FORT BENTON, MONTANA.
Last year ono million two hundred and
fifty thousand pounds of wool wero
shipped by the Missouri river from Fori
Denton, and this year the shipment will
reach two million pound, which rcpre
sent, in cab, about $00,(xx).00, tho
greater portion of which will bo left with
our merchant for supplies necfary to
carry on tho businea till tho next M liar
vest time." Tho growth of tho cattlo
business has been equally rapid In
1S80 thero were but a few small herds in
Chotean county, where now there are
over ono hundred thousand head, valued
at $3,000,000.00. In 1SS0 tho number
of farms in Cboteau county was exceed,
ingly limitod, while in ISSfi, thirty-nino
thousand one hundred and siity-four
acres of improved land wero asaesiwd,
the arne Wing valued at $2S 1, 170.00.
Wo have now entered another and itn
jwrtant period -ono that will witnea
quicker and greater changes than have
yet taken place-tho railroad era, A
miracle in railroad construction, almost,
ha been prforraed in tho building of
tho St Paul, Minneajioh A' Manitoba
railroad from the ItM river valley wct
across tho trackless prairie of Northern
Montana, to tho It cky inouutain. Al
though four hundred mile of thi road
are through an Indian reservation, atd
probably an equal distance through un
settled public land, yet the completed
track reached Fort Den'on be
JHh, upon which occasion, with tn
ing c remony, and in the prewncfl of
Mr. J. J. Hill nd a party of capitalist
from New York, a silver spike wadriv.
en in honor of the event
For a (liilance of nearly two hundred
mile the railroad ae through the
center of Choteau county, and it ittlu.
ence in promoting the development of
the variou resource of this section will
bo simply wond-rfuL It will inaugu
rate t complete revolution by the tile-
ment of tho country, the building of
new towns, etc The Manitoba will not
long have the field to it If; other road
are certain to enter, and branch line
wilt bo constructed in every possible di
rection; tho mine of tho surrounding
mountains and our immense coal field
will lie fully developed and pay rich
tribute to tho railroad; the ranchman,
wool grower and stock farmer will take
Kcion of Northern Montana; the
vast herd will t divided up, and the
occupation of the cowboy will bo gone.
These are some of the change that will
take place, and under thi new reyiW,
Fort Denton will keep jaco with this
progress of event almut hr. Hituated
at the head of navigation of the Missouri
river, her position i the strongest p.
sible one. It ha proved so in the past,
and will in the future. Just a all rail,
road in the Northweston state h-nd to
8t Faul, so they will In the New North,
west to Fort Denton. They must come
to tho river. In time, the railroad will
lo distributer and feeder for our great
water way, the Miuri river, and Fori
Dnton, the City of Destiny, will U the
commercial center of the North Itoeky
Mountain region.
Fort Dn is beautifully situation
the wint bank of the Missouri rivr, on
large, high, gravel bottom, It street
are broad and regularly laid out ltcn.
tains itnn of the heiiet and wealthiest
mercantile firms in Montana, among
which may Ui mention! T. C, Fowrr A
Dro, who are aUi owners of the li!ik
F lin of at aiijer, plying U Uem thi
city and Diarnarrk and way point. T.
(I. UAer A Ca are a!o well known, and
are largely interred in busiu enter,
prise in the Canadian Northwut Mur.
phy, Maclay A Co, branch of J.a T.
Murphy A Co, of Hrb-L;ln A KMo.
of Helena, and many others, rompr!
lie basin boue of Fort Vux
There are many Cne public and pri.