The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-12-14

TORT BENTON, the oldest settle
ment in Montana that ever be-
came anything more than trad
ing post, is the richest town per cap
tia in the United States, and which
means the world. Its bank vaults are
fairly choked with money. They con-
tain enough to give every man. wo-
man and child in this happy commu-
nifty $4,000 each.
Fort Benton was formerly the head
of navigation on the Missouri. This
was in the days when all the west
was young, and the great state of
Montana had not come into being.
It was the home of the cattle baron
in the free range days, and is still
one of the great beef producing CEN
ters of the state. Now the country
side around it is growing wheat, and
lots of wheat at that.
Now Fort Benton is expanding a
considerable sum in improving her.
self.
Along the bank of the Missouri
where the Indians who came to trade
formerly pitched their tents and by
the three or four portions of adobe
wall still standing that mark the site
of the old fort, "great white way"
has come into existence and is being
rapidly extended.
60 New Electrolier Posts
Now Being Installed.
Seventeen electroliers set up two
or three years ago by the merchants
are being refitted for more powerful
lights and so new electrolier posts
are being installed. The lighting dis
trict includes all of Front street along
the river, comprising ten blocks. The
lamps are of the same type as has
been installed in the residence and
business districts of Helena, AnacOn-
da and Great Falls.
For seven blocks Front Street is
being parked in manner that will
make it one of the most attractive
boulevards in the west. This work
alone, with the planting of grass and
trees and the digging of irrigation
bitches, is to cost $4,000. Hereafter
Fort Benton will have the substantial
appearance and the attractiveness of
the best built portions of any town of
$4,000 or $4,000 population.
$4,000 Being Spent
For Walks and Curbs.
Nine miles of sidewalk and curbing
are being put in at a cost of $4,000,
while $27, 900 is being spent for paw
ing and $4,000 for grading . The
new sewer system is to cost $35 900,
and the street lighting system $4,000.
The effulgent light from the scores
of electroliers is reflected from the
waters of the river, which here broad
en- out and flow more slowly and ma
jestically than elsewhere along the
upper waters of the Missouri. The
glow brings into relief the great
bridge that spans the stream at this
point and the abandoned steamer
the "Baby Rose"-that has it's berth
at the bank close to the doors OF
one of the towns leading hotels. OF
the new .electrplier posts &c bear
three lights, one five lights and the
rest one light of 100 candle power.
New Pavements of Highest
Type Used in Montana.
The new pavements are of the
highest type used in Montana-tWo-
inch Bitulithic on a five-inch con-
crete base. Montana materials are
being used largely in the improve
ments and the contractors and en-
gineers are Montana men. All the
work except the street grading and
sewer system is being done by the
Two Miracle Concrete corporation of
Great Falls. G. H. Kelley of Kalis-
pell is doing the engineering work
Including the installation of the sew
er system, while Gerharz, Jaqueth
company of Great Falls is doing the
grading.
For the last two or three years the
general stores, lumber dealers, hard
ware houses and other mercantile es-
Establishments have carried their Gus
toners in the aggregate of between
100000 and $1,000,000. The city
is the geographical center of the big
Grass country formerly exclusively
occupied by stockmen.
Stockraising Is Still
Important Industry.
Stockraising is still an important
industry especially in the NEARBY
Hollywood mountains and herds OF
cattle are still driven through the
streets. but now this vast area trlbu-
tary to Fort Benton is being gradual
ly put under the plow and is produc-
ing abundantly
With the automobile and farm i'm
plement dealers of Fort Benton 1t is
not a question of how many sales can
be made, but of how soon they can
get the shipments in to meet the de-
mand. With the farmer it is ques-
ton not of how much wheat he has
raised, but of how soon he can get
the elevator to receive his load.
This flourishing town is the direct
continuation of the old trading post
founded under the auspices of the
A,annioan Fur oomnanu in 1R42 as