The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-10-28
THE DODSON BARBECUE.
Hundreds Of Citizens Take Part In
Unique Celebration.

Hundreds Of Citizens Take Part In
Unique Celebration.
The residents of Dodson and other
members of the Lower Milk River
w alter Users association provided
roya entertainment for q large crowd
OF visitors Sunday, when a public
barbecue was given to celebrate the
beginning OF construction work on the
big government dam near that pro-
gressive little town. Excursion rates
for the event were given by the Great
Northern. and guests to the number
Of about 600 arrived at Dodson from
various parts of northern Montana.
The arrivals came from as far west as
Fort Benton, and the Valley county
contingent included residents from
near the Dakota line. 1t vas the
biggest crowd Of people that ever as
sembled at Dodson, but ample pro.
vision had been made for their pleas
ure and comfort.
A special train took the visitors to
the damsite, about three miles west of
Dodson, and upon arrival there they
were conducted to the scene OF the
. barbecue, where everything was in
readiness for their reception. Several
quarters of beef and twenty carcasses
> of mutton were sizzling over fires
built in pits. aud were cooked to per.
lection when the crowd arrived. The
, big Joints were transferred to tables.
where a crew of carvers was kept busy
; cutting up the meat and placing 1t at
the disposal of the guests, while at
another series of tables arranged in
the form Of a hollow square a number
of assistants cut up stacks of bread to
which the visitors were invited to help
themselves. There was also 40 abund-
e ance of cheese, pickles and other edi.
e bles, and q large assortment OF tin
cups and spoons with which the guests
J, RECALLED themselves from steaming
tanks of tea and coffee that we're
brewing over wood fires.
. 4LCGO W00 Q pACAUy VI SOON VoAo6S
for everybody, and at the close Of the
feast q big surplus of meat and other
supplies remained. Bl it al not
e wasted. A bunch of Indian squaws,
all dressed in gay blankets, had been
watching the proceedings from the
river bank, aud as 10 as the pale
faces left the banquet board the ma
tives proceeded to clean up the prem
ises. Their plumber consisted OF mea'
!, and other supplies that promised
- big feast when they returned to camp
At the close of the barbecue, thu
10 crowd proceeded to an elevated spo
overlooking the damsite, where sew
eral speeches were made. Dan Nc
Kay, of Glasgow, a former residen
~ of this city, was in charge of this fea
ture of the program, and his vigorou
IA and pertinent remarks in opening tn
proceedings were given an enthusiasts
tic reception. Mr.. Mckay deprecat e'
cd any effort to create dissension amonI
he settlers in the Milk river valley, an,
E, urged them all to ''vote for the bi
as ditch"
be The speakers included E. G. Day, c
Helena; F. Il. Stranahan. OF For
We Benton; L. Newman, of Havre; w. R
ed Allen, of Anaconda; T. NJ. Everett, O
CHI Harlem; J. l.. Truscott, Glasgow: an
at H. H. Nelson, VandaIia. each of who'
p. spoke of the magnificent results tha
ed will follow the construction of th
Milk river irrigation project. Th
70. speeches were interspersed with mus
av ical selections by the Glasgow bant
he which accompanied the Valley count
We delegation.
no MIR. Nelson, who is in charge of II
6. construction work that is being dor
by members of the water users' ass
citation, gave some interesting da,
-. regarding the dam. 1t will be abo,
800 feet long and 80 feet wide; /
-. found alton will be about Is feet belo
"a the bed of the river, and its heigt
- will be about 16 feet above the presel
- low water mark. 1t will be built
heavy timbers and rock with concr
j. piers at short distances throughoI
~ the structure. A foot bridge will spa
the river over the dam, from whit
'ro fash boards can be placed In positie
and the height of the dam be increase
o to % feet.
'as There are ten miles of ditch und'
w construction by the settlers, the dite
>" being calculated to carry q flow
water five feet deep and measure
yer about 1900 cubic feet per secon
Tor The dam and headgate that are beir
IN built by the government will co
len about $3.50, 600, and the ditch work und'
'eo contract to the settlers Is valued
OK about 6 5000. There are about l,
III teams at work, and it is believ,
no I'M L. A....l to- H. l:snL l