The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-09-30
tEnaineering and Mining Journal. Sept. l2l
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Proposed Koates Oi the Northern Pacific
Railroad In Montana.

Proposed Roates Of the Northern Paclf
n Railroad In Montana.
HELENA. Aug. 4. 1871.
IL IS moi ny any means certain by vii,
route the Northern Pacific railroad will tr,
verse Montana. The mountain passt
through the two great ranges which cxten
through the Territory must bc thorough
explored; experimental lines must lie run
the character of the country along each I'm
must I've noted; the mysterious isothermal
must bc duly found; and finally, when al
possible information bearing upon the sub
Ject has been gathered. n careful compariso,
"f oil the proposed routes must he made
attitudes. distances, grades, probable fu,ur,
business. snow fall, even beauty Of scenery
must i,S s~ksas -jnso sccouns,: sud in mi,
'a'H'r'ous and methodicsl manner the ulti
mate choice will he made.
All these preliminary operations are under
the direction of Mr.. w. Minor Roberts. IN
engineer Of experience. skill and adminis
fra'ive ability. whose headquarters nre
established ut Helena. Operations were
bego" lust year in the country west of the
Rocky mountains. by the running of some
experimental lines. Even before that. Mr.
Roberts and other engineers had made nu
iner"us "Reminiscences, accumu!,tiny much
Information rs to the general Typography of
the region. and the localities in whicl, more
detailed examination would he advisable
The chapter upon this subject contributed
I" the report Of 1870 Of the Commissioner
"f Mining Statistics. hy Mr.. Roberts him.
self, indicates IL complete acquaintance with
the general features Of the case, and IL still
the hest authority within the reach of the
public According to that clear and com.
prelcnsive statement. the line of cusjest
grades and least snow appears to he One
Crossing the Missouri at or near the month
"f The Yellowstone; thence along the Yel
I"ws'onc Valley 10 the BOzeman pass in the
Belt range: thence over IL the waters Of the
GalIa'in fork. down aud acr,ss That stream
anu across The Madison fork 10 the Jcffer. q, |
F"rk. and up 'l'"t valley To the Deer Lodge
bass through the main chain Of the Rocky
Mountains; thence down the Deer Ldy,.
ALLEY and the Hell Gaze river u Clark,s
ivcr-bnt This brings US int, Idaho. nrd
'e "re only concerned at present with the
cute hr"ngh Montana. The westward
ut the line will probably de.
'rnl up"" the pass chosen in the mountains.
II II only necessary to occupy the valley
i some tributary "f the Columbia rising IN
he mountains, and follow y general down.
l!d ~slale ~ liz: Ses- Ps,,haLly, Ci.sL.,
vcr VIII I've The tributary chosen. and it
'iI' hc reached either by ,he He'll Gate. it's
'a:n southern, or the Blackfoot, its north
rn fork.
The route above skc.ched has thus fur. |
INK, been most in favor among those best
with the country. Du, this may (
'ssihly bc due i" the fac, that other noun
in passes. lying outside the lines Of pio,
rcr travel. have never teen explored. Mr..
"'"r's IL not the man To jump hastily to a !
inclusion; and while his disposition Of the
'"ps"y's surveying parties indicate some
spec's''"n that the Yellowstone will prove Z
Il best entrance To the mountains, there in (
lack "f faithful and persevering Inquiry u
I" more n"''hcry routes. In the present \
completeness "f data. there is much 10 he 1.
gre'y. aud little I" he definitely said on 4
l'' sides. The Deer Lodge pass is me of
l"west yet exp!ored-,,ot more, Think. IL
an $500 feet. This line. moreover, would /
~ moi very far from Virginia City. Helena r.
q Deer Lodge. and open what are now v
most productive mining regions of the b
'rr't"ry. On the other hand. il involves n v
ns'dcrable detour. Moreover, it may he ..
esti"nrd whether the rniroad could not NJ
better to uass through districts further cI
rib. Lis beneficial effect upon the mines
u be great enough in either case. It r
u'd be easy 10 construct short mcridianal NJ
inches of narrow gauge for the transport. tc
m of ores, bullion or supplies. Again. D,
nearer this railroad passef tn the British ri
e. the more certainly 1t controls the trad. On
the North, and prevents all successful N
npe'ition "n British s.,il. d.
'"s''v, the southern part Of Montana z.
u le reached by = branch line from the Il,
ion Pacific, ut no distant dsy. The en-.
eers of that company are now surveying
Inc fr'm Evanston. up the Bear river
Icy 10 Soda Springs. where there is II
rnon town: and l am assured that nar.
gauge road will be running to thu, IL
ut before the end Of next year. Now di
Ia Springs Is In southeastern Idaho. and Il,
u hundred miles nearer than Curinnr cr,
Montana 1t seems inevitable so III. that Tel
northern trade of Corinne will be taken vi
y ~ THIS measure. and that S.xla Sprinvs iml
become for ; time the shipping pnnt On
~ which the freight teams Will start "a
this r"ad d intended to 70 on through q
.t""a and 10 connect with lhs Nortller. he
iiic. .@ co,
here are profound plans and great now. "
underlying these movements. Il Il . 'na
lest of The giants. The Central Pacific ~
;aiif0rnis has never cordially co.oper. ~ ~
with the Union Pacific. though one ~
I'D think the siamese twins NIGH. a IL
quarrel - these two companies, wlhse s'l'
y form In reality but one line across The ~
lincnt. But. whatever n.sy be The rxa- ~
the Colossus Of the West nnd il,s ~. Lt1