Berkins, which shall be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. SEC. 3. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved January 15, 1869. JOINT MEMORIAL to Congress, praying for an Appropriation by the Congress of the United States, for the establishment of a Branch Mint in the Territory of Montana. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled : We, your memorialists, the council and house of representatives of the territory of Montana, in legislative assembly convened, would most respectfully but earnestly represent to your honorable body, that during the last five years this country has produced and thrown into the channels of commerce, immense quantities of the precious metals, gradually increasing from year to year, until, in the year 1867, according to the most reliable statistics, gold dust and bullion to the amount of twenty-four millions dollars in coin, have been produced, and it is confidently expected that the yield of the present year, 1868, will greatly exceed that of 1867, and that the cost of transportation of gold dust and bullion in bars, together with the difference in the cost of assaying, between private individuals and the United States, amounts to eight per cent. of the product of our mines, thereby entailing an annual expense on our citizens of upwards of one million and a half of dollars, which would be obviated by the establishment of a branch mint at some convenient point in our territory. Your memorialists would also most respectfully represent to your honorable body, that, owing to the application of capital and machinery, now being resorted to by our citizens, for the working of our placer mines, the annual yield of gold from this source will not decrease during the next ten years. In addition to this, which has been the principal source of our wealth in the past, the development and successful working of our rich and valuable gold and silver bearing lodes, will, in the future, largely increase our yield of the precious metals. There are now in our territory fifty mills for the reduction of ores; most of them are in operation, the balance are in course of erection, or undergoing repairs. Your memorialists would also most respectfully represent, that besides the large amount of the precious metals contained in our lodes, copper, lead and all the materials used in coining money, are contained in our territory in great abundance. Your memorialists, therefore, believing that it would be greatly to the advantage of the people of Montana, as well as to the interests of the people of the United States generally, most respectfully request that your honorable body will take such steps as will insure the establishment of a branch mint in the territory of Montana at an early day; and your memorialists will, as in duty bound, ever feel grateful. Approved December 31, 1868. JOINT MEMORIAL. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, the legislative assembly of the territory of Montana, would most respectfully represent: First. That the national road leading from Fort Benton to the navigable waters of the Columbia, through neglect, has become impassable for wagons for nearly one hundred and fifty miles, embracing all that portion from French town in Missoula county, across the Coeur d'Alene mountains in Idaho territory; that the line road, surveyed and laid out by Lieut. Mullen, crosses in its ascent of the Coeur d'Alene mountains on the eastern slope, the St. Regis Borgie river some forty-seven times, and that said road, in its ascent of the western slope of said moun tain, crosses the Coeur d'Alene river some forty-five times, and that the bridges, with but few exceptions, have been swept away, rendering these streams entirely impassable during the spring and early summer, at a time when our people are most in need of necessaries, not attainable from the East at that early season of the year. Second. That it has been estimated by competent engineers, and others acquainted with the cost of constructing mountain roads, that not more than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) would be required if judiciously expended, to put said national wagon road in good condition for vehicles of any and all descriptions. Third. In the opinion of your memorialists an appropriation of seventy-five thousand dollars, expended under the supervision. of some person interested in the welfare of our territory, would be ample for the above purpose, and when the road shall be so opened, the enterprise of our people now settling along the whole line, would be sufficient to keep the same in good repair, without further assistance from the general government for all time to come. Thus, the appropriation named in this memorial to open this so much needed great national highway at an early period, we your memorialists will, as in duty bound, ever pray. JOINT MEMORIAL, asking the Congress of the United States to Amend the Organic Act of the Territory of Montana. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, the legislative assembly of the territory of Montana, would most respectfully represent to your honorable body, that, by an act of congress, approved July 20, 1868, biennial sessions of the legislature of Montana are only provided for, and that section four of the organic act of our territory, provides that members of the house of representatives shall hold their office for the term of one year. Your memorialists would, therefore, most respectfully request, that section 4 of said organic act be so amended as to accord with provisions of the act of congress above referred to, thereby enabling a future legislature to provide for biennial elections, which would save expenses to the various counties of the territory, as well as to the general industry of the country; and your memorialists will, as in duty bound, ever pray. Approved January 15, 1869. To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, the fifth legislative assembly of the territory of Montana, respectfully show to your honorable body, that in the latter part of the year eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and in the spring of eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the war department of the United States incurred a debt in this territory in furnishing subsistence, etc., to a volunteer army called out, pursuant to orders of said department, to repel the savages from the valley of the Gallatin, and protect the citizens of that region. And your memorialists further represent, that the fourth legislative assembly of the territory of Montana did memorialize your honorable body, asking that this debt might be paid, and caused to be transmitted with said memorial, statements, etc., showing all the particulars thereof. Your memorialists are not informed whether any action has ever been taken upon said memorial by your honorable body, and avail themselves of this means of requesting your earnest attention to the same, and of asking for an appropriation sufficient to cover said indebtedness at as early a day as possible. Approved January 11, 1869. MEMORIAL to Congress asking for the establishment of a Military Road, and an appropriation therefor. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, the legislative assembly of the territory of Montana, would most earnestly represent, that the interests of the territory would be greatly enhanced, its settlement promoted, and the transportation of military supplies greatly facilitated, by the construction of a military road from the mouth of the Muscleshell, on the Missouri, to the South Fork of the same; thence up the South Fork and across the Belt Range to Fort Ellis on the Gallatin. Your memorialists most respectfully request that said road may be constructed, and that an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars be made for the construction of said road. Trusting that you will give the subject of this memorial your earliest and most earnest attention, Your memorialists will, as in duty bound, ever pray. COUNCIL JOINT MEMORIAL, No. 2. . To the Honorable Congress of the United States: Your memorialists, the council and house of the legislative assem bly of the territory of Montana, would earnestly petition your honorable bodies composing the congress, for a sufficient sum of money, adequate for a geological survey of this growing territory, of acknowledged mineral wealth, equal to any other portion of the United States possessions, for its medicinal springs, gold and silver deposits, coal, iron, and copper, marble and precious stones, which will greatly add to the riches of scientific research of the United States, by such geological exploration, besides aiding and assisting the indomitable energies of our inhabitants in swelling the great torrent of precious metals, falling into the channels of commerce, as your memorialists will ever petition. Approved January 15, 1869. |