The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1913-10-03

Saturday last was an ideal day
for the visit of President Hanna
ford and other officials of the
Northern Pacific railroad to the
Flathead. The weather was not
too warm nor too cold and the
sun was on duty all the time.
The Poison delegation went down
as far as st. Ignatius Friday
night and early Saturday morn
ing, accompanied by George and
Andrew Beckwith of st. Tgna-
thus, they pulled on to Ravalli.
Those from Roman left here at
GAS a. m. and arrived at Ravalli
just as the officers special train
pulled into the depot. Little
time was lost in getting started,
George Beckwith plotting the
party as far as St. Ignatius.
There a short stop was made to
allow the railroad officials to visit
the Catholic school and church
at that place. Father De La
Motto received the party most
cordially and escorted them
through the grounds and church,
reciting interesting history of
the Flathead country and the In
dians in the meantime. This
part of the trip was enjoyed by
the entire party.
Leaving st. Ignatius, the Ro-
nan car took the lead and pilote(
the party to Roman, skirting the
mountains and showing the WIS.,
itors as fine a country as lays out
of doors. On reaching Roman
the cars all stopped in front of
the Stanley Scarce store where
a display of the products Of the
valley had been hurricdly ar
ranged for the inspection of the
visitors. They had just come
from the state fair at Helena and
preferred the information that
Romans display equalled the
best exhibits at the state fair.
After introductions all around,
and view of the valley from
the roof of the Scarce store,
they left for Poison by way of
the east road led by the Poison
car after the first few miles.
Upon reaching Poison free
ride of several miles on the lake
was first in order, after which
luncheon was served by the Pol
son chamber of commerce at the
Grandview hotel. After lun-
cheon President Harbert of the
Poison chamber of commerce,
welcomed the officials and other
visitors in a few we'll chosen
words and then called upon Pres
ident Hannaford. President Han
naford opened his remarks by
saying that the Flathead un-
doubtedly needed the Northern
Pacific railroad and that the rail-
road needed the Flalhead. He
said he would like to be able to
promise that the road would be
built at once, and that if it were
lest entirely with him that it
would be. There were others,
however, who had something to
say, and he could only say that
the line would be built at such
time as the financial condition of
the country would permit.
He called attention to hostile
railroad legislation all over the
country which caused investors
in railroad securities to be very
hampering railroad con-
materially. In so far
as the Flathead country was con-
cerned he declared that it had
impressed him most favorably
and he was confident a railroad
the valley would soon
be realized. He was followed
by Vice President Slade, who
spoke pleasantly and encourage
ingly along the same lines, leav-
ing the impression with his
hearers that the desires of the
valley for railroad transportation
would at no distant day be real
ized.
Leaving Poison the power site
and tunnel of the reclamation