The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-02-08
BANQUET IN HIS HONOR BY
BUSINESS men AT HOTEL HAvRE
Prominent Citizens of Havre Gather at
Dinner rendered Him. MIR. Babb
Explains Work Performed and
To be Done i'm Future.

| Ntl 10 ~. ttiOU, tAl5IlCCi III IlcIl &c
of the Milk River Irrigation project,
was a I;avre visitor Thursday, enroute
to the scene of his labors at Brown
ing and the St. Mary lakes from a
visit at Washington. d. c.
Mr.. Babb was not allowed to leave
Havre without some expression from
her citizens of their appreciation of
his work already performed for Mon
tana and their faith in the good re-
suits OF his future offices in the
same direction.
a banquet was given at the Hotel
Havre Thursday evening at which he
was the guest of honor and a large
representation of prominent citizens
We're present to honor to our dis
tinguished guest. Covers were laid
for forty, and the menu served under
the direction of Manager Carruth was
elaborate in every detail Music for
the occasion was furnished by Cor
don's orchestra, and it is needless to
say, that it was Of a high class and
added greatly to the pleasures of
the evening. Mayor Newman acted
in the capacity Of POSTMASTER, and
in few we'll chosen words, spoke of
the good work undertaken by the gov
ernment through its officials and those
under them in the reclamation service
for the reclaiming of the northwest
Mr. Babb responded, saying that he
was pleased in the ifact that the
gathering was informal. He paid
iavre a~compliment In the statement
that If we We're not careful, we would
not only enjoy the reputation of be-
ing mighty hustling and progress
i've town, but also as most hosp;t-
able one, in fact, he thought we had
already earned our titles.
He stated that three years ago he
had missed a similar banquet on much
the same occasion and he most deep
ly regretted the fact in view of the
hospitality now evidence by the citi-
zens present
IF 1 could say that the govern
ment had appropriated $500,000 to
spend On the Chain Lakes dams, my
remarks would undoubtedly be ar-
plauded to the echo" he said. Mr..
Babb stated that the work on the St.
Mary's project was started last year
and bids opened in July. There was
but one tender and this was rejected
as being too high and the work was
then prosecuted On force account
or days labor. In July, work was
commenced on the eight mile lower
project and Indian labor employed
Indian labor has not been entirely
satisfactory. The Indians need the
supervision Of a white foreman and
when this: has been furnished their
services have been found to be fairly
satisfactory. Indian labor, accord
ing to Mr.. Babb, is far more expen-
sive than white labor and white men
dS loieIteL Vi tlc "oih Will NC util-
ized in the future and whit labor is
to be used, if it can be secured
Work On the upper II miles of the
ditch will be pushed as rapidly as is
possible. There is considerable
heavy york to be done on this por-
tion of the project and last fall two
steam shovels were introduced, in the
work, Or rather were ordered, but
We're late in delivery, as has been all
other material for construction work
Of q similar nature. One, a smaller
type was shipped knocked down and
is now On the ground; the other was
shipped on a flat car to CardstOn,
Alberto, and is being brought over
land OF temporary tracks which are
laid ahead Of the car and the car
then pushed forward. This work is
slow and tedious and was continued
until the 10th of January, when with
the thermometer down to so below
zero, and the men occupying tents, it
was impossible to continue the same
with any degree Of success. The
work was given up with the shovel
two-thirds on the way and over the
most difficult part of the distance,
completed
He stated that force of white la
Dor would be put in soon and that the
plan of the government was to let
the work by contract The dam and