been requisitioned stripped of all ma
tion, and are held in readiness for
Vice Admiral Togo's orders, says a
dispatch to the World from Nagasak
by way Of Shanghai. The Japanese
are determined, it would appear, to
block Port Arthur channel and six
vessels will be sent at time to Join
the feet.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
lie Refused a Fortune.

DENVER, April 2.-Dr. William A.
Harroun of this city has renounced all
claimto fortune ofSl ,OSO, 900 left by his
fathers brother in Kilkenny, Ireland.
In doing this he gives his sister, Mrs.
J, NJ. Lewis, of Portland, Me-, the
sole right to the money. DR. Har.
roun gives as his reason for refusing
the fortune that he wishes to have
nothing he does not earn by his own
efforts.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
The Japanese Advance.

TOXIC, April 3.-The advance guard
of the Japanese army in northwestern
Korea occupied the town of Seng
Cheng Yesterday afternoon without
opposition. Seng Cheng is on the
Pekin road, Is miles west of Cnone
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06
Murdered By Train Robbers.

REDDING: Cal, April 1.-Just at II
o'clock last night, as the south bound
train reached Copley, near kerwick,
three men jumped the train and soon
cut the train in two, taking the en-.
gines and express car down the track
a short distance. They stopped the
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06

Water righ: blanks-only correc,
form puolished-fo sale at the RIVER
Press Office.