The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-06-25
MONTANA BRIEFLETS.

MONTANA BRIEFLETS.
SHORT ITEMS OF NEWS FROM
ALL OVER THE STATE.
What Has Happened in Montana Dur
ing the Past Few Days.
LEwIsTOwN, June 10. - Close tt
three and q half inches Of rain has fall
en- during the present month. This
10 considerably above the average and
the crops of all sorts are correspond.
ingly in ine condition., the rainfall
having been wides pread and benefit.
ing every section of the basin country
about equally.
HELENA, June 19.-State Tax Com.
missioner Geo. Nj. Houtz is writing
every board of county commissioners
In The state suggesting that they spend
few dollars in having their records
checked up with those of the land Of
fee, to the end that every tract Of land
that has been surveyed, and on which
either . settler has made final proof, or
which comes within the Northern Paci.
fc land grant, may be listed for as
sessment purposes. He has taken
this action, following the recent rul.
ing Of Attorney General Kelly.
HELENA, June 19.-In the United
States district court Judge G. M.
Bourquin handed down . decision to
the effect that the city of Billings can
construct q municipal water plant,
but that the city is bound to renew the
contract for 20 years with the Mon.
tana Water company and to take and
pay for water from that company,
though 1t builds q plant OF its own.
In its original franchise to the com-
pany the city obligated itself to buy
the water plant 10 20 years or to re-
new the contract in 20 years.
HELENA, June 10. -Commissioner
of Agriculture Kennedy announces
that reports have reached his Office to
the effect that land locators are induc-
ing homeseekers to locate on lands
owned by the Northern Pacific Rail.
way company 10 Dawson county. SET
ting up the claim that such lands are
about to revert to the government. |
The commissioners says that upon In.
quiry he found that no contest of any
kind 10 pending against these lands.
He says gross fraud is being perpe-
trated and be purposes to do what be
al to break up the practice.
BUTTE, June 19.-Shot through the
back, the body Of Harry W. Shipper,
81 years old, a native of Iowa and o.
pioneer Of Montana and Butte, was
found THE morning near his home.
No motive is known for the murder.
The body was not robbed. Shipper
was prominent in fraternal circles. He
wat q son Of the late Rev. W. c. Ship.
pen, Oldest Methodist minister in Mon.
tana, who while minister At Helena
cut down ''hangman's tree'' on which
the vigilantes of that place hanged
many early offenders.
HELENA, June 19.-In tick control
districts established by the board Of
entomology the board Las authority
either to dip driving horses, or to or.
der their quarantine, whichever it sees
fit, and for the violation of its orders
it can prosecute as for q misdemean.
or. This is what Attorney General
Kelly today advised r. A. Cooley
secretary OF the state board of ento-
mology.
BOZEMAN, June 10 The case OF
Gary Bros. Il Gaffke against the Chi
cago, Milwaukee T. ST. Paul railway |
for the value Of two cars of potatoes
frozen on the night OF Oct. 26, 1911, |
on a siding in Butte, was tried this
afternoon without a jury before Judge
B. B. Law, who has the case under
consideration. The potatoes were
still in the car when they were frozen,
and the Issue ia that to who was in
possession of the potatoes at the time
they froze; that is whether the 20.
tatoes had been delivered to the con.
signee.
HELENA, June 10. - The supreme
cour today annulled the action of the
board of commissioners of Teton coun.
ty in the issuance of proclamatious
and in calling elections for the crea-
tions OF the county of Pondera from
the counties of Teton and Chouteau
and for the creation of Toole coun-
ty from Teton and Hill counties. The
our holds that the assessed valua.
tinn of the Territory aced with.