The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-10-18
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

edition of the River Press completes
its twenty.ffth year, may be OF inter-
est to some OF the readers of this
newspaper. The first copy of the
River Press was issued In October,
1880, its publishers being Messrs.
Williams, Wright and Stevens. At
that time there were only fourteen
newspapers in Montana: the number
has since increased to over one hun.
dred.
Twenty-Five years ago, Benjamin F.
Potts was governor of Montana Terri
tory, with James Il. Mills as territor.
ial secretary. Our present governor,
Joseph X. Toole, wss beginning his
successful political career in 1850, be.
ing a candidat for joint councilman
to represent Lewis and Clark and
Chouteau counties in the territorial
legislature.
In 1880, Chouteau county included
what is now Teton county and part Of
Cascade. The total vote of Chouteau
county in the election of that year
was 740, while that Of the entire terri.
tory was: only II, ISL. The election
returns of last year show that the
total Montana vote has increased to
over $4,000.
The population Of Montana terri.
tory in 1850, according to the federal
census, was 80, 159, and it is now esti.
mated at nearly 300, ZOO. Twenty-Five
years ago.Butte was credited with a
population of only 1864, but its local
directories.now indicate a population
Of about {. 1000.
In the federal census of 1880. that
part ofiMontana which was included
In the boundaries of Chouteau county
was credited with a population of
only 3,O5S white people. According
to the last federal census, it now con-
tains over 10000 residents.
Twenty-Five years ago the annual
product OF Montana mines was valued
at about 8 1000, 600; it consisted prin.
cipally of gold and silver, the copper
mining:industry not having been de.
veloped at that time. The Montana
mineral output now has an annual
value of about $50, 0o0, 900, copper rep
resenting over one-half of the amount
In 1880, the only railroad doing bus
mess in Montana was the Utah and
Northern, which had extended its track
to Dillon. In Beaverhead county. The
railroads now operating In Montana
have about 3, 600 miles of track.
Twenty-Five years ago the value OF
taxable property In Montana, accord.
ing to the official records, amounted to
only S16, 00O, 900. Its total at the pres.
ent time il about $2l0, 00O, 900. The
assessment of Chouteau county In 1886
was 81, $50, 900, but the same section ot
northern Montana now has taxable
property valued at about $50, OOO, 600.
Montana agriculture has made q re.
markable growth iu the past twenty.
five years. In 1880, the area OF farms
listed on the tax rolls was about APO,
600 acres. The assessment of Mob.
tana land now includes over II, 800,
600 acres.
This increase in the area of Mon
tana farms, and the consequent con
traction of the open range, has been
accompanied by an expansion Of the
Montana livestock industry. Twenty
five years ago the annual Montana
beef output was less than 50, 600 head
while last year it had increased to
229, 600 head. In 1880, the Montana
wool clip amounted to less than 1000,
600 pounds. This year its total was a
little yer 10000 pounds. The assess.
ment OF Montana livestock now
amounts to about S2S, OOO, 900.
In 1880, and for nine years subse.
quent to that date, all that part of
Montana lying north of the Marias
and Missouri rivers and extending to
the international boundary line was
an Indian reservation. The only
names on the map were those of Indian
agencies, military posts, streams and
mountains. In this big stretch of
country are o located the homes of
about 10000 Montana citizens, who
have fuonded and built up thriving
business centers and villages and de-
veloped their local to a re.
markable degree.
This is . brief story of q quarter
century Of progress in Montana, and
we are marching on to still greater
achievement. Who will venture ia
foretell the advance that may be re.
vealed by q newspaper retrospec,
twenty-five years hence?