The river press. [volume], March 12, 1884, Image 1

About The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
SHE RIVER RESS.
Vol. Fort Benton, Montana Wednesday, March 12, 1884.
V.l.. IV, Fort Benton, Montana. Wednesday,| Maroh 12, 1884. No.. 20.
DI'MOND D1CK'S LARIAT..
Any more stories of Di'mond Dick,
li'es.dts that yarn of the wolves at bay ?
Whyv, bless your gizzard they crowd so thick
That I might rattle them off all day.
What was the mooniest thing he done?
Well, Richard wasn't a moony man;
Kept his wits handy, every one,
Struck pay-dirt without wasting a pan.
They called him rash, but he wasn't that
t'ool he was as a gob of lead,
Amld undtr that flopping yaller hat
lie carried a wonderful level head.
You've been down there on the Rio Grand',
W\ here they've built the Espanola bridge,
That skures acro-s the alkali sand
And over the water to the ridge?
Well, five years since the bridge wasn't there,
The I)enver and Rio didn't run,
Tie r was only sand and river and air,
And a (ldobe pueb'o flat in the sun.
DIick and I were herding it then
For Sancho .limmy-rot his hide!
''hree hundred steers. and only two men,
ion a ranch six miles and a quarter widle.
The giarmma skirted the edge of the dunes,
Aidc the river ran s x miles away ;
I tell 3 on, boys, we had lively tunes
l)riving to water twice a day.
'IThose wide-horned hrutes were an ugly lot;
('oulden', head them, we let them run
And the way theyswooped, when tie day was hot,
Down to the liver, was lots of fun.
The'v were nslohirg along one scorchy day,
Like wild hull buffaloes, over the sand,
When we saw a baby right in their w y,
Fast a-leep on the edge of the Grand.
I knew it meant death, my heart flipflopped,
I spulrred to turn them, but. true as I'm born,
Th )se Mexican steers would never have stopped
If I'.l been Gabriel tooting his horn.
What did Dick do ? His spurs dug deep,
Illis bronchoflews and I saw him wheel,
With his lariat whirling the daisiest sweep,
Hlis teeth set tight, and his eyes like steel
The loop swung out thirty feet away,
Hovered, and settled down on the sand,
Making a noise where the baby lay,
And then Dick reeled in, hand over hand,
And yanked up the child and rode like steam,
As the cattle rushed on, hot and thick;
And the baby woke with a healthy screan,
Safe in the arms of Di'mond Dick.
Well, it was only a Pueb'o brat,
A pi'son Mexican-Indian snake,
But Di'mond Diek didn't think of that
Ile'd saved a life, with his own at stake.
And I somehow thought, with a choky wheeze,
Ot Christ's own promise by Galilee
"As you have done to the last of these,
To a little child, you have done to me."
-Billy Y. Buttes, the Colorado Cowboy.
HELENA & BENTON R.R.
The Proposition Submitted by
V. Bausenwein, C. E.
Facts and Figures Covering the
Construction of the Road.
A Paper Read at the Public Meeting at
Helena Last Saturday Night.
( Saturday week a goodly portion of th
apitalists and business men of Helena
Inet in the city council chamber with a
view to considering the question of fur
nishing aid to aý r ýHelena to
For Benton. udge Lockey w
t(o the c air, and E. D. Edgerton, Esq.,
elected secretary. A letter from Col. V.
Bauisenwein was read by the secretary,
setting forth the feasibility of such an
enterplrise, and the probable cost of con
struction ofa broad-guage road to Ben
ton, which was estimated at between
two and three million dollars:
HELENA, February 25, 1884.
To all whom it may concern, especially
to lthe nmerchants and business men of
Helena and Benton.
Having been informed of the desire of
h.e people of Helena and Fort Benton
to have these two points connected by a
railroad, I have endeavored to make
somue investigations, and have based cal
cuiations upon them, with the view to
promote said object.
The Northern Pacific railroad engin
eers made some time ago a preliminary
survey from Helena to Benton, but this
ine is entirely impracticable and too
e:pensive.
By conferring with many persons ac
juainted with the country between Hel
ena and Benton, I became convinced
hat a good deal better and less expen
sive line can be obtained.
I understand that some time ago a
Lompany, with Mr. Hauser as president,
tad been formed at H:elena, and a char
ter obtained for the purpose of building
his Benton branch.
I made a proposition to Mr. Hauser to
uild this line for his company. Mr.
tiauser referred the matter to Vice
'resident Oakes, who declined any and
11 assistance on the part of the North
rn Pacific in the matter, declaring that
he Northern Pacific was not in the con
ition to do anything at present towards
iny branches.
I therefore present to those gentlemen
f Helena and Benton, who are anxious
ir a rail connection between the two
oints, my proposition, to wit:
First.--Tro organize a home company
or the purpose of building a standard
gauge railroad form Helena to Benton,
Inder the laws of Montania, and by fll
n.u the articles of incorporation with
he secretary of the territory, acquire a
harter therefor.
Second.-To survey and stake but the
laost practical and feasible route for
uch railroad from Helena to Benton,
tnd to have a map of suah survey f.fled
s required by law.
Third.-To make a contract with the
Northern Patcifle railroad for special
ates for transportation of supplies and
laterial required in the constr tion of
aid railroad.,
Fourth.-To subscribe and raidse a suffl
cient amount of money to gradie, bridge,
and tie the first twenty miles of said
railroad ready for the iron; and
*Fifth.-To negotiate with some syn
dicate by mortgaging said first twenty
miles of completed roadbed for the rails,
etc.
My long railroad experience in the
construction as well as the operating de
partment will carry me out in the fol
lowing estimate: .
Clearing and grading .......................3.50,000
hridging ................... ... .......2. 200,000
Cross ties .............. .................... 10.000
Steel rails ................... .............. 726,000
Spikes . .................... ......... 30,600
Bolts and nuts ............................. 15,750
Splices ......... ........................ 23,430
Frogs and switches ............ .......... 3,200
Headchairs, switchbridles, and connecting
rods ..... ...................... 1,520
Freight on these rails, &c ............ ... . 210.900
Headblocks ............................... 160
Water stations ............... ... . 18,000
Station buildings, section and hand car
houses ............................. 53,600
Hand car and track tools ................... 3,250
Track laying ................. ............... 45,000
Surfacing .................................... 22,500
Right of way.................. ........... 30,000
Engineering, superintendent, office, and in
cidental expenses ...................... 58,500
Total................................ $2. 02,450
or $14,303 in a round sum per mile
(140 mn.) Of course this is a wild e.iti
mate inl regard to the clearing, grading,
bridging, and right of way, as I have
never been over the proposed route, and
I have made these figures in accordance
with what I have heard of the country
between Helena and Benton, and I am
satisfied that the actual cost will not ex
ceed my estimate. Moreover, I claim
that I can save on this total estimate at
least 10 per cent., if not more.
Mr. Oakes, who saw my proposition,
considered it a good thing for private
parties to undertake.
The first twenty miles would be com
paratively cheap in construction, and I
estimate the grading, ýridging, tieing,
&c., of the first twenty imiles north of
Helena, including ibran~h line to Marys
ville, at $85,000, and completed ready
for operation at $200,000.
This is a very liberal estimate. You
gentlemen acquainted with the country
and the business to be derived from the
operation of said first twenty miles ought
to judge if this first part of the line op
erated would be paying from the first or
not. In my own opinion, from my in
formation, it must pay if it is properly
managed.
Having secured a paying road of 20
miles in operation, it would be an easy
matter to make arrangements for means
for the prosecution of the work towards
Benton.
A railroad from Helena to Benton is
of the greatest importance to the mer
chants of Helena, and it would secure to
them a competing line by the Missouri
river boats for several months during
the year. A daily rail communication
with Marysville and Silver City must
also be of the greatest importance to the
merchants of Helena.
There is only one practical and feasi
ble line from Helena to Benton, and
Shis liiie ought Ito be secured by all
eans as early as possible by the home
ompany before any other company oc
cupies the ground. In my opinion the
Northern Pacific is not anxious to have
the Benton line built, as it would open
a conupeting route via the Missouri river
boats for a good part of the year, as be
fore stated.
Of course, to make the enterprise a
paying one, a very economical manage
ment in the construction as well as in
the operating must be inaugurated and
maintained, and the receipts must not
be absorbed by a large number of staff
officials.
Now suppose a home company can be
organized for the construction of said
road from Helena to Benton, with a cap
ital of $100,000 for the commencement,
the project with proper management
rmust prove a success, and at the same
time must pay profits to those who in
vest money in the enterprise, by pro
ceeds derived from lots and new town
sites along said line of road, and mer
chants who advance money towards the
enterprise could ship their freight and
have the charges applied to their sub
scriptions until reimbursed.
Gentlemen, I come before you with
my proposition as a stranger, and proba
bly assume too much in soliciting your
confidence, but you can easily ascertain
my standing, my ability, energy and
integrity, as I have been con nected with
the Northern Pacific construction de
partment for the last four years, between
Mandan and Livingston.
If you feel inclined to take any inter-i
sst in this project, please sign your
mames hereunto, which will signify
your willingness to attend a called meet
ng for the purpose of taking this mat
er into consideration.
Very respectfully,
V. BAUSENWETN.
The following gentlemen were called
pon in the order named, many of them
esponding with excellent suggestions:
layor Morris, Col. Bausenwein, J. T.
lurphy, A. M. Woolfolk, E. W. Toole.
I. Bullard, W. F. Wheeler, R. H.
leinschmidt, E. b. Egerton, Chas. D.
Jurtis, Dr. Cole, J. B. Sanford, Thomas
)ruse, and Fred Lehman. 1
Upon motion a coimnittee of ive was
,ppointed to prepare a~tlilest oifncor.
oration and an address. The chair ap
ointed as such committee, E. W. Toole,
. T. Murphy, A, M. Woolfolk, W. F.
Vheeler, and E. D. Edgetton
The followizgre~o'ution was offered
'y Moses Morls ai d a noe unani
nously adopted :
Oes~oed~ t s $e sense o
rzeetingthtt rT r4d o b
'di~s ::
The Coming Railroad.
The Livingston Enterprise comments
as follows on an article that appeared in
the RIVER PREss a few days ago, which
suggested the possibility of a branch of
the Northern Pacific from Livingston,
but argued that Helena's capital and
enterprise would be certain to capture
the prize. The Enterprise concedes the
force of this argument and despairs of
Livingston securing the branch:
Referring to the above we have reason
to believe that it is correct so far as can
be known. While Vice President Oakes
a was in Helena a few days ago he held
3 lengthy interviews with certain Helena
3 capitalists, the object of which was un
derstood to be the formation of a conm
) pany to build a branch of the Northern
Pacific to Fort Benton, and which
should have the endorsement and cor
dial encouragement of the Northern
Pacific, if not its material aid. It is but
reasonable to suppose that such a road
built by Helena capital will be located
with a chief view to the furtherance of
Helena interests--will have Helena for
its point of departure. We firnly be
lieve that had the Northern Pacific tak
en its own time and money to build the
Benton branch, it would have chosen
the most practicable and immediately
profitable route-that from Livingston.
But the Northern Pacific has no money
to devote to the building of branchts.
The Wickes branch was built by private
enterprise. The Bull mountain road
and the Benton road will be built in the
same way. Our citizens have no capital
to devote to the latter undertaking.
Helena capital is counted by millions
and its owners have enterprise co-exten
sive with their wealth. This may seem
like a jeremiad. But we can only bow
grimly to the inevitable and acknowl
edge that Helena is entitled to all she
buys in open market, even though the
price was much beyond our reach. But
a railroad will yet traverse the natural
route lying between Livingston and
Benton. If not the Northern Pacific it
remains for the Union Pacific to seize
the opportunity and enter a region that
possesses railroad resources equal to no
route of equal length in the northwest.
And if the Union Pacific branch is ex
tendea to their recent coal purchases in
this vicinity we may be confident that
it will be pushed onward toward the
Missouri.
Indian Racket.
Henry Linenkohl, who arrived from
the Marias Thursday evening, brings a
story, with Mose Solomon as authority,
which would indicate that the murder
ers of Bill Jones have made their escape
north, and are now pretty safe on the
other side of the line.
A few lodges of Piegans are camped at
Black coulee, and a party of them ,that
came down to the crossing told Mose
that last Sunday three bloods crossed the
river at Three Islands and came to their
camp, but did not stop to enjoy the hos
pitalities of the same, as they were in a
hurry to move on. They intimated that
they got "hair" on the trip, but gave no
particulars. Evidently they were the
identical red devils who killed Jones,
and the Indians at Black coulee express
a willingness to accompany a party
north and point them out.
This information was imparted to
Sheriff McDevitt Thursday night, and
yesterday he and Deputy Healy pre
pared to follow, but when they came to
consider that the Indians had five days
the start, they did not go any farther
than the camp on the Teton.
A telegram has been sent to the Crow
agency for an interpreter, and a member
of the tribe, who will arrive in two or
three days, to identify the dead horses
at Arrow creek and those taken from
the Indians now in jail, by which it can
be learned whether or not the prisoners
were members of a war party. It is not
unlikely that some of those captured
will give the whole affair away before
iong.
A Gigantic Swindle.
The following from the Independent
will be of interest to many people here- 1
abouts:
M. A. Leeson left for Chicago last'
night. His visit to Montana was tfor the
purpose of ascertaining what had be
-come of his former partners in the Mon
tana history. Mr. Leeson stated to our
reporter yesterday that he had every
reason to believe that the project of pub- t
lishing the book had been abandoned, (
and that those who had paid money in <
advance upon the work would never re- t
ceive any return for it.
These slick rascals have been in the
territory nearly two years working their t
racket, and have carried away a good t
many thousand dollars of Montana (
money. The enterprise seemed to be a
legitimate one-barring the "pay in ad
vance" part, which ought to have put
people on their guard. The bill seems
to be a; true one, as no denial of the
above has been made, although it ap- .z
peared in print several days ago. 2
The New School House.
lare glad to see f
rtees have takenarly action in thle
ter of hailcing a new school house.
ids will ba reeeived up to the 20th inst.,
at which timii e the :! contem4t will be
awarded--in ampl4time foiithe success
*1 bldaei.to order , 148 mat.r.al, and
Sby the e . dboati. Major
Sof tle board, inform
bass*-wh4nh will tirlve Fart
Benton the finest graded school build
ing in the territory. 'I he estimated cost
s in the states is $20,000, but here, of
1 course, it will cost a great deal more, as
materia " high r."
1 alrea y nd some
f other material, which the successful bid
der will be required to accept at cost.
In addition to this they have funds to
the amount of $20,000, so that the new
structure. of which Fort Benton can
well be proud, will be completed with
f out imposing any additional tax upon
the district.
When work is commenced on the new
school house and resumed on the new
court house-not to say anything of
other enterprises,-every mechanic in
town can have employment, w4th good
results all round. Supplement this with
the opening of navigation on the Big
Muddy, and the commencement of the
Helena & Benton railroad-and we will
all wake up ione of these mornings to
find the river metropolis in the .throes
of a mighty boom.
Important Mail Routes to be Established.
The following letters to the Hon. Mar
tin Maginnis from the second assistant
postmaster general explain themselves
fully. The routes to be established are
important to Fort Benton, and particu
larly that from Ulidia by way of Sand
Coulee to Castner, where connection,
doubtless, will be made with the Billings
and Barker line:
POST OFFICE DEPA'RTMENT,
OFFICE OF SEC. ASST. P. M. GEN.,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 1884
In reply to .\our recommendation you
are informed that when established the
post office at Shergold will be embraced
on route No. 36,150, from Sun River to
Chestnut.
In reply to your endorsement of peti
tion for service from Sun River to Great
Falls you are informed that the route
will be advertised to begin July 1, 1884.
In reply to your endorsement of ap
plication for service from Ulidia by
Truly and Allen or Sand Coulee to Cast
ner, you are informed that the service
will be advertised to begin July 1, 1884.
Very respectfully, H. D. LYMAN',
Second Assistant Postmaster Gen.
Hon. Martin Maginnis, House of Rep
resentatives. *
Fort Assinabaine News.
Editors of the River Press:
Lieut. Anderson, with six men of
company C., 18th infantry, and five In
dian scouts, started Sunday morning,
the 2d inst., for Belknap, to intercept
some Indians who were reported to
have killed a white man. One of the
party, Private Kenny, company C., lost
his horse and gun by an accident which
happened while crossing a ridge be
tween Box Elder and Clear creeks. The
horse slipped, rolled down the bank and
broke through two layers of ice into
Milk river, breaking its neck.
Lieut. Hoppin, Sergt. Perkins, and
three men of troop C., 2d cavalry, left
the post with pack mules the same day
far the Bear Paw mountains, to break
up a whisky trading party, who were
trading with the Indians and half
breeds. But they were unsuccessful, as
the party had left the place before they
got there.
Sergt. Perkins reports that the snow
is very deep in the mountains in some
places, and travelling is impossible with
out the aid of snow-shoes.
The Fort Assinaboine Varieties gave
an entertainment to the boys in blue on
the 4th inst., with a new star, J. C.
Swartz, of Detroit, Mich., who is here
for his health.
The Assinaboine amateurs are going
to favor us with another performance,
entitled "Faucheon, the cricket on the
hearth," a favori~e play of Maggie Mit
chell's, which is eagerly anticipated.
Every soldier is hoping he will be the
lucky "'one," as there are nine non-com
missioned officers to each company, and
ten invitations.
On March 4th, 1884, to the wife of
Private Wmin. Volandt, troop C., 2d cav
alry, a son.
SBy a telegram received here we learn
that Robt. E. Miller, late quarter-mra
ter's clerk at this post, commnitted sui
cide at Buffalo, N. Y.
MIAGNUM BONUM.
Fort Assinaboine, March 6, 1884.
A Great Mine.
From the Independent we learn that
the Maskeleyne tunnel tapped the great
ore body in the Drum Lummon mine
on Wednesday, finding the ore richer
than ever. This tunnel is 1,147 feet in
length and has .been driven since last
April-quick work, surely. It strikes
the lead at a depth of 600 feet and proves
that the Drum Lumnmon is one of the
greatest mining properties in the world.
Tommy Cruse will some of these days
be as rich and great as Bonanza Mackey.
Make Your Desert Land Filings Quiok.
SThe Chicago Times' Washington cor
·respondent, in an article of February
28th, says the congressidinal committee
to which was referred the bill for the re
1 of the desert land act has reported
vorably to the repeal, and it is claimed
Sthe bill will be pushed rapidly
ough both houses under a suspension
the rules.
Assignoe's Notice.
GClrWDENNL M. T , . March 1, 1880
.Notice is hereby given that F W
& Co:, of thli plae, have8i madei
ignment ome the&r the benefit ofthl ~
eeito~i. All persans indebted to them
will gotv~ern themPselves cordingly.
DIPBTHERIA.
ome Interesting Facts in Regard to This
Disease and a Series of Rules That
Will Prevent Its Spread.
This dread disease has not made its
appearance in Fort Benton, nor has it
ever been known to exist here, but as
many of our neighboring towns and
valleys are afflicted with it, it is well
for us to be on our guard and know the
consequences, and the steps it is best to
take, if our community should be so
unfortunate as to have a visitation from
this evil genius of the little folks-diph
theria.
In conversation with one of our phy
sicians yesterday we were informed that
diphtheria is a disease of antiquity, dat
ing back at least as far as the conmmenice
ment of the Christian era. It is pre
eminently a disease of childhood, a
large majority of the cases occurring
between the ages of two and ten years.
Under the age of one year the younger
the child the less the liability to it, and
it rarely occurs prior to the fourth
month. Though not universally known,
diphtheria is a contageous disease, and
during the prevalence of an epidemic
every effort should be made to prevent
its spread. Diphtheritic virus, like that
of scarlet fever, may remain for weeks
or months in a locality or apartment,
and the greatest care and precautions
are necessary to entirely stamp it out.
Food, tonics and stimulants, with pro
per local treatment, are the only
medicines given, with effect, the object
of the treatment being simply to main
tain or build up the system until the
disease wears itself out.
The following are the regulations.
which have been adopted by
the board of health of New York
and other cities of the Union, and
which, if strictly followed, will confine
the disease and prevent a spread of the
epidemic. These rules should be cut
out and preserved in every family in the
city:
The patient should be placed in a
separate room, and no person except the
physician, nurse or mother allowed to
enter the room or touch the bedding or
clothing used in the sick room, until
they have been thoroughly disinfected.
All clothing, bedding or other articles
not absolutely necessary for use of the
patient should be removed from the sick
room.
Articles used about the- patient,
such as sheets, pillowcases, blankets, or
clothes, must not be removed from the
sick room until they have been disin
fected by placing them in a tub with the
following disinfecting fluid: Eight
ounces of sulphate zinc, one ounce car
bolic acid, three gallons of water. They
should be soaked in this fluid for at least
one hour, and then placed in boiling
water for washing.
A piece of muslin one foot square
should be dipped in the same solution
and suspended in the sick room con
stantly, and the same should be done in
the hallway adjoining the sick room.
All vessels used for receiving discharges
of patients should have some of the
same disinfecting fluid constantly there
in, and immediately after use by the
patient be emptied and cleansed with
boiling water. Water closets and privies
should be disinfected daily with t:e
same fluid, or a solution of chloride iron,
one pound to a gallon of water, aduing
one or two ounces of carbolic acid. All
straw beds should be burned, and the
same done with soft rags or handker
chiefs used about the patient for cleans
ing the mouth or: nostrils.
The ceilings and side walls of the
sick room, after removal of the patient,
should be thoroughly cleaned and lime
washed, and the wood work and floo.r
well scrubbed with soap and water.
Put a teaspoonful of a mixture of
equal parts of turpentine and carbolic
acid into a kettle of water, which should
be kept simmering over a slow fire, so
that the air of the sick-room will be im
pregnated with the vapour of the two
ubstances.
Proposals for Erecting a New School House
Sealed proposals will be received up to
Ihursday, March 20, 1884, by the board
)f trustees of school district No. 1, Cho
;eau county, M. T., for the erection of a
,ew graded school building. The board
eserves the right to reject any or all
>ids. The plans and specifications may
e seen by applying to Edward Dqunne,
3hairman, who will furnish additional
articulars as to bonds, payments, etc.
By order of the board.
PETER MACDONALD, Clerk.
Notice.
There will be a meeting of the stock
iolders of the Wright & Edwards min
ng company at the rooms of J. W.
lower, at Fort Benton, M. T., on Satur
Lay evening, March 15th, 1884, for the
iurpose of electing new trustees, and for
uch other business as may come be
ore it. H. D. BURGHARDT,
Tarch 1st, 1884. Secretary.
Lost.
A black and tan shopherd dog (female),
rith white ring about the neck. She
ras lost in Fort Benton and was last
een near the Grand Union hotel. A
ultable reward will be paid for the re
overy of the animal. Leave informa
[on at this Office..
Seeds.
I. G. Baker & Co. are just in freceipt
y m~l of a full line of D. M. Ferry &d
fo.'s fr~h garden seedsof every desc~rip
len; w lh they are prare to sell at
ottom; i r*ies. Wone of thLese seeda l.ea
; '"'.1.-~~