davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13
Montana Matters In Washington.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Representa-
tive Dixon has introduced a bill de-
signed to open the Fort Peck Indian
reservation for settlement. The gen.
eral provisions Of the bill are similar
to those providing for the opening of
the Flathead Indian reservation.
State Engineer John w. Wade, rep.
resenting the Montana state land
board, today continued his conference
with Representative Dixon and Secre-
tary of the Interior Hitchcock relative
to the enactment of a law allowing the
state OF Montana to surrender to the
government title to several thousand
acres OF land in Madison and Beaver.
head counties to be used as a reser-
voir for the proposed reclamation
scheme under the provisions of the
Cary act by the state land board. In
these counties it is proposed to irri'
gate about 5000 acres of land under
the scheme. Representative Dixon to.
day introduced q bill to allow the
state to make the necessary exchange
of lands, while Secretary Hitchcock
expressed himself %favorably regarding
the bill.
Representative Dixon has intro
duced a bill appropriating $500, 600
for the federal building at Great
Falls. 1t is uncertain what attitude
the house leaders will assume toward
such appropriations this season.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13

and 20 million acres OF new irriea ted
homes costing, on the above basis,
81, 100, 000, 900. The engineering work
on the irrigation project would thus
be four times the magnitude of the
Panama canal project.
The value of these two schemes OF
development a not be as easily com.
pared. 1t is an open question as to
how much of a benefit the Panama ca.
nal will be to the country. Most peo-
pie who are characterized as broad.
minded, believe that a Panama canal
will be of great strategic importance
from a military point OF view, and
that OF still greater moment, the com.
merce OF the country will be vastly
benefited; that we will have q quick
and sure means of intercourse be.
tween the throbbing hives of manufac-
turing industry in the eastern half of
the United States and the vast and
rich trade fields of the Orient: but
there are other eminent and sagacious
statesmen who have never favored cut.
ting the western hemisphere in two
and who now predict that with the sue
cess OF Japanese arms and the open
and expressed determination of ia.
pan to develop her manufacturing in.
dustries, by the time the canal is fin.
ished We will find the Oriental market
practically controlled by the cyan.
KEGS of the East"
What does the project of the irriga.
ton OF the arid lands hold out? There
Is no difference Of opinion, there a
be no question or this subject. Prob.
ably the majority Of the people of the
United States and certainly many so.
called astute politicians in and out of
congress, fail to realize the potential
greatness of the irrigation PROPOSE.
tion-in a word, they are apathetic:
but among those who have given any
serious consideration to this subject,
there is but one verdict. The recla.
nation Of this vast inland empire will
constitute an internal development
which will surpass anything which
has ever been witnessed in the worlds
history. The settlement Of these great
tracts of desert into countless small
rural homes and the regeneration OF
the dry but fabulously rich desert
soil into a gigantic garden will form
a home market for the United States
far ahead Of anything which our COM.
merce enjoys at present.
All In all, 1t may occur to the closer
students of our internal affairs that
perhaps the Panama canal project is
not really the greatest and most prom.
istng work upon which the nation is
engaged, especially when it is con.
sidered that the need is becoming more
pressing every year for an outlet to
our rapidly advancing population,
both through domestic increase and
heavy immigration.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13
two CANAL BUILDING STORIES.

A writer in Maxwell's Talismau
maeks an effective and interesting com.
parison between the cost and benefit
Of the two great canal building pro.
jects undertaken by the federal gov.
ernment-the Panama enterprise and
the reclamation of arid lands. After
describing some features Of the 18th.
milan canal proposition, he says:
Congress this winter will also pos
sibly consider another canal building
story, which while it is claimed to pre-.
sent some features needing congress
sional attention, involving as it does
q number of millions of dollars en-
penditure, is looked upon generally rs
but q small incident in comparison
with the vast possibilities to trade,
commerce and prosperity which will
develop from an inter.oceanic canal.
Let US sum up q few Of the general
facts in connection with the two pro-
iects-the Panama canal and irriga-
ton canal building, which is the other
subject referred to.
AS an engineering project the Pan.
anna canal may cost half q billion dol
lars-it is, as q matter of fact, O II
coded that the present estimates are
entirely inadequate to consummate
this vast project.
The interior department has in
course Of construction irrigation
works which will water something
over a million acres at a cost Of about
$50, DOC, 900, or on an average acreage
charge Of probably about $50. OH.
cial estimates of that department place
the ultimate reclaimable area of the
American desert at about 20 million
acres. 1t 10 not expected that this
will be reclaimed at once. But sup
posing that the popular sentiment of
the country favored irrigation canal
building as strongly as it favors 18th.
milan canal building and that the two
projects would be completed at about
the same time, say 20 years hence,
what would We have: The Panama
canal costing half a billion dollars
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13
ELkINS WANTS COMPROMISE.
Railroad Senat0r Submits Plans of GOV.
ernrnent Rate Regulation.

WASHINGTON. Dec. s. Senator
| Elkins, chairman of the committee of
interstate commerce., after the presi.
dents message today made the fol-
lowing statement regarding railroad
rate legislation:
"As l understand it, the president
does not desire to vest in the commits.
sion arbitrary and uncontrolled pow.
err to fix rates. He has repeatedly
stated that the action of the commits.
sion ia fixing a rate should be sub.
ject to o review by the courts, and
that the railway company should be
furnished legal protection against any
injustice. That being the case, a law
giving to the commission power to fix
rates should not be drawn in such
manner as to give the commission
purely executive discretion in fixing
rates. It should give to the commits.
sion power o change any rate only if
the existing rate be unreasonable, or
otherwise in violation of the interstate
commerce act, and it should give to
the commission power to change a
rate that is unreasonab able or otherwise
unlawful only to the extent that such
change may be necessary in order to
remove the unreasonableness or other
illegality of the rate. In other words,
1t should only give to the commission
power to reduce a rate to the maxi.
mum that would be reasonable and
lawful if originally imposed by the
railway company. A statute can be
drawn to effect this result. If those
who advocate vesting in the interstate
commerce commission the power to fix
rates are in good faith seeking to Gar
~ out the policy Of the president, they
should be willing to accept a statute
giving to the commission the power to
fix rates substantially in the following
terms:
"Whenever any rate, fare or charge
fixed by any common carrier for any
service shall be unreasonable or un.
justly discriminatory, the interstate
commerce commission shall have
power. after investig ating the facts
and hearing the parties affected, to
make an order modifying such rate,
fare or charge 30 far as may be
necessary in order to remove the un-
RESPONSIVENESS, unjust discrimination
or other illegality thereof; and such
order shall take effect at the expira-
ton of such time as the commission
shall prescribe, not less than-days
after publication thereof. Any party
affected by any order shall be n
titled to institute q proceeding to re.
view such order in the circuit court of
the United States in any district
through which the line carrier may
run.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13

Local Securities q Speciality.
Interest Allowed on Time DEPOSITS
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13

This bank solicits accounts, and
offers to depositors absolute security,
prompt and careful attention, and the
most liberal treatment consistent with
safe and profitable banking. Buys
and sells foreign exchange, drawing
direct on all principal American and
European cities, and issues Its own
Letters of Credit.
Interest paid on time deposits. The
highest cash price paid for approved
state, county, city and school bonds
and warrants.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13
British Cabinet Resigns.

LONDON, Dec. 1.-The political cri.
sis in the United Kingdom reached a
climax today, when Arthur j. Bal.
the premier. formally rendered
the designations of himself and the
OF his cabinet I o King Ed
ward, who accepted them. His ma.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13

The WEEKLY RIVER PRESS lisa good
newspaper to send away to your friends
in the east. 1t will save you the trou.
bic of writing letters
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

Special to The Globe
n ALIEN, Mass, March Flew Amer
~ lean cities are more keenIy aware
of the decay of American shipping
shan quaint, old Salem. Its citizens are
prepared TO appreciate one of the strik-
ing features of the report of the merchant
marine commission to the present con-
gress, the statement that '-only 10 per
cent of our vast seaborne commerce is
now carried by American ships" In 1910
the American proportion was 81 per cent.
This astounding shrinkage in the proper
ton of American goods carried in Amer
lean ships forcibly illustrates the decline
and fall of our merchant marine.
To show what this deplorable falling
off in the deep sea carrying trade means.
the experience of Salem affords a notable
Illustration. Salem never was a large
city. In 1850 it had a population of only
10000. Yet in 1907 it could boast of 252
vessels engaged in the deep sea trade,
probably the largest fleet owned by COM
munity of its size in the world. But in
the year 1900 this city. which had for
nearly century been better known In
the ports of the Orient than Boston or
New York, had not a single vessel regis
tered for deep sea commerce. The last
arrival at Salem from a South American
port was on March n, 1877. The last en-
try of vessel from beyond the Cape of
Good Hope was on May 1, 1870, when the
bark Glide" came home from Zanzibar.
The year 1861 saw the end of Salem's once
great trade in Para rubber. The Aus
tralia, in 1860, was the last Salem ship
TO visit the coast of Sumatra, where for
more than half century an extensive
and profitable pepper trade had been car
ried on.
The story Of the origin of this trade
reads like romance. Since the wear 100
Portuguese vessels had brought nenner
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

sextant and "Guthrie's Grammar" in the
picturesque language of sympathetic re-
corder. they swept around the Cape OF
Good Hope, exhausted the markets OF the
islands of France and Bourbon. and push
ing onward entered the Straits OF Bah ell
Mandeb and secured the trade OF the Red
sea. They brought from Madras. CAL
cutta and Bombay the best of their
staples. and had their choice OF the prod
ucts OF Ceylon and Sumatra, and a large
share OF the Canton trade. Their ships
were seen in every part OF the Indian
seas, and held in respect by all CONNER
cial nations.
Such a service developed a fine type of
manhood and no American city In the
early years OF 1900 could boast OF prouder
names than the Derbys, Crowninshields.
Forresters, Thorndikes. Peabodys, Pick
mans. Vests and Silsbees, OF Salem. The
very nature of these voyages gave a pc
culiar character to the people, as has been
remarked by ]. n. Reynolds in his fascin-
ating account OF the voyage OF the United
States frigate Potomac. The length OF
time passed by these sea captains-on the
ocean gave them fine opportunities to
improve their minds. From among the
masters, supercargoes and other officers OF
these Indiamen 1t is said there have been
from the town OF Salem a great number of
the members OF each branch Of the leg
congress. two secretaries of the navy, q
United States senator and a great math-
ematician. second to no one in ancient or
modern times, one who has corrected the
works OF Newton and enlarged the heav-
ems of La Place"
Moreover, in the dire need of war the
merchants OF Salem and the neighboring
towns Of Marblehead and Beverly were the
first to take out letters of marque and
reprisal and form that feet OF privateers-
men whose service turned In our behalf
the trembling scales OF war in both Of our
conflicts with England. The privateers-
men of New England won more victories
and captured more prizes I'm the wars Of
the Revolution and Of 1912 than the entire
fleets OF our navy, and without them the
annals OF those days would not have
yielded such renown to the sea power of
America.
was again illustrated when, In October.
1885, at a mass meeting In the Salem
court house, they voted to build by pri-
waite subscription frigate OF thirty-two
guns and present her as q ship OF war to
the United States navy to suppress tho
French ravages on our West India trade
1t was a day Of rejoicing when the white
oak for her frames was hauled into town,
and In the presence OF cheering thousands
on q September day in 1899 there was
launched the Essex, In size the smallest Of
our frigates. but in achievements one of
the most glorious. For a while this ship
protected our commerce In the Indian
ocean; then participated In the chastise-
ment OF the Barbary pirates, and during
the war OF 1912 made her name ilIustrious
by an heroic engagement with the British.
when among her crew she carried a mid
shipman by the name Of Farragut
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

same when she's growed big" added
Davy.
Notwithstanding, every man in
camp. with the addition of Garetta,
Eds wife. the camp cook, loved jumps
devotedly.
Jeremy's marriage had been the ro-
nance and the tragedy of the little log
ging community some years before.
The girl Melissy had suddenly appear
ed in camp one stormy winter night,
unknown. unheralded and pitifully in
search of a husband" who was in
reality no husband at all. Paul Law
less. who had deceived the foolish
young thing, turned on his heel, and
by his silence disowned her. Then
Jeremy, elderly, diffident and lonely,
had risen to the supreme height of his
life. and claimed her as his own. A
quiet marriage had followed. and three
happy years. happy for Jeremy, full
of discomfort and longing for selfish
pretty light o. love Melissy. The birth
Of her child stirred only the feeblest
maternal instinct, although to Jeremy
1T was the coming Of heaven on earth.
Therefore 1t was not a surprise to the
camp when Melissy ran away with
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12
JUMPS

full. SOS not TO wake up my children,
ez air jest gone to sleep in their little
hunks That's what the squirt says to
me-"
jumps was now in the center of the
room and her brown eyes shone red
in the stove light. Her fluffy hair rose
up into a little peak OF excitement.
What sort of voice did he have,
JimpsT queried Jeremy respectfully. q
Kind of chittery. like this" said
she, with plausible imitation. And I
walked away just as sof," she tiptoed
up to Davy. .and-thet's ALI"
"Fust ratei You'll do, all right"
said Davy cynically.
Jimps' brows went up in instant
comprehension. Now that she had
told her lie she became its passionate
defender.
Gross my heart and die. It's solemn
truf."
I'm course it be-" murmured Jeremy
lovingly.
Amt she a corker. though. to tell
yarns?' said Mart when the door was
closed behind father and child. Takes
arter her mother all right in tibet"
IN she'll bamboozle him Jest the
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

Genus Adgate. a fashy drummer from
Malone. Melissy's babbling babe saved
Jerer1y's life and reason in the bitter
days that followed. When he finally
had strength to speak of her. he was
only known to say that he pitied her
and blamed himself more than h4
blamed her. After a while he made n
possible for her to get the divorce she
wanted. The child he always kept. and
his whole rugged nature was wrapped
TO absorption In the fragile scrap OF
girl.
That night Melissy and Genus came
to camp. The woman wished to see
her child, the only child she had ever
borne. and he had consented to sat
isfy her whim.
AN eff she's reel sweet and purity
we'll take her back to live with us.
won't we. Zene?' said she caiolingiy.
She had been thinking lately how
nice live plaything would be.
'What1l Jeremy say?"
He won't say nothing when tell
him how much l want her"
She had shallow natures cheap
pride IN it's power
The air was balmy with melting
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

had a pathetic memory. But this, this
smiling person, the store clothes, the
plumes cooked upon the jaunty hat
this was repeliant.
She is mine, mine. mine. They shall
not rob me OF her." he fiercely thought.
He bit the stem OF his pipe as Melissy
chartered on.
I'm her mother, you know" said
she plaintively, not thinking how the
simple words opened hole in the wall
or Jeremy's opposition.
Mother and child; mother and child
Again his throat ached.
You know. Melissy. it was becuz OF
this promise that let you get-the-
the papers That ! should have Gus
todyship of the child"
Il know" said Melissy. meelly. I'M
able to argue where promises and law
were concerned.
But conseeder how much better Off
the child would be with u.s. said Ze-
nus pompously.
You needn't say nothing" roared
Jeremy, glazing at the man. Il know
what you are. Genus Adgate''
Melissy tapped her foot warningIy,
and Adgate made no answer. He
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

Joseph Ropes, was the first American
vessel to enter the harbor of Mocha. on
the coast of Arabia. just inside the Red
sea, and opened the commerce in that
pungent berry which forms so valuable a
part OF the beverage OF the American
breakfast. From Salem also sailed the
first American ship to open commerce.
with Hindustan, Java and Japan Its
vessels We're the first from this continent
In the Fill islands, Madagascar, New
Holland and New Zealand. They were
among the first on the west coast OF
Africa and In South America From Sa-
lem. too, sailed the first American vessel
to round the Cape of Good Hope and the
first ship to carry our flag through the
Straits of Magellan. A Salem ship, the
Atlantic, In command OF Capt Elias
Haskell Derby Jr., was the first to display
the stars and stripes in the harbors of
Bombay and Calcutta. The Peggy, anoth-
er Derby ship, brought to New England
the first cargo OF Bombay cotton. Still
another Derby ship, the Astrea. under
aged to Manila. and forged the first links
OF that chain OF commercial interest
which has finally bound to this country
the Philippine archipelago.
Captains Were Big Men
cruises on summer seas. The captains OF
these ships were not merely bold adven-
turers; they had to be merchants, soldiers
and ambassadors as well. The dangers
that faced them were not alone the ships
OF pirates and of hostile nations, but the
treachery OF the natives. the voracious
coral reefs Of uncharted seas and the,
fierce typhoons Of tropic chimes. With
such few maps and charts as they could
find, and these often inaccurate, with a
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

SHOWS and sprouting buds. Shadows
wavered across the moonlight. The
moon Quivered as a golden cross in a
black brook by the woods edge. Then
the log shanties came into view in
their clearing, low. dark roofs against
a luminous sky. The fair full moon
sailed above. Jeremy's candle flicker
ed red through the slit of an upper
window. He had taught jumps to say
her prayers.
And God forgib all my sins" she
murmured with unsullied conscience.
and bless me and Jeremy. Amen"
Then he went downstairs-to meet
the child's mother. She smiled her
prettiest, mindful OF her ancient sway
But from the start she felt that some
thing OF virtue was gone from her. He
felt It,, too, remaining unmoved where
year ago his heart would have been in
his mouth and his temples bursting.
The spell was gone.
The little forsaken girl of the bitter
night, the damp rings OF hair beneath
the frosted hood-that had appealed.
The child mother. nursing her baby.
with red winter skies, cold through
frozen pines-that had appealed. So
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

withdrew instead to the long mess
table and ostentatiously picked his
teeth.
Why. jumps be happy as a bird with
me" said Jeremy gently.
"Jimps! Is that what you call the
poor kid" -Melissy spoke as If this
Were the final and most outrageous
grievance. And I that named her
Jessica Belle. with us standing beside
her bed. when she weren't able to raise
her little head from the piller."
The boys kinder got inter that
way" Jeremy apologized. "becuz she
was so quick in her motions And I
don't know as tibet was a proper rea-
son, nuther."
II want to see her sleeping" said
Melissy. May II"
She had never wanted anything so
much as at that moment she wanted
little Jessica- Jeremy kept alternately
cursing and blessing himself as he took
her up the steep stairway to his sleep
ing room.
jumps lay beneath the gray blanket,
one dimpled first curled lovingly to-
wards the mouth I'm dreamy reminis-
cence Of the days when thumb sucking