The river press. [volume], August 31, 1910, Image 1

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

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The River Press.
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Vol. XXX.
Fort Benton, Montana, Wednesday, August 31, 1910.
No. 45
TAFT URGES HARMONY.
President Reviews Creditable Work
of Republican Congress.
New York , Aug. 28 President
Taft's letter to W. B. McKinley, chair
man of the republican congressional
committee, was made public tonight
by the New York headquarters of the
committee. The president in the com
munication says that differences be
tween republicans should be forgotten
in the congressional election and that
"all republicans who believe in the
party principles as declared in its na
tional platform of 1908, should give
the candidates loyal and effective sup
port. If this is done there will be no
doubt of a return of a republican ma
jority."
As to the tariff, the president says:
"It seems to me that all republicans—
conservative, progressive and radical
—may well abide the situation with
respect to the tariff until evidence now
being accumulated shall justify
changes in the rates."
Mr. Taft's plan for revision by con
gress of individual schedules after in
vestigation by the tariff commission,
is discussed in this connection.
The president reviews the more im
portant legislation enacted by con
gress in fulfillment of its promises and
says:
"It is of the utmost importance to
make this campaign of education as
to facts and clear away the clouds of
misrepresentation that have obscured
the real issues."
Roosevelt Sees Many Changes.
Denver , Aug. 29. — Speaking of
changes that have taken place on cat
tle ranges since he first became ac
quainted with them, Colonel Roose
velt at the "chuck wagon" lunch given
by the Denver Press club, said:
"Thirty years ago I went west of
the Missouri in the Red River valley.
In those days the buffalo still abound
ed in great herds, and there was still
difficulty with the Indians. The con
ditions of life were very hard, but
they were more attractive than they
are today. I hold it a peculiar pleas
ure and a peculiar privilege to have
taken part in your life in those days.
The cattle bearing my brands, the
Maltese cross and the Elk Horn were
first put on the Little Missouri 28
years ago.
"Now traveling through the country
here I am struck by the improvement
in the comfort, and in the opportuni
ties for cleanliness and neatness which
the ranges show compared with the
conditions of a quarter of a century
ago.
"As far as I can see the men on the
ranges, they ride as hard and work as
hard and are as thoroughly manly as
the men of 25 years ago. The greater
comforts they now enjoy contribute to
their 6elf respect. While it gives me
great pleasure to think of the past, I
have even greater pride in the present
and in the promise for the future of
the great west."
Would Lynch Horse Thieves.
Denver , August 27.—Thoroughly
aroused at the daring of horse thieves
recently, old ranchmen throughout
this state have decided to organize
the Colorado Protective association,
the purpose of which is to take steps
toward the elimination of the evil now
existing.
According to the ranchmen, as soon
as the summary execution of horse
thieves was abandoned the number of
thieves increased and is still increas
ing. It required only a brief state
ment calling to mind the facts to effect
the formation of the association,which
is a secret organization.
It is planned to make it state wide
in scope and influence. There will be
subordinate lodges with accredited
delegates to the parent lodge, and the
concern of one will be the interest of
all. It is said that later there may
come affiliation with the organization
in the middle western states.
Wealthy Woman a Smuggler.
New York , Aug. 28.— According to
customs officials, Mrs. I. Reynolds
Adriance of Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,
socially prominent and wealthy, will
be summoned to appear at the customs
house tomorrow to. show cause why
she should not be arrested on a charge
of smuggling.
Arriving today on the steamor Bal
tic, customs inspectors said she failed
to mention in her declaration of duti
able goods a $6,000 pearl necklace,
found after a search of her person
hidden in her hat.
Fire Conditions Improved.
Missoula , Aug. 28. —Reports sent
in to the district officers of the fçrest
service indicate that all the men em
ployed by the government as fire-fight
ers in the fire swept districts have
vmmi i
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Above photographs were taken at
Chester, Montana, and show a field of
macaroni wheat averaging 18 to 20 bush
els per acre grown on land which re
ceived but 2.6 inches of rainfall from
March 1st to July 1st. A field of barley
is also shown, together with the special
car on which the party was taken to
Chester. ♦
been accounted for with the exception
of one crew, believed to be safe in the
Idaho Clearwater county, and a few
men still missing in the neighborhood
of Wallace. The casualties among the
government's men still total 73, and
It Is believed by District Forester
Greeley that this figure is practically
final. The only crew from which no
reports have been received is that of
Ranger Thennon, which crossed the
Bitter Root divide through Lost Horse
canyon just before the fire broke out.
This crew was headed for a point out
side the fire zone, and it is believed
the men are safe. A relief party was
sent out today, however, to make cer
tain of the safety of the crew.
WARM WESTERN WELCOME.
Col. Roosevelt Guest of Honor At
Frontier Day Celebration.
Cheyenne , Wyo., Aug. 27.— Wy
oming today extended to Colonel Theo
dore Roosevelt the first of a series of
demonstrations planned for him in the
far west. From all over the stale came
men and women to join in welcoming
the colonel back to the country with
which he became acquainted over a
quarter of a century ago. Many events
in which the old and new life of the
western land mingle were planned for
his entertainment. At the station to
meet him were Governor B. B. Brooks,
Senator Warren of Wyoming, Senator
Borab of Idaho, one of the insurgent
senators who has had close relations
with Colonel Roosevelt aud many men
prominent in the political affairs of
the state.
The parade through the streets of
Cheyenne, headed by Colonel Roose
velt in an automobile, began the day
of festivities. Everywhere there were
crowds of men, women and children,
cowboys and cowgirls on horseback
and straying Sioux Indians awaiting
to see the visitor.
"I'm here to see what you fellows
can do on the hurricane deck of a
broncho," Theodore Roosevelt said
today, as a group of cowboys, the
hardiest riders in the west, gathered
about him, mounted on their horses.
Colonel Roosevelt saw all that the
wild west of today had to show him
in the way of deeds of skill and dar
ing, and said that the spirit of the
west was still alive.
As Colonel Roosevelt watched the
cowboys at their work, heard the In
disns yell and saw the fsmillar sights
of more than 20 years ago, when he
wss s plainsman, the spirit of it all
came over him-agaln and he climbed
down from the flag-draped reviewing
stand and mounted a big white horse.
He galloped around the half-mile track
at Frontier psrk and past the crowd
ed grand stand, while cowboys yelled,
Indians gsre their war whoop and the
rest of the crowd joined in a tremen
dous shout. He dismounted after one
lap, smiling his delight, and went back
to bis place to see the rest of the fun.
Malta , August 28.— Vews was re
ceived here today that a man was
accidentally Rilled near Saco night
before ia6t. The only means of iden
tification was an employment check
with the name "William Wise" on It.
The body wss badly mangled and was
taken back to Saco by the local
freight.
GOOD CROPS AT CHESTER EXPERIMENT FARM
The Great Northern Railway in order
to demonstrate the practicability and ef
fectiveness of scientific cultivation on the
bench lands tributary to its line, took a
party of over 200 farmers and business
men from Glasgow and all points west
thereof in the Milk River Valley; also
from Benton and other points in Chou
teau County to Chester on Monday,
July 25th.
DEATH LIST INCREASED.
Loss of Life In Forest Fires May
Reach Two Hundred.
Spokane , Aug. 26.—Careful esti
mates of the loss of life in the forest
fires place the number dead and prob
ably dead at more than 200. The Ital
ians and Austrians in the St. Joe val
ley, of whom many perished, were em
ployes of the logging camps. The
list of government rangers dead, now
100, will almost certainly be lengthen
ed.
Patrick Grogan of Butte, one of the
twenty-four forest men killed in the
fire on Setzer creek, refused to run
when he saw death reaching him and
died beside his tent, a faithful dog re
maining to share bis fate. The old
man and his dog were buried in one
grave. Grogan, who was well known
in Butte and elsewhere in the north
west, was the oldest of sixty-nine men
stationed on Setzer creek.
When the fires appeared threatening
early Sunday uifjht the men were giv
en orders to leave. Forty started down
the canyon toward Avery, six miles
away. Five were out on patrol duty
and could not be reached. The other
twenty four elected to stay in the Set
zer creek camp. Worn out by their
days of ceaseless work they declared
there was no more danger than in
Avery.
The forty men had left camp less
than an hour when the fire swept up
the canyon from the direction in which
they had gone. Two days later when
a searching party went up the canyon
they found fourteen charred bodies
lyintr together a mile from the camp.
The bodies of nine others who evident
ly had fallen in a mad race up the can
yon wure found scattered between this
point and the camp.
Fire Fugitives Are Destitute.
Missoula , Aug. 26. —Reports re
ceived today by District Forester
Greeley from the fire districts of Mon
tana and Idaho reveal that the gener
al situation is improving all the time.
The fire fighters are slowly gaining
control and all towns and settlements
are out of danger.
W. S. Bennett, connected with the
Coeur d'Alene and Montana Mining
company, working near Trout creek,
reports a distressing condition in the
Trout creek district. In that territory
hundreds of people have lost every
thing they possessed. Entire families
sre destitute, many of them being com
pelled to depend upon the charity of
others for clothing. Ail of the min
ing snd lumber compsnies, together
with sawmills and other commercial
enterprises have been destroyed, while
the stock of fish In the creeks had
been killed either by the beat or pollu
tion of waters by ash lye. In hill and
valley countless csrcssses of wild ani
mals and birds are found roasted and
charred.
Reward Offered For Robbers.
Washington , Aug. 26.—A reward
of 8500 is offered by the war depart
ment for the capture of robbers who
carried off a safe and $6,493.50 from
Camp Otis, Wyo., on the night of Aug
ust 9.
The safe and its contents were guard
ed by a sergeant, a corporal, a musi
cian and three colored troopers of the
Ninth U. S. cavalry. The guard had
Any farmer in Montana can produce
a profitable crop in even the driest year
if the approved methods of cultivation
are followed.
Settlors desiring detail information re
garding directions for growing crops on
320-acre homesteads should address E. C.
Leedy, General Immigration Agent, Great
Northern Railway, St. Paul, for particu
lars.
not reported the theft the next morn
ing when Paymaster Wilder came to
pay off the Utah regiments, which had
been in maneuver» at Camp Otis. The
guard is under arrest.
Two days before the robbery the
safe contained $80,000.
Pinchot Blames Congress.
Washington , Aug. 26. — Gifford
Pinchot of the National Conservation
association and former head of the
government forest service, in a state
ment issued this morning holds that
the loss of property and life in the re
cent and present forest fires was un
necessary. The disastrous results, he
says, ara traceable to the unprepared
ness to deal with the fire situation.
He scores members of the congress
who have opposed preparations for
the proper equipment of forest rang
ers and in that connection names
Senator Heyburn of Idaho, whose
home town, Wallace, suffered serious
loss; Senator Carter of Montana, aod
Representative Mondell of Wyoming.
Roosevelt Appeared in Pajamas.
Ames , Iowa, Aug. 26. —Speeding
westward in his special car Colonel
Roosevelt was not permitted to sleep
late this morning. Scarcely had the
state of Iowa been entered when a stop
was made at Marshaltown, where hun
dreds of people clamored to see Col
onel Roosevelt.
After some delay he emerged from
the rear door of his car smiling, but
protesting he had not been scheduled
to speak there. After his remarks, he
protested against the actions of the
photographers, who had brought their
cameras into action. "It is an out
rage," he said, "to take my picture
in this garb."
He had only time to throw a rain
coat over his pajamas, and to don
slippers when called to the platform.
The Roosevelt special will go through
Iowa and Nebraska, stopping at a
dozen or more places where Colonel
Roosevelt will make speeches.
Would Be Costly Experiment.
Washington , Aug 27.—Estimating
the cost of the experiment at about
$100,000 the war department officials
today denied requests to order a bom
bardment of the skies by all its guns
on Puget Sound and at the mouth of
the Columbia river in an effort to
bring on rain in the burning forest
districts of the northwest. In addition
to the objection of cost, the army offi
cials regarded the project as futile.
The navy department to which s siml
lsr request wss msde, expressed Its
willingness to co-operste with the
srmy with six or ten-inch guns, the
only ones at its disposai.
The experiment would hsve been
one of the most spectacular ever at
tempted in the United States. Around
Puget Sound, at forts Worden,
Casey and Flagler, the army has forty
12-lnch mortars, six 12-inch rifles;
eighteen 10-inch guns and twenty six
inch guns, besides a large number of
guns of smaller caliber. At the mouth
of the Columbia, in forts Columbia
and Stevens are eight 12-inch mortars;
eight 10 inch guns: three 8-inch guns
and eleven six-inch guns, in addition
to the smaller ones.
To fire these once simultaneously
loaded properly for the purpose in
mind, would have cost the govern
ment, it was estimated at the war de
partment, $10,000.
RAIN SAVES FORESTS.
Danger From Fires Reduced In
Stricken Districts.
Missoula , Aug. 24.—Conditions in
the burning forest districts in western
Montana continue to improve. Mother
Nature has come to the rescue and
has spread a covering of snow over
the valleys. Scattering reports re
ceived today show that the storm has
extended over an area of 100 square
miles and that every one interested in
the fight against the flames is exceed
ingly rejoiced.
Refugees continue to come in at dif
ferent points and it is thought that in
the end many reported to have been
burned to death will be unharmed.
The work of restoring normal condi
tions is proceeding rapidly.
The Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget
Sound officials have started four
trains to the fire district in the Bitter
Root mountains and these trains will
be used to replace camps, supply them
and rebuild such portions of the road
that have been destroyed. The trains
are amply laden with provisions and
material supplies to carry on the re
pair and relief work for some days
and before the end of the week, the
track between the level country and
the Bitter Root summit should be in
fair condition for operation.
At 11 o'clock today rain was report
ed falling copiously in Paradise, the
farther western point reached by the
local officials of the Northern Pacific.
Saltese and St. Regis sent similar re
ports. Latest reports indicate that
the storm is continuing. Supervisor
Kinney, of the Missoula national for
est, has received word from more of
the ranger stations in his district say
ing the storm is general. He has sent
out word to all rangers to keep the
Ore fighters at their posts.
Many Fire Fighters Dead.
Spokane , Aug. 24.—The red ban
ners of the forest fires continue to ad
vance through the mountains of Idaho
and Montana today, but more slowly,
and although thousands of bare and
blackened trunks stand where yester
terday majestic pine trees lifted their
glorious crowns, it is believed that the
strategy of man has triumphed over
the fury of flames and wind.
Today's news adds more than 35 to
the list of dead and makes it appear
likely that the total will reach one
hundred.
Twenty United States forest em
ployes have been found dead on Setser
creek, Idaho. Ten Japanese were
overcome near Avery, Idaho, two fire
fighters were burned to death near
Cabinet, Idaho, and another perished
near Tuscor, Montana. On the other
hand the list of known dead in the
state of Washington has been reduced
to six by removing the names of
ranchers Thomas Carey and John
Cady of Newport.
Settlers Must Sell Lands.
Washington , Aug. 24.—By order
of Secretary of the Interior Ballinger,
the surplus land of the Carlsbad, N.
M., project of the national reclama
tion service, will probably be placed
on sale today. This is the first sale
to be held under the surplus land pro
vision of the reclamation act of June
17, 1902, which provides that no in
dividual shall receive water from the
government constructed canals for
more than 160 acres, and the agree
ment entered into by the land holders
require them to dispose of their hold
ings in excess of 160 acres as soon
after the completion of the project as
possible.
There are about 8,000 acres of sur
plus lands In the Carlsbad project
which will be sold at public auction,
beginning today, under the provision.
These lands are all situated in the
lower Pecos valley of New Mexico.
A Frontier Day Celebration.
Cheyenne , Wyo., Aug. 23.—With
the opening of the frontier day cele
bration today the Invasion of Chey
enne was begun. The rsllroads are
bringing in thousands. On the street
the cow punchers are brushing shoul
ders with magazine writers, while the
timorous tourist hesitates on the curb
between the hundreds of Indians stalk
ing stolidly along the sidewalk snd
rsnge horsemen giving impromptu ex
hibitions of horsemsnsbip in the road
way.
All are eagerly awaiting the coming
of Colonel Roosevelt, whose presence
on Saturday will provide the climax
of a celebration.
An Army of Notaries.
Washington , Aug. 24.—The crea
tion of an army of 40,000 notaries
public was authorized by the post
office department today in accordance
with legislation enacted during the
past session of congress. All car
riers of the rural delivery mail service
are now required by the department
to execute vouchers for United State»
pensioners, residing on their routes,
for which service they sre to receive
25 cents for each voucher executed.
The establishment of the rural free
delivery service resulted in the discon
tinu snce of 23,550 fourth class post
offices, the postmasters of which bsd
been authorized to execute pension
vouchers. In order to afford assist"
snce to the pensioners congress pro
vided the carriers of the free delivery
service should the work.
Longest Fence In. WoHd.
San Antonio , Tex., Aug. 25.— The
longest fence In the world snd the
queerest srtificlal boundary estab
lished between two countries will in
the near future separate the United
States and Mexico. According to m
dispatch in the Mexico Record, a final
agreement to that effect has been
drawn up between the two govern
ments and the fence will be built in
the very near future. It will be con
structed of stout posts, possibly re
enforced concrete, and five-strand,
steer-tight and barbed wire. In all
places where the United States gov
ernment owns the land the fence will
be set up 20 meters or about 60 ysrds
to the north of the true boundsry line
and where the ground is owned indi
vidually the fence will stand on the
exact border. Mounted Mexican
rurales will patrol the fence on the
south and United States rangers will
do the same on the north.
The immediate purpose of the fence
is to prevent cattle from the two coun
tries from straying on foreign soil.
About 1,000 miles of fence will have to
be erected.
WILL FIGHT GRAFTING.
Roosevelt Advises Campaign Against
Official Crookedness.
Buffalo , N. Y., Aug. 25.—Theo
dore Roosevelt pledged himself to the
men of Buffalo today to help them snd
all sincere citizens to fight crooked
ness wherever it is found.
"I'll help you just as I did tn the
past," he said, speaking to the Elll
cott club, whose guest he was at break*
fast an hour after sunrise. He mad«
a plea for the punishment of crooked
and grafting public officials and the
election of honest ones in their places,
a process of gradually but permanent
ly raising the morale of political and
business life, and he said he thought
it a duty to hunt out crooks and es
pecially crooks in his own party.
"I believe in party government," he
said. "But the moment a question of
honesty is involved I recognize no
party distinctions, or if I do make
any, it is that It is a little more my
business to put the grafter and crook
out of public life if he belongs to my
party, than if to another. This at
titude demands that one's attention be
fixed not on financial or social status,
but on conduct."
Nearly 400 members of the Ellicott
club and other citizens representing
leading professional and business in
terests and a wide variety of political
affiliation awaited Mr. Roosevelt's
coming from the New York Central
station.
Convicts On Road Work.
Helena , Aug. 24.—In a letter ad
dressed to the secretary of the Helena
Commercial club the state board ol
prison commissioners announced to
day that the convicts who were brought
here from Deer Lodge to work on the
state fair ground will be moved to
Hellgate canyon, in Granite county,
put to work on the road there and the
work here stopped. The reason for
the action given is the failure of the
Commercial club to furnish the mater
ials necessary to continue the work.
The communication, which is s long
one, concludes:
"We do not think it necessary to in
dulge in further argument in sup
port of our position in working the
prisoners on publio roads, both in the
interest of the tsxpsyers snd the pri
soners themselves. However, we sre
dissppointed to find you deserting us
In so splendid s project ss hss been
undertsken here."
Jury Indicted Wrong Msn.
Helena , Aug. 24. —When the esse
of George Gordon, indicted on the
chsrge of selling whiskey to the In
disns, was called in the federal court
today it was found the wrong man
had been indicted. Judge Rasch dis
missed the case.
The special agent who worked up
the case knew the man who sold the
whiskey by sight, but did not know
his name and was given that of Geo.
Gordon. When Gordon appeared in
court today the special agent said he
was not the man and that a mistake
had been made.