davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
Wealth in Water Power,

WASHINGTON, FEB. 19.-Support-
ing his contention that great danger
of the monopolization of water power
sites exists, President Roosevelt has
caused further compil alton of figures
by Mauric. o. Leighton, engineer a.
The head Of the geological survey,
showing mat Oregon, Washington and
Idaho have one third of the total
possible water power of the United
States. For the entire country tn G
possible power is 100000 horse
power. and for the Columbia river
basin 100000 horsepower. Mr..
Leighton, commenting on the figures,
say: ''In the future the industrial
system of these states will possess
something priceless, because the
scarcity of fuel will give water power
site owners industrial CONTROL"
Roosevelt's fight to prevent the &C.
QUESTION by fee simple of any more
power sites from the federal govern.
ment will be carried over to Mr.. Taft's
administration. congress holding the
bill giving away power sites in Mis-
souri,, which the president vetoed,
over to the special session, when the
Issue will be put up to Taft to ascer.
tain If he will uphold that policy.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
Drowned in Flathead Lake,

KAL1sPELL. Feb. 19.-News reached
this city early this morning by tele.
phone Of the drowning of Milton
Jones. in the big arm of Flathead
lake. Ever since the real cold snap
January the regular highway between
Lake Shore Point and Poison has
been directly across the ice. Heavy
loads have been hauled across without
the slightest danger. Early this week,
when the thaw struck this region, the
ice was pronouncedlunsafe for teams,
but has been used extensively by ped.
estrians and horseback riders. Yes.
terday afternoon, as Milton Jones,
the 26.year.old son of Isaac Jones,
who resides near Angel Point, on the
west shore OF the lake in the vicinity
of Dayton, going from his home to
Poison on horseback, the ice gave
way, and he and his horse went down.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
At the Baker Opera House.

Harry L. Beck presentssthe talented
young actress, Miss Ruth Craven,
supported by company of unusual
merit, giving artistic and perfect pro-
ductions OF high.class roy atty plays
with vaudeville specialties between the
acts.
In presenting to and asking you to
see Ruth Craven in her excellent por.
trayal of these plays such as 1.-THE
Little Minister" "Dora Thorne" and
"Her Fatal Error" we believe we are
soliciting your patronage to perform
ances out of and above the ordinary.
If she has already been seen you will
know her ability so that fulsome
praise would be superduous. If she
comes to you stranger, witness our
performances and like many other
thousands before you, she will win
your respect and admiration by her
real merit. Seats are now on sale at
Lockwood's drug store. Prices 25,
35 and so cents. Don't forget the
dates-February 25, 26 and 27.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
Affecting, County Commissi ssioners.
Helena Record.

AsSNOAu'
A bill has been introduced in the
house by Representative Hunter of
Custer county, which has the endorse.
ment of many thinking people in the
state. 1t provides for enlarging the
duties of county commissioners, con.
stituting them q board of appraisers
of real estate and Improvements and
requires them to devote all of their
time to the duties of theirlsoflce. As
the law now is the commissioners are
limited to number of days in each
year, when they may be In session and
for which they are paid. The Hunter
bill fixes the salaries at from % 500 in
counties of the first class to 81, 500 in
counties of the eighth class. In addi.
tion they are to be allowed their &C.
taul travelling expenses while attend
ing to the duties of their offices.
The office OF county commissioners is
one of the most important, ifI.not the
most important, In the state. Even In
the smallest counties they are respon.
sible for the expenditure of many
usands of dollars and there is not
a private business that could be run
successfully and economically when
the man or men in charge of it was
limited In the time he could give to it.
In some counties Of Montana today
in spite of the law, the commissioners
now sit every day in the year. In
these counties the public treasury
would be ahead on the straight salary
proposition. In those counties where
the law is obeyed, the county would
save several times over the difference
between what the commissi sioners now
draw and what they would under the
bill.
Under the proposed law the commits.
sioners would have enough to do to
keep them busy. Az appraisers of
real property they wouldsmake more
equitable assessment than is now pos.
sible by the assessors, while the latter
would have the time to make better
assessment of personal property. BY
assigning to each commissioner dis
trict, he would be able to oversee all
road and bridge work and his personal
supervision would result not only in
better work, but it would be done more
economically.
Many arguments in favor of such
law may be advanced and few il any
tenable ones in opposition.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
THE TAFT CABINET.
Most of His Official Associates Are
Of Legal Training.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2l.-President
elect Taft arrived here this morning
from Cincinnati and, with Mrs. Taft
who came from New York to join hin
ia the guest of Dr.. S. Weir Witchell, II
his Walnut street home. Mr.. TAT
admits he is making headway in selec
tion of d secretary Of the treasury
but maintains that the place is no.
yet filled. Franklin McVeagh an6
Myron 7. Herrick are two of the mer
under consideration. With this ex
ception the Taft cabinet is complete
and will be officially promulga ated
shortly after the inauguration:
Secretary of State-Philander p
Knox of Philadelphia.
Attorney General-Geo. w. Wicker
sham Of New York.
Secretar! of War;. M. Dickinson
Of Illinois.
.cretary of the Navy-George Vor
l.. Meyer of Massachu-etts.
" Secretary of Commerce aud Labor
Charles Nagle of Missouri.
Secretary of interior-R. "A. Ball
niger of Washington state.
Postmaster genera al-Frank Fl. Hitch
cock of Mass achusetts.
Secretary of Agriculture James
Wilson of Iowa.
1t will be observed tha in this lisI
there are five lawyers. 1t may be
stated that this fact is not mere
coincidence, but is an accomplishment,
which has been carefully planned and
striven for by the incoming president
Constitutional legal restrictions or
corporations on corporate abuses are
the accomplishments he will strive for
Ia assembling his legal cabinet the
president elect has not lost sight OF
the necessity of obtaining men whose
beliefs upon the questions to be deal>
with coincide with his own. Mr.
Taft's position will be clearly EN-.
bodied in his inaugural address, and
this document is known to have re.
ceived complete approval by all o1
the men selected to be Mr.. Taft'e
cabinet advisers.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
Taxpayers Sue Commissioners.

KALIsPELL, Feb. l8.-The begin.
ming of what promises to be one OF the
most sens sational civil suits ever start
ed in the court of this county was
made known to the public today wher
ex'County Assessor G. H. Moody
came to town with a petition freely
signed by residents of the farming
district east the Flathead river, where
Mr.. Moody resides. The petition
oblig ates those signing to pay their
share of the expense of employing two
capable attorneys to bring suit gainst
the members of the board of county
commissioners for making big re.
fund to the Big Blackfoot Milling
company and Julius Neil company
at the time they paid their taxes last
fall. At the time the board met as q
board of equalization it denied the
claims made by the companies for q
reduction of assessment.
Later, at the time of the payment of
taxes, the companies again appeared,
through their attorneys, and secured q
refund order aggregating between
seven and eight thousand dollars, and
it Is the contention that this refund
was unlawfully granted, in that the
time for adjustment of same had pass
ed, and the roll had been previously
accepted by the board. The case will
be brought against Commissioners
Halmar Lewis and r. w. Main, J.
Z. White the other member of the
board, having voted against the re-
fund or any other reduction whatever.
Attorneys G. H. Grubb and Sidney
M. Logan have been retained by the
petitioners to fight the case. and they
will ask for SS, 900 and costs.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
punish the sen nator from Montana,

punish the sen ator from Montana.
President Roosevelt tod ay discussed
the waterways treaty with several
western senators and to all expressed
his earnest desire that the treaty be
ratified at the present session. II q
change is insisted upon, It will mean
long delay and possibly the ultima ate
failure Of the otiattons, for those
who were consulted by the president
left the White house with the impress
sion that the British government had
indicated its absolute unwillingness to
make any concessions whatever with
regard to the waters of St Mary's
river.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
Will Consider Hay Rates.

HELENA, Feb. 20.-With q view OF
establishing uniformity in the matter
OF freight rates on hay in carload
lots on all railroads opera ating within
the state of Montana, q public hear.
ing has been called and will be held
in the offices of the state railroad
commission in the capitol building,
this city. at 10 o'clock q. M, March 10,
and ~uy corporation, firm or In
dividual having an interest in this
subject is invited to attend such meet.
ing either in person or by representa-.
tive
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
MONTANA NEWS BR|EFLETS
A Budget Of Readable Short Items
From Various Parts Of the State.

A Budget of Readable Short Items
From Various Parts of the State.
BILLINGS, Feb. 10. - After being
out less than two hours the jury in
the case of Willard Smith and James
Il. Hickey declared them not guilty of
involuntary manslaughter on charges
growing out of the Young's Point
wreck, in which 20 Northern Pacific
passengers lost their lives.
GREAT FALLS, Feb. 19.-By a vote
of 292 to 100 the free holders of Great
Falls granted to G. G. Bower and his
associates, who are all Great Falls
business and professional men, the
right to use certain streets and public
places Of the city in connection with
their proposed interurban line to
Choteau from Great Falls.
HAMILTON, February l9.-Jealous
because pretty school girl Tilted him
for another, Grover Russell, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. J. j. Russell of this
city, attempted to commit suicide last
night by firing a bullet at his heart.
But for the fact that the leaden mis-.
sile struck bone and was DETECTED,
the young man would probably have
accomplished his purpose, but the
bullet lodged back of his shoulder,
whence it was removed. The patient
is now recovering.
LEWIsTOwN, Feb. 20. - The Jury
before which Arthur Froembling was
tried on a charge of embezzling the
funds of his employers, the Power
Mercantile company, was found guilty
as charged and his punishment fixed
at l8 months in the penitentiary.
Froembling was one of the prominent
citizens of Lewistown, he and hie wife
having been social leaders in this
city.
CHOTEAU. Feb. 20.-Judge Erickson
today sentenced Ray Hatfield, who was
found guilty of manslaughter for the
killing Roy Gregory, brakeman, to
serve ten years in the penitentiary.
Hatfield shot Gregory while the latter
was trying to put him of a train on
the Great Northern main line between
Cutbank and Browning. Gregory
died in the hospital at Whitefsh,
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
Tariff Standpatters Are Busy.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-There is
q growing anxiety among the tariff re.
visionists because of the extreme re-
ticence of the ways and means COM
mittee and of the knowledge that the
standpatters are doing yeoman work
to save the schedules in which they
are interested through the medium of
briefs, which they silently file with
the committee. It is known that a
great number of these briefs are being
filed, but as there is no opportunity
for discussing them publicly and they
can be answered only by briefs, the
revisionists fear that undue standpat
influence 10 being exerted on the com.
mittee.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.
Last Week Of the Session. Will Bring
Rush Of Work.

W VvVuNs
HELENA, Feb. 2O.-With only nine
more working days left of the Eleventh
legislative session, the assembly still
has plenty of time in which to finish
the work already in sight. Unless q
great number OF new bills make their
appearance in the next few days, there
should be no difficulty in disposing of
the business of the session. The mum.
Der of new bills is preblematical, but
1t is understood that . "aock" OF
measures will make their appear auce
early next week.
Since the beginning of the session,
489 hills have been introduced. OF
these 369 were introduced In the house
and 120 in the senate. The senate is
very we'll up with its work. Twenty.
one senate bills have been killed, 81
passed and 80 remain in the hands OF
standing committees. Two hundred
bills still are is the hands of commit.
tees; S3 have been killed, q have
passed both houses and a. have pass.
ed the house and are now in the
sen ate.
County division schemes are looked
upon with disfavor this session. In
the house the bills to create Shaw and
Musselshell counties were unfavorably
reported but the Shaw county bill was
saved temporarily by being placed on
general orders. The bill to create
Lincoln county has been introd uced in
both house and senate, while another
bill has been introduced in the
senate to create the county of High
wood from a part of Cascade county.
One of the big fights of the session
Is expected on certain irrig alton bills,
one introduced in the senate provid-
ing for the creation of irrigation dis
tricts, and the other in the house pro-
viding that funds of the state educa-
tional institutions may be invested ia
bonds OF these districts. The Bitter
Root valley was the first region to be.
come alarmed and at mass meeting
OF farmers, the bill creating the dis
tricts was denounced. 1t is charged
ifthis bill becomes law, it will per-
NIT OF person or corporation own
Ing large tract of unirrigated land
to have district created which takes
In smaller tract of irrigated land
and to then divert the water from the
irrigated land aud place it on the un.
irrigated land. In other words, that
a man or corporate owning a large
tract OF land can force his adjoining
land owners, provided be does not
make the district so large that the
total area of their land exceeds his,
to go into land company with him
aud he can take their water, he con.
trolling the district because the area
of his lands is greater than theirs.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
RESULTS OF DRY FARMING
Colorado Farmer Gives Object Les
son Of Modern Methods.


son Of Modern Methods.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., Feb. 19.-Oats
averaging 25 to 80 bushels an acre,
wheat yielding IL to 81 bushels,
sugar beets running 10 to Is tons an
acre, and other crops showing re-
markable results without irrig alton.
are reported in Lincoln county. Col
orado, by w. S. Pershing, q promin.
ent farmer of Lincoln and county sur.
veyor of Lincoln county. Mr.. :Persh-
ing, who has been an enthusiastic dry
farmer in east Colorado for twenty
years, will be delegate to the Third
Trans Missouri Dry Farming Con-
gress at Cheyenne, Wyo., Feb. %. "a
and 25.
In Lincoln county there are excep.
tional opportunities for arid land
agriculture, according to Mr.. PERISH
ing, who has sent elaborate report of
the progress of the movement in his
region to Secretary John T. Burns,
of the Board of Control of the Con-
gress. In the entire county, which is
one of the largest in eastern Color ado
there are not over 100 acres under
irrig alton.
Mr.. Pershing draws the following
conclusions from his own experience
and that of his neighbors who have
pursued dry farming methods:
Do not plow when the ground is very
dry, but when it is moist but not
muddy.
Plow deep. Mr.. Pershing says he
plows three to five inches to break
sod and later six to nine inches. The
deeper the plowing, the better the
results.
Harrow the same day you plow.
Keep the harrow going when weeds
spring up, or the surface bakes or
cracks. Harrow often, and espec-
tally after rain falls, to conserve the
moisture.
After harvesting small grains, disc
the stubble as quickly as possible lap.
ping the discs one-half.
Where the sod is porous and plowed
deep, he finds that the moisture pene.
trates four to six feet. On the raw
prairie it is perceptible only six in
ches. These conditions prevail when
the rainfall is about the average.
The wheat crops given above were
secured where thirty pounds OF winter
and fifty to sixty pounds of spring
wheat was planted.
Best results says MIR. Pershing,
when crops were harvested in alternate
years, the ground lying fallow during
one season. Crops were doubled by
deep plowing
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24
judicial district from the county OF

judicial district from the county of
Valley.
Shoemaker-To prohibit the estab.
lishment or mainten ance of retail sa-
looms within 1000 feet of any educs.
tional institution and prohibiting the
issu ance of permits of licenses there
for.
Crouch-Prescribing the maximum
fees to be charged by physicians and
to define the word, "physician."
Giovannetti-Repe sling section 1905,
1905 and 1907 and enacting others in
lieu thereof to provide for the crea-
ton OF Office of state bounty inspec-
tors.
Bills introduced in the senate:
misunderstanding the Fourteenth
judicial district of Valley county.
Cockrell--Relating to common car.
riers. 1t puts telephone and telegraph
companies In this category.
Donlan-Creating Righwood county
out of Cascade, Fergus and Meagher
counties with Belt as the county seat.
HELENA, Feb. 18.-The whipping
post bill, which provides that hus.
bands who beat their wives and other
men who live off fallen women may be
whipped was passed by the house to.
day, receiving IS votes to "a in the
on~otiuo Tho o1c0 rnoo~oil
erec the action of yesterday in killing
the Muffly miscegen alton bill, and in
committee of the whole acted favora.
bly, upon it, after amending it 80 that
m marriages interdicted by the bill when
performed outside of the state will be
valid here, except where persons liv-
ing here 60 to another state and get
married and then return. In such
cases even that marriage is made in.
valid in Montana.
Arnett's bill to create Shaw county
from Valley county was placed on
general orders early in, the morning
session, by majority vote of the
house.
When Arnett had succeeded in get.
ting his bill placed on general orders,
Burke of Deer Lodge, wanted the
house to take the same action on his
bill creating Musselshell county.
Thompson of Fergus, objected to
placing Burke's bill on the black.
board.
Colt of Sweetgrass, then gave no.
tice of a bill creating Independence
county from the counties of Silver
Bow, Deer Lodge and Jefferson.
Among the bills introduced were
Woody's, empowering the state board
of examiners to issue bonds to the
amount Sl0O, 900 for the redemption of
the school bonds declared illegal by
the United States supreme court.
Gray, appropriating $4,000 for the
purchase and propag alton of Hung ar.
ian pheasants.
Bog art, to provide for the valuation
of railroads for purposes of rate re-
gulation by the railway commission
and courts.
Berkin, amending the anti-pool
room bill to extend the race meet
Limitation to 30 days, which was re-
ferred to the committee on affairs of
cities.
William, prohibiting fraud by min.
ing companies. which was killed yes
ter day, placed on general orders on
motion of Norton.
Senator Cockrell's local option sa-
loon bill was read in the house this
morning, as was Longs creating Lin.
coin county from Flathead county.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24

where he was taken to have his In.
juries treated. The defend ant pleaded
self defense. alleging that Gregory
was beating him with q club.
MIssOULA, Feb. 2O.-Claire MCGEE,
" years OF age, shot and killed him
self last evening because his sweet.
heart, to whom he was to have been
married yesterday, Tilted him. McGee
had been working as q ranch hand in
eastern Montana and returned to Mis.
soula only few weeks ago. Here he
was employed as q tesmster. His
body was found in the stable, q bullet
through the heart and 32-caliber re.
volver lying beside it.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24

Water right blanks-only correct
form published---for sale at the RIVER
PRESS office.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-24

Fine Book and Job Printing q spe>
cialty at the RIVER PRESS office
Bisbee daily review., 1909-02-05
OEMOcRaCYS OPPORTUNITY.

The signs of the times are indica- tive that statehood Is to be accom- plished at the short session. It be- hooves the democratic party of the territory, therefore, to look the sit nation squarely in the face and meet t honestly and fearlessly. if the par ty Is to remain cnlninant as 1t has been in the last twenty years. The voter for Ralph Cameron was abnor- nal. The republican leaders arc not blind to the fact t1a: the successful issue of statehood al the short session will give them a mighty leverage in the first statehood election. It re- mains for the democratic party to merely meet tho demands of the peo- pie. to nominate fo. their representa- lives in Washington only it's biggest. brainiest men, who are thoroughly in sympathy with the great governmental reforms of the day, with the great Jefersonian principle of government close to the people.
 The great state Of Oregon has set the nation an example in it's election of honest democratic Governor Cham berlain to the senate by a republican legislature. Before the present legisla- tive session adjourns, such a Ia~ should be upon the statute books of he territory. Direct nomination Of government by the l.eopIe in US purest form. Purify the nal'ot and you puri- Y government Direct nominations destroy party bossis-a and purify the ballot.
 If tEe fact is .hat less than fifty students even are in attendance at the territorial normal school at Flagstaff. it should in no wise influence the leg isiature to abolish the school. as As semblyman Sutter of Cochise inti- mates, as chairman of the visiting committee, he will recommend. Ari-