Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-06-08

Helena sent about 200 of her best
people to Lewistown on friendly
visit last Saturday and about 1000
of the best people of Lewistown turn
ed out and did all they could to make
the visit pleasant one. From the
time they left the city Of Helena ear
ly, very early for some of them, Sat
urday morning until they left Lew
istown for the return trip at 10
o'clock Sunday morning, the excur-
sion was a complete success. Not an
accident of any sort happened to mar
the general pleasure of the occasion
while only the future can tell of the
inestimable benefits which will be de-
rived by both cities from this excur-
sion trip down into the Inland EN-
pire."
The Helena Independent thus tells
of the inception of the idea for an ex-
cursion by the business men of that
city to the metropolis of the Judith
Basin, and how 1t was finally put in
to execution:
1T Is almost year since the idea
of an excursion to Lewistown from
Helena was first broached. Late in
June last year, H. A. Benner, of this
city, visited Lewistown. 1t was just
before the completion of the Montana
railroad extension, and while he was
there he got the idea that after the
completion of the road it would be
a good thing both for Helena and
Lewistown people If the business men
of the capital city would make a trip
to Lewistown after the trip was COM
pleted.
Returning to Helena he first spoke
of the project to T. A. NARROW, and
Mr.. NARROW agreed to do all he could
to further it. Mr.. Benner afterwards
spoke to others about it, and all fav-
ored the project. Then a paper was
circulated, the signers to which
agreed to contribute a certain sum
toward defraying the expenses. Over
$400 was raised, and then the project
was laid before the Helena Business
Mems association. As an organiza.
tion that body then took 1t up, and
arrangements were made with the
Northern Pacific and Montana rail-
roads for the trip, a very attractive
rate being obtained.
1T was first thought the excursion
would take place last September, then
it was put off until November, but
bad weather intervened, SO II was
finally decided to make the trip in
June, and this morning was the date
set. There have been many details
to arrange in connection with the ex
cursion, and in the work Secretary
Boynton, of the Business Mems asso
citation, members of the executive
committee and Mr.. Benner have beer
tireless. AS a result the excursion
will start under the most pleasant
auspices"
The weather was anything but
propitious Saturday morning and the
committee who had the entertainment
of the visitors in hand were greatly dis
heartened. But in the afternoon, the
clouds began to break away and wheI
the train pulled down to the head
of Main street promptly at 4o'clock
an hours sun had dried the streets
and put the two hundred or more peo
pie who were present to welcome the
visitors, in a splendid frame of mind
Aff he train 1nn n
march, headed by the band, was
formed and all marched to a livel,
air to the corner of Fourth avenue
and Main street. Here the band rem
dered two selections, after which w
d. Symmes, president of the Business
Mems association, from the portict
of the Day House, delivered to the
visitors an informal welcome, out
lined the program for the Afternoon
and evening and delivered to then
a mammoth key to the city. Man,
of the visitors had been in the cit
before and had made acquaintance
or had friends whom they had met II
the capital city. Others quickly be
came acquainted with some one herr
and it was but very few moment
after they had arrived until every on,
in the crowd felt perfectly at home
The time from 80 until o'clocl
in the evening was put in by the vis
itors in seeing the city, being show
around by scores OF self-appolnte
guards from Lewistown. It was
jolly bunch and good humor and goo
fellowship prevail III throughout tn
afternoon and evening.
BY o'clock in the evening Gu
ver's hall was crowded by Helena an
Lewistown people who were draw
there by the certain knowledge tina
they would hear some entertainin
oratory.
w. ID. Symmes presided at tn
meeting and shortly after 8 o'cloc
introduced Judge Il. X. Cheadle, VIII
delivered the address of welcome
The Judge was at his best and n
better beginning of an evening o
good speech-making could have bee
made. II is a matter Of regret tha
we are unable to print the addres
of welcome In full, but circumstance
over which We had no control pre-
vent. Ex-Mayor Z. ID. Weed, of He
ena, responded to the address Q
Judge Cheadle In an eloquent mai
ner. He paid splendid tribute
Richard A. Harlow, to whose progrei
siyeness, he said, was responsible fo
the visit of the Helena people an
the cordial welcome extended by th
Lewistown people. The speaker wa
frequently interrupted by hearty al
plause.