The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-02-17
". MILNER ROBIRTs,
Chief Eng'r n. P. R. r
dELkSA, January 18th, 1876.

! From the Chcago Tribune, Feb. ID.
Gen. Stark, Vice-President of the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company, arrived il
this city Saturday on his way to New York
de has been spending the winter at Helena
ii. l., where he has been urging the interest:
OF the railroad with the Legislature. A TRI-
BUNE reporter, calling upon him at the Grand
Pacific yesterday afternoon, found him in q
Jublant frame OF mind, caused by the recep
ton of telegram from Helena announcing
that the subsidy bill in behalf of the North
ern Pacific bad al last passed the Legislature
In response to the reporters queries, Gen
| Stark stated that the bill had passed the coun
Gil by vote of ii to !, and the House by q
vote Of % to 3.
"W hat is the amount of subsidy ?" queried
the reporter.
Three and half millions, the amount
being raised by Territorial bonds running
twenty five years.
1T is understood here that the grant is
conditional"
80 it is. The bill granting the subsidy
provides that the railroad company shall
raise enough money outside to complete the
road to Bozeman. What we originally asked
was that the Territory give US outright 81,
100000 with no conditions; but perhaps this
is just as we'll"
You spoke of Bozeman as the proposed
terminus of the line. Many people in this
part of the country are doubtless ignorant OF
its exact location"
"Bozeman is situated 500 miles west OF
Bismarck, and l20 miles distant from
Helena"
"Will the road be pushed through to
Helena,"
That is impossible yet to tell 1t is still
an open question with US whether to run the
road through Helena or Deer Lodge. If we
go through Helena, the route beyond that
VIII be difficult to complete, as, on account
OF the nature of the country there must be
a great deal of tunnelng and grading, or else
a long detour must be made"
How many miles of track are now com
plcted on the entire route?"
There are two sections now in operation.
one OF these begins at Duluth and runs to
Bismarck, a distance of 400 miles. Then
on the Pacific Division the road is finished
tuom Puget Sound to Columbia River, s dis
tance of 100 miles"
How many miles are yet to be complet-
ed ~
The gap between the two termini is about
500 miles in width"
Is there any immediate prospect of ex-
tending the Pacific Division =
There is very good prospect. L fact,
negotiations are now pending for a cOntnua-
uon Of the work on that portion of the
road"
Concerning the work between Bismarck
and Bozeman, how long will it take TO put
this part of tie line ready for operation ~
AS near as l can judge from present ap-
pearances, it will take about three years
us the country so hilly as TO hinder seri-
ously the progress of the work 2"
NO; there is nJthng but level plain be-
tween the two points, OF, at least, until We
strike the Valley of the Yellowstone, and
that Is as easy for track-!aying as the gener-
ALT of river bottoms. The chief obstruc-
tlcn To the work comes from the Indians"
You spoke about condition attached TO
the subsidy grant, that the Company is to
raise enough money to complete the proposed
extension. What do you estimate will be
the amount required to be raised ?"
4 figure it at about Sc, 900, 900, and AIN
now on my way to New York to see about ne
yodarins for loans 10 that ameun.."