The Montana post., 1868-12-25
ROADS FOR THE PEOPLE.

In an endeavor to impress upon our
Legislators the Importance of providing
facilities for travel in Montana, we are
confident we only speak the desires OF
their constituents. No one will ques>
tIon the tact that We are now suffering
from the extortions of toll keepers, and
that it results iDjuriously to the Terri
tory. The mere fact of not chartering
any more such monopolies is not suffi-
cient. The charters may not be revoked,
or the parties bought out at enormous
sums. but the Territory should inaugu-
rate a system of public highways tree
To all travellers, and tins materially en-
courage industry and immigration. The
principal highway in and out of Mon
tana, viz: that extending 70 Utah,
should be improved by changing the
route. and the tolls lightened wherever
practicable. The suggestion to memo
rialize the general government 10. con-
stTucJ a military road from Fort Benton
to the nearest point on the L. 2. Rail-
road, will not meet the exigencies Of The
case, as, providing an appropriation for
that purpose could be secured. il would
not be available to prepare the
road for the travel of the en-
suing season. Our Legislature can
not control the roads outside
OF Montana, but IL can for $1,000 open a
road from Silver Star 10 Snake river,
shortening the route forty miles. aud
avoiding the stormy ascents of the
Pleasant Valley range, locate a thor
oughiare with grades as slight as those
of South Pass, enabling teams 10 load
fully a third more freight, and make
the trip in three days less time This
road should be opened from Jefferson
bridge up the Jefferson. until intersect~
ing the Bannack road, thence TO Bans
mack over fine natural road, thence by
Horse Prairie where the ascent is easy
TO the pass in the main range, where
Medicine Lodge is struck. from which
point to Eagle Rock bridge there is an
easy grade or level prairie. This is the
natural road which is demonstrated by
the fact that those great path finders.
the buffaloes, whose faculty is unerring
instinct, and whose trails the Indian,
the explorer, and the surveyor have ever
found upon the best engineering line.
made this the line of ingress and egress
from the South TO the Deer Lodge and
Missouri Valleys The deviation from
this to the Pleasant Valley and Beaver
head Canyon route, was purely from the
effect OF ignorance of the country by EN-
igrants and local circumstances, and
will only be by n return
10 first principles. The Bill of Mr.Estes
whose property is on the toll road, WAS
for the purpose of strangling
the project by the excessive appropria-
ton asked, and il is right that our legis-
lators give attention TO a road that opens
up direct communication, shorter, easl-
er, and tree from tolls, TO eight of the ten
of Montana Another desira-
BILE public Improvement is the opening
of a public road from Gallatin Valley To
Helena. and by the erection of bridges
over the Jefferson and Madison above
their confluence. obviste the dangers.
delays and excessive ferriage rates on
the Missouri. Helena is the principal
market tor the products OF that valley.
and il is here the store supplies are
purchased. IL would i'm
benefit the industrious agncul
tura1 population OF that county, and the
expenditure of a small amount of money
IN public bridges would be practical en-
TO agrieultare. render
of the products of the
valley possible at all seasons, and be
worthy of all commendAtion. While
pleased TO see the. Legislature memori- ]
Alizing the Goyernment on the subject
Of free roads, il Is not well TO neglect
practical evidences OF good faith. The