01, I Fort Benton, ontn, P R E S S.dy, June 91881.No.36
Vol.1, Fort Benton, Montana, W dnesday, June 59, 1881. No. 36,
Benton Lodge, No, 25, A. F. & A. M.
R.egular Conmmuni'ations of the above named Lodge
are held at 7 p. m. on the first and third Saturday of
each month. Members of sister lodges and sojourn
ng brethren are cordially in ed to attend.
RUFUS PAYNE, W. M.
11. P. ROLFE, Secretary.
Choteau Lodge, No. 11, I, 0. 0. F.
A regular meeting of the above Lodge will be held
on Wednesday evening of each week, at their lodge
oom in this city. Sojournuing brothers are cordially
invited to attend. JNO. F. MURPHIY, N. G.
J. P. McCABE. Secretary.
-0 F
NORTHERN MONTANA
Transact a General Banking
Business,
Ke'epl current accouirnts with merchants, stock men
and others, subject to be drawn against by
checks without notice.
PAY iNTEREST on TIME DEPOSITS
We buy and sell Fxchange on the conmmercial center
of the United States.
WE WILL fIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE
BUSINESS OF NORTHERN AND) 'ENTRAL
MONTANA,
And will make such loans to stock men and farmers
as are suited to their requirements.
Local Securities a Specialty,
Collections and all other business entrusted to us wil
receive prompt and careful attention.
COLLINS, DUER & CO.
RECORD BUILDING. FORT BENTON, M. T.
W. B. SETTLE. W. S. STEVENSON.
SETTLE & STEVENSON,
Attorneilys all Colnselors at Law,
BENTON, MONTANA.
Will practice in all courts of the Territcry. Collec
tions promptly attended to; also the securing of pat
ents and pensions, in connection with a general
practice.
4i-Offlce in brick building opposite Court House.
JNO. W. TATTAN,
ATTORNEY and COUNSELOR AT LAW
OUfi:e of the County Clerk,
FORT BENTON, - - MONTANA.
J, A, KANOUSE,
Attorney and Counselor at Law,
FORT BENTON, MONTANA.
NOTARY PUBLIC AND JUSTICE of the PEACE,
Main St., bet. Baker and St John,
MAX, WATERMAN,
ATTOIRNEY AT LAW,
FT. BENTON, IYIONTANlA.
\Will practice in all the courts of the Territory. Spe.
cial attention given to criminal practice.
H. P, ROLFE,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
(Associated with Sanders & Cullen.)
U, S. Deputy lIineral Surveyer.
Ten year's experience in government surveying. The
best instruments used. Collections, insurance,
mnining,, homestead and all land claims
attended to
OFFICE, NEAR WETZEL'S,
FRIONT ST., FORT BENTON.
JOHN W. DEWEY,
Civil Engineer,
ARCHITEOT
-AND
United States DepIMIineral Surveyor
BENTON, M1ONTANA.
FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE
--AND
REAL ESTATE AGENCY,
First-Class Companies, poessing assets of FOUR
TEEN MILLON DOLLARS.
Represented by H. P.ROLFE.
M. E. MAYER,
Assayer,
BUTTE, ..* * MONTANA.
Office, West Park Street.
Spocial attention paid to "s'ealed samples" and all
kiuns of gold, and silver bullion,
Samples sent from a distance promptly attended to
amid returns made the following day.
Charges reasonable.
NOTICE.
I hereby warn all persons against trusting any one,
no matter whom, on my account, without an order
Silged by myself. NAROIUS VAUIX.
T HE KIVER PRESS
WILLIAMS, WRIGHT & STEVENS,
PUBLISHERS AND PROPRIETORS.
H. C. WILLIAMS, - - - - - - - EDITOR
BRADY is a much maligned citizen and
demands a full investigation, which he will
get when his case is thoroughly prepared.
The President is said to have taken the po
sition that the laws shall be pursued careful
ly and impartially.
TURKEY appeals to the Gladstone govern
ment to come to the rescue of her "liber
ties," which in some way not explained are
threatened by a "dictator." In Turkey a
dictator would be where he would do the
most good. By all means let us have a dic
tator in Turkey.
ThEY are throwing bombs around in pub
lic places in Madrid. The only action as
cribed for it is a desire on the part of gam
blers to alarm the government into dismissing
the prosecutions Qgainst the fraternity. The
age of iron is rapidly disappearing before
the age of dynamite.
THE supply of army officers at West Point
exceeds the demand. Vacancies through
death, disablement and retirement are not
created sufficiently fast to admit the graduat
ing class of that martial institution, and only
about one fourth can be given commissions.
Why would it not be well to double the
strength of the regular army by putting them
into the ranks?
THiE Chinese have not thus far been able
to adopt a system of symbols which could be
used to telegraph in the Chinese language,
but the Chinese government is educating a
number of Celestials in this country in order
that they may become conversant with the
theory and practice of telegraphic science,
with a view to the creation of a system of
their own and the establishment of tele
graphic communication throughout the em
pire.
IT is stated that General Grant will make
the race for the New York Senatorship in
order to save the gallant fugleman of his who
resigned. Grant has an order of ability
which silence displays the best and he is sur
prised that the American people do not rec
ognize in his. owlish imperturbility tle genius
of a Napoleon or a Julius Caesar. In the
bright glare of the Senate the halo of his
glory would pale, and his position of pre
eminence be reduced to his natural common
place.
BALLOITING for the succession at Albany
continues without developing any change in
the situaticn, although there is considerable
fluctuation among the various candidates of
either party. There are some signs of weak
ening on the adjournment issue, and mem
bers are pairing off and going home. It
would be well to adjourn sine die and go be
fore the people, where the contest could as
sume the importance that has been assigned
to it by the leaders and manifested by the
people.
THE tunnel under the straits of Dover
is being pushed, and the experimental shafts
on either shore have demonstrated that the
straia above the galleries is impermeable to
water, and consists of the same chalk form
ation that has gone into history as the chalk
cliffs. Side galleries 900 yards long have
been finished, and the rate of progress shown
to be sixty-seven yards per week, or two
miles yearly, which would require five years
for its completion, if work is pushed from
both shores.
THE Helena people and press are greatly
elated at the peculiar and superior accom
modations afforded by Mullan's pass, which
apparently was made with an especial eye to I
the future of Helena and its connection with
the North Pacific railroad. However, we
can only congratulate our Helena friends on C
their good fortune in being thus favored,
provided the comet does not cause the well t
laid plans to gang aglee, and only hope that a
aothing will occur to mar the smoothness of
their way.
COMPETITION in freight rates has been so c
sharp that wheat is being carried from St. a
Louis to New York for 15 cents per bushel, t4
md flour for 82 cents per barrel. This is too ii
:lose for a healthy condition of railroad bus- ii
ness, and a movement is on foot in railroad f
ircles to come to an agreement. The ne- o
:essity of combination among railroads to ti
rotect themselves from ruinous competition it
ecomes more and more apparent each sea
ion, and this necessity will rather continue p
han lessen its force, as the rapid extension b
md building of new lines still further divides a
he business. Our railroad system has grown h
Lrbitrarily, and portions of the country have c
nore facilities than they can support, while if
tthers have little or none. It is good for the si
he producer to have cheap freights, and to A
be farmers of the West they are necessary w
o his existence, but when the competition a
ecomes so sharp as to bankrupt roads, and sa
indirectly to cause commerc~ia stringency
and panic, the gain wi lat n. ompensate the
loss. Our commercial and buanking systems
are so closely ccnnecte t:b ~v.d<disaster to one
means disaster to all, and this would intro
duce another long perit of Stagnation for
the producer. The ralroad companies are
trying to perfect an arrangement for pooling
their rates, although a eewof them seem to
be opposed to any coump mise.
THE stockholders of the new hotel met
yesterday, and determine.d to go on with the
work. The plans submitted by Mr. Tweedy
were unanimously approved, and will, if
carried out, give Bentori the most magnifi
cent structure in Montana, excepting, possi
bly, the government assan ofilce in Helena,
which it will fully equal._. The amount sub
scribed is about $30,0O Which is nearly
$10,000 short of what wiLl be needed to build
according to the plan. _ dwould be a misfor
tune if the building shall iave to be reduced
and its beauty impaired on account of a
few thousand dollars, which could be easily
raised if the people of Beiton will exhibit
that liberality and public > irit which they
have been crying for so ong, 'and which
our merchants and bankci: have proved is
both generous and enterp~iing. Will the
citizens of Benton show th selves as liberal
and enterprising, according to their means,
as those whom they have :been criminating
as non-progressive and selfish ? or will they
themselves be so selfish as tp throw upon a
few the entire burden oran enterprise in
which they, as business men, have no more
interest than any other proporty-holding cit
izen? Are they willing to allow other peo
ple to enhance the value of all the property
in Benton and render no equivalent-not
even the mite that almost all can afford?
Some there are no doubt, b.t not many, we
think, for the most will see the direct benefit
that will be gained from this project, and be
willing to do what they can. There is too
much of the 'give a farthing to blind Bellis
sarius' feeling-a feeling that implies the
idea that they would be giving money
away in charity instead of placing where it
will bring a direct return and an indirect profit
on every dollar that is invested in the town
to the many who could aid t is project, if
they would. With the urgei7t need of such
an institution here, it couldit fail to pay a
respectable dividend to it kholders, and
when the two objects a ·sre ed, it is. the
best- scheme for'investment Belton affords.
People who now come to Benton, get out
of it again as fast as they can find convey
ance, not because we have not as good
grazing grounds as other parts of the Terri
tory, not because we have not mines as rich
and inexhaustible as our sister counties can
exhibit, not because we have not the richest
lands for the homeseeker in the West, but
because the capitalist, the stockgrower and
the homeseeker,as he enter the northern por
tal of the Territory, caninot find adequate ac
commodations for himself and the family
that usually accompanies him.
THE incorporation of Benton is being agi
tated once more, and we are invited to take
advantage of our splendid incorporation act
and create for ourselves some sort of muni
cipal government. It may be that in the tor
tuous windings of the act we can find what
we want, and if its length is a measure of its
internal valu,, we shall be certain to meet our
expectations. Leaving aside discussion of
whatever merit the bill may possess, and
avoiding criticism of its possible demerits,
we are disposed to accept so much of it as its
ingenious contriver can in process of time
separate that will be for our good, and make
the best of it, nor stop to look the gift horse
in the mouth.
Benton needs nothing so much as a cheap
and effective local government. Improve
ments are required in the town which the
laws do not empower the county commis
sioners to make, or where their authority is
competent to make improvement, public
opinion in the county outside of Benton
would not admit the assumptioni of such au
thority, for its sentiment would regard the
settlement of funds for town purposes as un
fair and unjust-as a cause for taxation in
matters which in no way interests them
selves, but having benefits which would ac
crue to Benton alone. As the matter now
tands, the citizens of Benton have no power
o tax themselves, in a separate capacity, for
mprovements which they have been clamor
ng fdi, and which they would willingly pay
or if it were possible. We must, thetefore,
)rganize ourselves, if we can, into a corpora
ion that will confer power on the commun
ty to act for itself.
Fears are expressed by many that a cor
)orate government will be a costly incum
)rance, and that its creation would involve
rn increase of taxation that would be ex
lausting. But this does not follow. The
:c-st of such government would be very little
fit were not attempted to go beyond the
implest organization possible under the law.
. board of trustees, with president, serving
vithout compensation, a treasurer, clerk,
narshal and police magistrate, to be the
atme officials holding the corresponding pc
sitions in the county; the first two to receive
a slight addition to their present compensa
tion, and the last two by fees. This would
entail only the cost of clerk hire and compen
sation for labor performed by the treasurer,
to which should be added the extra expense
of another constable, as the additional ex
pense over what is now involved in the
county administration. The offices men
tioned would, without question, be filled by
the present county incumbents, for a nomi
nal advance over their present rates, and, we
believe, they have expressed themselves to
that effect.
There are many improvements that are
urgently needed here that we cannot have
unless power separate from the county be
obtained. The levee needs protection and
improvement; the town needs draining, and
sidewalks placed on our principal streets; a
fire department is required, besides continual
oversight in the little contingencies that con
stantly arise. These things are urgently de
manded, and we believe that the costs of
their execution will be easily and willingly
borne by the property-holders of the town.
THE Northern Pacific railroad will be re
organized, and united with the Oregon R:iil
way and Navigation Company's interests on
the Pacific coast. It is proposed to form a
new company to be called the Oregon trans
continental company which, through the
able management of Henry Villard, will com
bine the Northern Pacific and Oregon com
panies, with a majority of stock in each.
The capital of the new company will be
$50,000,000.
THE editor of the London Post publishes
an able communication on the condition of
Ireland, which is a plea for its independ
ence. He shows that the policy of
England is based upon wishes and asser
tion instead of facts; the present land bill is
a compromise between two social systems
resting on purposes radically distinct; the
Land League is an embodiment of ideas and
proclivities of a radical nature; the only
union possible is by consistent force on one
side and timorous concession on the other.
He express belief that the attempt to unite
the two countries should be given up on ac
count of its impossibility.
TIlE Nihilists are laughing at Ignatieff's
attempt to stamp them out of. existence.
ernment has been destroyed by the reaction
ary policy of the Czar, the contagion is
spreading through the ranks of the army,
and among the lowest peasantry. The fealty
of the army has been questioned ever since
the Turkish war, although the surmise was
never certified. But it is becoming very ap
parent that all sections of Russian society
are agitated with political unrest, and that
the mysterious terror of Nihilism, if it has
not the active support of the masses of the
Russian people, is the expiression of its dis
content, which, if not appeased will grow
into active participation. With this power
so rapidly extending its influence, and the
autocracy reduced to perfect inability to con
trol it, the end of anarchy is reached, and
revolution not far off.
THE Utah & Northern railroad will push
forward another extension of their line, and
the company expects to get as far north as
Fish creek, on the Jefferson river, by the
close of the season. The work of grading
is being actively pushed in the Jefferson can
yon, and a surveying party is at work on the
Missouri river, west of Gallatin City, and
pushing rapidly towards Helena. By the
close of another year the road will certainly
be completed to the capital. Whether the
road will be extended to Benton, we do not
know, but the presumption is fair that it will
be, for expressions of this probability have
been frequently made by the railroad author
ities. If it should not, an independent line
will connect us with the capital, and the busi
ness necessity of both Helena and Benton
will urge its early completion. More certain
and rapid means for carrying freight into
the interior must be had, or the river trade
will be destroyed. But it is our interest and
the interest of all interior points to keep the
river trade in an active and healthy condi
tion, and this will insure a road to this point,
whether the Union Pacific builds it or not.
The Comet.
A strange and wierd visitor from the
depths of nethermost space has been visible
n the northern heavens for some evenings
past, supposed to be the great comet of 1811,
which was among the three great cometary
bodies of the present century. Its path or
orbit are unknown, although its long period
and rapid motion in perihelion indicate adis
ance far beyond the outermost planet of the
solar system. There is much difference of
opinion as to the nature and structure of
comets, and they probably differ greatly.
Spectroscopic observation has proven that at
east some of them have nucei (the part at
the head that resembles a star) which shine
vith their own light, and are probably gas
-ous bodies in a state of incandescence. A
-a ,,e a uam m m us ea e
few of them are believed to be solid, but
none have been shown to be of sufficient
density to affect the planetary movements,
and some are so light as to weigh but a few
pounds. One of the largest that has ever
been visible passed through the system of
Jupiter without affecting it in any way what
ever, which it would have done had it pos
sessed only a small portion of the weight and
density of a planetary body. Toe appendage
which usually accompanies these bodies, and
called the "tail," is something so very atten
uated as have no more effect than a shadow.
Starlight, which the thinnest summer cloud
would render invisible, will pass through
millions of miles of this substance without
being dimmed. This comet (if it really is
the one of 1811) was believed to have exerted
a salutary influence on the crops by the
French, whose vintage was exceptionally
large and well flavored by its former visit.
The present visitor is going northward and
coming nearer. He has been watched for
some time through the telescope before he
became visible to unassisted vision. About
the middle of August he will be at his best,
though what his eratic course may be is not
yet determined. Comets are not affected by
the same laws that govern the balance of the
community of the solar sysfem, for while
the planets revolve in the same direction
about the sun and about their axes, and in
nearly the plane of the sun's equator,
these fellows come from any direction, and at
any angle, as though they came by accident,
and were not fully under the government of
the sun. A curious fact in relation to the
motion of these visitors is that they come to
ward the sun, with their appendage turned
from him, and as they revolve around him
the 'tai.' is always turned away and opposite
from the sun, and they back out as if in the
habit of paying royal respects to his central
majesty. The inconceivable rapidity of
their motion when near the sun renders this
fact very curious, for, if the tail is com
posed of anything at all that possessed
weight, and if space is filled with anything
whatever that could oppose resistance, they
could not but be influenced to almost a degree
of disorganizition, and it lends great plausi
bility to the theory a lvanced that it is purely
magnetic phenomena. The advent of these
visitors has been hailed both as harbingers of
disaster and g sod; but owing to a probability
fact that they have no effect at all, one may
give them any interpretation he chooses.
The earth passed through the tail of the
comet of 1838, but nobody knew it until af
terward, and then it was only through math
ematical analysis.
The comet is 25 degrees 49 min. north of
the equatorial plane, and passes the meridian
at fifteen minutes past ten, and is going north
at the rate of about a degree and a half daily.
[Cloudy and hazy weather prevented accu
rate observation, and the above figures are
only approximate.]
Senatorial Sensatlen.
NEW YORK, June 22.-The Times' Albany
special says : There was an exciting scene
in the Delevan House to-night. Senator
Madden met Conkling in one of the upper
halls and extended his hand, which Conkling
refused to accept. A bitter war of words
followed. Madden answered, in severe tones,
the sarcastic language of Conkling. The
trouble arose because of certain strictures
by Madden upon Conkling for resigning,
which have been published. After some
angry by-play, Conkling, who was thumping
the floor with his cane, and stroking his
gray beard with his free hand, eyed Madden
keenly and then attempted to reprove him
for his criticisms and particularly for having
said that he (Conklin~g) was here button-hol
ing members and soliciting their votes.
Senator Madden blurted out : "I am not
so polite as some members; perhaps I spoke
too bluntly. I go across lots instead of going
around. You don't suppose that I meant
you were twisting buttons off men's coats,
do you ?"
The ex-Senator listened. Platt wilted.
Madden, bold as a hero, did not wait to be
invited, but kept on:
"You know what words mean. You came
back here seeking vindication. To say you
were button-holing men here, may not have
been accurately true, but you are here seek
ing vindication. I spoke of you in public
as a man clear through. If you think I spoke
offensively, it is a great mistake all the way
through."
"But I would not have said such a thing
of you." protested Conkling. And then he
turned to go.
"I tell you truth when I speak," said Sen
ator Madden, and that is more than some
men have done. You know, yourself, that
fourteen years ago, you told me I was the
only man who dared to tell you the truth
clear through, and I believe it is true now."
The ex-Senator held out his hand, hesita
tingly,
Madden. who is not an unforgiving man,
took it, said "good-night," and the ex-Sena
tor bowed and joined Platt.
ADVER'I'ISED LETTERS.
Remainina in the Post Office at Fort Benton, M. T.
for the week ending June,'25. 1881.
Parties calling for them will please ask for "Adver
tised" letters.
Allen, Joe Jrlion, Fred
Blackorby, Lizzie Kennet, A. P.
Bagnall, George Lerroux, A. M.
Backland, Arland McClellan, J. F.
Berry, Sam Millard, Byron
Biankinbaker, Bob McCay, Donald
Burns, James Iartin, Henry
Bartum, S. F. Martin, W. J.
Bover, J. J. McKensie, K
Boyle, J. O. McCoekvie, J
Churchill, O. H.. McCord, J. C.
Clary, Chas. McDonald, Jas.
ClarI, F. B. Nelson, Geo.
Clark, Win. Olson, C. K.
Connelly, Thos, Page, J. F.
CIurry, Geo. Payton, Davis
Day, Frank Ripley, Jackson
Dickman, August Shikard, D.
Enstey, Milt. 2 Strovel, Rubble
tPoster, P. A. Smith, S. B. 2
lilkerson. J. O. Jmith, H Y. 2
Roodrich, A. W. Sally. Jno F.
lolland & Murphy Sutter, S. E.
Renneberry, J. B. Tweed. Jas.
Tones, Francis Warehamr, Agnes.
Jordan, Geo.
M.A. FLANaAN, P M.