The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-06-02
STEAMBOAT IS LAUNCHED.

STEAMBOAT IS LAUNCHED.
A Powerful Graft That Will Navigate
The Upper Missouri.
An event that was unique In north
ern Montana history, but which it is
believed will be duplicated on future
occasions, vas the launching of the
new steamboat "Bsby Rose" which
took place Wednesday evening. It
was w~itnessediby q crowd of over 500
spectators, among whom we're visitors
from Helena, Great Falls. Big Sandy,
Havre. Chinook, Harlem and other
Montana towns and cities.
Apart from its merits 40 q com.
mercial enterprise, the launching cere.
mony had many attractive features,
the new boat being decorated through
out with bunting, apd the stars and
stripes flying from an improvised
mast.
The Missouri river was agitated by
the spring raise, and was apparently
extending an invitation 10 the new
craft that would. loon navigate its
wsters and assist in utilizing that
magnificent stresm 40 . transportation
facility provided by nature for the
benefit Of citizens who care to grasp
the opportunity offered. The westher
conditions we're ideal, and the launch.
ing could not have been conducted un.
der more favorable circumstances.
The launching was preceded BY .
short program of ~oratorical exercises,
Hon. W. s. Towner, president Of the
Commercial Club, being the fret
speaker. Mr.. Towner recalled the
fact that river navigation was an i'm
portant factor in the early develop
ment aud settlement of Montana, aad
declared that under new conditions 1t
was destined to become a. auxiliary
to railroad transportation in every
locality that can be reached by
that method. The enterprise Of Mr..
Crepeau in constructing the new
steamboat was commended as worthy
Of emulation.
Mayor F. E. Stranshan, who was
the next speaker, quoted Jas. J. Hill,
the railroad king OF the northwest,
% authority for the statement thai
many articles of commerce can bs
tr transported more cheaply by water,
and in some cases more expeditiously,
than by the railways. Mr.. Strsushsr
spoke of the great possibilities of
profitable tr ansportation business or
the upper Missouri, and expressed the
belief that the "Baby Rose" is the
advance agent of other craft that viii,
carry freight between THE city ani
river points that are remote from the
railroad.
Upon the deck of the new steamboat at,
from which the addresses we're made,
were Mr.. Crepeau and his iittl,
daughter "Baby Rose" after whom
the vessel is named, and At the clos'
of the speaking it was announced tina
everything was ready for the launch
ing. In less than three minutes tn
blocks we're removed, and as the boa
slid evenly down the ways, Baby Ros
broke a bottle of champagne yer th'
prov as the christening ceremony
The boat struck the water with a bis
splash, and as she righted herself q q,
rode gracefully upon the undulatins
sire am, she was greeted with cheer.
from the crowd assembled on thu
levee.
The new steamboat has been il
course of construction the past fe,
weeks, the work being directed b,
Jos. Mcmillan, of Tacoma, with
crew Of expert ship carpenters. Tn
Baby Rose is II feet in length AM
Is feet beam. with 80-horsepower ma
chinery. The boat 10 very substan
TALLY built, and 10 designed mainl,
with a view to transporting freight o.
the upper Missouri river. 1t vii
make it's arst trip about the middle Q
June, when the machinery will hav
been properly installed.
The COOPERATIVE Wool Warehouse
The Chicago wool warehouse pro
ioct. in which a numher of Mon,an.
sheepmen are interested, is now read,
for business. A news item in tn
Drovers Journal gives this informs
ton.
The new fve.story building beguI
three months ago by the Nationa
Wool Warehouse and Storage com