Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1876-09-15
Letter From r. w. Meadow
on the Railroad Question.
RozExAN. n. T., Sept 4, 1s1a


To the Editor Of the Herald:
In your issue of August 3lsi notice,
An article signed "Railroad," estimating
the amount Of funds required from encl
of the several counties to make up tn,
necessary 100000 to subsidize the For
Benton narrow-gau2e. While have al
vsys been strong advocate OF railroads
and firmly hvlieve It Is the only salvation
for Montana, l feel jispos.d 10 enter m,
protest against this foolish Benton projec,
which will be OF no benefit whatever Il
the Territory. AMI r'ust eventually result
IN utter failure. The Missouri is our nat
ural highway for commercial purposes
during tic months Of June, July, Angus,
and September. and by building portage
around the falls (Which wsuld cost hut q
few thousand dollars ii can be success
fully naviga:ed to the hrec Forks, and
even Is fur up as the confluence of the
Besverhesd and Big Hole rivers on the
Jefferson. l believe the Territory would
cheerfally assist in this enterprise, for
every county east Of the mountains would
be directly Interested. After passing the
Fails, there is no distractions in the river
to contend with, anil steamboats, of one
hundred and fifty tons burden could eas.
iiv rna from that Point to the three
Forks until the first Of October.
Give narrow gauge road from Helena
10 Fort Benton al the work it could pos
sihly do for four months in the year and
Il would hardly pay running expenses
Then where is the policy tor the people,
to 'r't away, their means in y hopeless en-
lerprise. when BY asmalI outlay they can
bring boats to the very door of the mt :
IropoIis capable Of doing the same bust
ness. besides benefitting other parts of thel
country? We cannot afford to bolster up|
The waning fortunes of Fort Benton. the
home of the trspper and trader. which 10
'ure to pass away with the Indian and
Buffalo But although the Missouri and
Yellowstone rivers are of vital Importance
for freighting purposes, they are not all
hat Montana needs to make her prosper.
JUS. The modern emigrant will travel
'nly by rail, and Without emigration our
esourc-s must lie dormant. In my opin-
on. the only relief is for US to prepare to
'ssist in building the Northern Pacific
The Vice President. Mr.. Stark, was here
ast winter AMI proposed TO our people to
lnish the roat to the mouth of Glendive
;rcrk, on the Yellowstone. From there to
}lendive the distance Ia between three
hundred and filty aud four hundred miles,
which would require assistance to the
mount Of thres and one.half million
olIars. This wouia bring it to the cen
er of the silver producing districts of
addison, Beaverhead. j. fferson, Desr
lodge and Lewis and Clarke. NO objec
ion could be raised on account Of location.
or it would alike benefit all. True, i'll
you'd pass through Gallalin county, butt
> II % necessary to have terra firma 10 lay
ne ties and iron on, can recommend the|
oil Of Gallatin as beng substantial and
1-ll adapted for that purpose II is u.s..
IS for me to argue the benefit that would
crue to the Territory ~ the building of
,is great trans contin entail highway. tn.
inject has already been exhausted Ev-
y right thinking man cannot deny the !
'ct that our assessed valuation would in Il
case ,hree-fold by the time the road was n
nished, and it would b. unnecessary to .,
Wy single dollar tax to pay the interes,
! the bonds.
The Legislature meets in January. lie, =
select men tina! will throw aside prrju- u
ce and meet in spirit Of harmony. de- al
rmincd 10 work for the people and advs- Isl
. the interests Of the Territory. h
where there is will there 10 q way" !.
BY sys'em Of railroads, Colorado, IN "
10 Centes NAL year, assumes her station
sovereign State. Montana can, In a few u
ars. aid the 39ih lumnary to that bright ia
lazy Of stars inscribed on our national
nper.
~