The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-06
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6, 1907.
EARLY DAY BOOSTING.

ASS~oo ~
in Helena, for the purpose of giving
publicity to the advantages offered to
settlers in this state, is q continu-
alton Of the efforts made by several
of the early day residents of the terri.
tory. Thirty years ago it occurred to
come OF the pioneers that the citizens
of other states knew little of the op.
portunities for the exercise of indus-
try and thrift in Montana, and they
urged that some method be adopted by
which the necessary Information be
disseminated.
Among the early day Montana
boosters was Judge John W. Tattan,
of this city, who in 1876 contributed to
the Benton Record an article in which
was presented the d%esirability Of or.
ganizinR an immigration bureau, SIM
liar to that endorsed at the recent
Helena meeting. Judge Tattan's ar.
ticle is so pertinent to the present situ-
alton that a portion of it is herewith
reproduced:
"There should be some general
mode for distributing information
regarding Montana, and each and
every county in the territory. The
more the resources of the territory
become known and recognized, by
the distribution of facts and statistics
relating thereto, the greater will be
the immigration, as a matter of course.
W. are crying for the speedy settle.
ment OF our unoccupied land, but the
cry is feeble-it is scarcely heard. 1t
could be made to resound, however,
in every hamlet from Maine t o Geor.
gia, by means within our. command.
The establishment of a union or bu-
reau, having for its object not only
the representation of the resources of
the territory, the cultivation of the
mind of immigrants, but also to Pc
cuniarily assist deserving settlers.
The Legislature might with propriety
establish such organization, bureau,
or whatever it might be termed, and
appropriate money for its workings.
ut was once suggested that this be
done in California, but the leading
men there took the matter in their own
hands, opened. a subscription list,
which was literally responded to, and
accomplished a great deal towards
settling up that state.
"Chouteau county should take this
subject to heart, and supplement in
dependent action, however, anything
that the Legislature may do in the
premises. With examples before them,
those oflCalifornia in particular, the
business men o f..this county can ac-
complish every end in the great ques-
ton OF speedy settlement, by organic.
ing a union similar to the Califor.
MIA immigration union, formed by
the business men and incorporated
under the laws of that state, the OBJ.
ject OF which was to give immigrants
all the needed information, free of
charge, and to procure for them homes
~"~ SAApAoS uiSot' SLuC uulOu &c.
ferred to numbered among it's mem
bers every public official, from the
governor down, together with every
citizen who had the interest of the
state at heart.
"This is a very fitting time to origi.
nate Il movement of this character in
this comfy, and that it would be at
tended with good results there can be
doubt. The effect of Il hospitable re-
ception to settlers can readily be con-
ceived: their first letters to their
friends contain the cheering news
that though landing among strangers,
in a strange land, they were welcomed
as friends. These encouraging mis-
sives would have a further good re-
suit, and thus the cause of immiyra-
tion would advance, little by little,
until the auxiliary means would prove
as beneficial as the main movement
and organization