The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-10-01

CONSTRUCTION ny the GIT OF lands or the loan
Of credit, that fact ought to he taken into
account by the corporators; and In their c.
timatc Of reasonable profits to be expected,
they should not do (what I believe some
corporations have donc) ignore the gifts re-
ceived, and demand large interest on the ac-
tual cost Of making the road, just as if all
had been Meir oun outlay. Gifts of land
from the Government TO corporation that
would open up for settlement y country
which else must remain wilderness, would
evidently be true policy for the nation.
But large minded men, anxious to keep faith
with the people, will he all the more ready
to make these franchises and largesscs ef-
fcctive for the ends for which they were be-
slowed. Such men suppose to be those
who arc incorporated for building the North
Pacific l.ailroad. They arc, trust, men
who will not be greedy for large and im,nc.
diatc returns, for should they be such, they
would, it seems to me, defeat the very ends
for which they have combined.
The following are the concluding portions
of letter from w Miner Roberts, Engi-
neer, who accompanied the Garfield party
through Montana, to the Pittsburgh I'ost
It Is dated Helena, Aug. 25th. It is prac-
tically the general report Of the man upon
whose opinion Jay Cooke relies tn decide
his action in assuming the financial manage.
mcnt Of the road, and its favorable character
places tho question beyond doubt:
TEE YIELD or GOLD.
The only practical limit to the production
of gold from gravel washing over this large
area (Alontana) is the quantity of water
available. The want of water 1t present,
owing to the remarkable drought which has
prevailed this year throughout the entire
country, from the Pacific ocean 10 the upper
waters of the Missouri river, has curtailed
the gold production in Montana very SER
iously. Had It been even an ordinary sea-
son of SHOWS and rains, their preparations
were such that the product of 1860 would
have far exceeded that of any previous year.
There can be no question that gold min
ing in this Territory is yet in its infancy,
and agriculture also. The gold Is here, and
tho soil and climate arc here for the hand
some support of large population. With
. railroad s.fording this fine Territory q con-
venicnt and cheap outlet for its products, it
will speedily become well populated, and
contribute literally and essentially to the
support Of the General Government
No portion of the comparatively unsettled
parts of the United States can be better en-
titled to the fostering care of the Govern
mcnt than the range of Territories extend.
ing from Lake Superior and the Upper Mis-.
sissippi to the Rocky Mountains, and thence
to the Pacific; for with complete railroad
through them, they will be rapidly populat-
ed, and he covered with large grazing farms,
intcrspcrsed with general agricultural farms.
the xosra PAc,vso RAILaoAn. -*
To bring out and confirm its real value, .
railroad connecting 1t with the two oceans,
and their commerce is necessity. It may
be set down as certain, that q belt of coun-
try three hundred aud fifty miles wide, and
fourteen hundred miles long is to be render
ed valuable to our people in no other way
than by the construction of IN east and west
railrosi through il; and that the completion
of such road will give il 4 value which Il
cannot otherwise obtain. %~&@'3% - ~. '."s'
This belt embraces fouf hundred aadnine.
ty thousand square miles t490, ,000s or three
hundred and thirteen millions six hundred
thousand acres l3l3, coo, ,O00). 4... ...
Suppose that the government Of the Unit
cd States should construct such . railroad
through this territory, 1t cost In round
numbers OF one hundred millions Of dollars,
the people of the United States would be the
gamers, and to very large amount; for i'd
mitting that it would give IN average value
Of but hfty cents an acre, It would be worth
then one hundred and fifty six millions ot
dollars; while without the road 1t will neye,
ID any great extent be settled, and win b.
comparatively valuelesA IN
But this u not the whole Of this question;
for If the construction Of such road shall,
n Il surely viii Be, tho means and The only
means Of inducing the early and extensive
population and Improvement d this'in.
msnss region, Il win - irus policy - build
II, inassnuch = The mlnions whO, win soos
occupy \ c1nsot fail % contribute materially
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