The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1914-06-03
FLOUR MILL ASSURED
Fort Benton Business Men Will Pro.
vide Modern Milling Facilities

Fort Benton Business Men Will Pro.
vide Modern Milling Facilities
After careful Investigation of -four
mill plants in other localities, a spec
ial committee of the Fort Benton
Commercial club reported in favor of
establishing such a plant in this city.
The recommendation was made at a
meeting of the club held Thursday
evening, at which there a a large
attendance of business Inter
esting information as to the cost of
installing and operating plants Of var.
ious sizes and capacity was given by
representatives of mill machinery
firms who attended the meeting, the
| cost of such a plant as is contemplate
| ed here ranging from about $4,000 to
$11 500.
The proposition was unanimously
endorsed, and as soon as a definite
decision is reached as to the style
, and size of mill to be established
here, a company will be formed to
finance the project. 1t is proposed to
; push the enterprise and have the mill
in operation before this years grain
crop is harvested.
In response to a call by President
! Ritter, the committee or good roads
reported to the meeting that the pub
lie highways north of this city are
; not receiving sufficient attention, and
are in bad shape. 1t was also stated
that some other roads in this part of
the county were in al unsatisfactory
condition. On motion, the chairman
. of the committee was instructed to
! present the matter to the county u
thorities, with a request that it be
given favorable consideration. 1t was
also suggested that any citizen who
finds bad defects in the public high
ways report the same to Secretary
Murty, of the Commercial club, who
will keep a record Of such matters
and see that they be given proper
attention.
The committee on rural mail routes
. reported that the petition from the
Goosebill country had been forwarded
to Washington. and it is believed the
petition will be granted. The petit
lions for other routes have not yet
been completed.
After a brief discussion, it was de-
! cided to arrange for a Fourth of July
celebration in this city, the matter be-
ing suggested to the meeting by D.
G.. Lockwood. 1t was recalled that
such a celebration was passed up last
year, because of the preparations be-
| ing made for the county fair, but it
was decided to have a patriotic OBJ
v of the national birthday
next July. On motion, the chair ap-
pointed D. G. Lockwood r. c. Gid
dings, Grant Sharp, John J. McGraw
and G.. O. Vowel as a committee to
make arrangements for the celebra-
ton.
An interesting talk upon the posi-
bilities and benefits of irrigation from
a pumping system operated by cleo
trio power was given by F. E. Stran-
ahan, who stated that thousands of
acres in the Prickly Pear valley are
being irrigated in that way. Mr..
Stranahan called attention to the fact
that IN immense amount of electric
power will be furnished from a plant
now under construction at the "big
falls" of the Missouri river and that
officials of the company are seeking
a market for their product. The for
g problem is an important matter
with all the farmers, and if the bot
tom lands along the Missouri. Marias,
Teton and other streams are placed
under irrigation an enormous supply
of forage would be produced from this
source. Mr.. Stranahan stated that
the cost of irrigation in the Prickly
Pear district is $1.75 per acre for the
season, and it is believed a similar
charge, and possibly a lower rate,
would apply in this part of Montana.
I In order to secure data that would
indicate the approximate area of land
in this vicinity that could be irrigated
by pumping plants, Secretary Murty
was instructed to make a list of such
holdings at as early a date as pos.
sible. Owners of land who would like
to avail themselves of the proposed
irrigation facilities are requested to
communicate with Secretary Murty or
any member of the Commercial club.
The matter of having a regular Mar
ket Day in this city. at which various
classes of property could be placed on
sale, was presented to the meeting by
President Ritter, who stated that the
services of an experienced auction
eer had been offered for such an en-.
terprise. The proposition was hear.
/ tily endorsed, and it was decided to
hold the first Market Day the latter
part of June, the exact date to be an
nounced later. 1t is planned to make
market day" in Fort Benton an occa-
sion that will benefit the farmers in
various ways, giving them better
prices for what they have for sale and
offering special inducements in the
, purchase of supplies.
Local Grain Quotations