Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-11-02

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1875.
This is an age of progression. The course
ofthe American people is onward. From
the days when the Pilgrim Fathers landed
at Plymouth Rock, the Cavaliers at James
town, and the Hugenots on the Carolinas,
the soul Of a great people, inspired by am
bition, has pressed them forward with rapid
stride to the accomplishment of mighty
deeds. The dismal wilderness vanished be-
fore them like mist from the rising sun, the
%bOundless plains have become their happy
home, the barren dessert found to be mutri-
tious pasture, and the widest dell of the
mountains has been made to ring with the
cheerful song of the husbandman. The
great continent is grid-ironed with railroads.
The broad Mississippi Valley is a perfect
network of iron bands and still pressing on
ward, a number are hating at the foot of
the Rocky Mountains, with a connecting
link binding them to the Golden States of
the Pacific. U..@a Ell
Montana, lying apart to the northwest,
the most Isolated Of American common
wealths, true to the spirit of progress that
has characterised the restless march of civil
ization from the angry shores of the Attain
tie, is looking forward with bright hopes to
to the day when she will be bound to her
sister States with this mighty girdle of iron.
The few hardy pioneers who have pushed
themselves far out and ahead of this mod
ern civilizer" nave demonstrated Montana
to be possessed Of q world of wealth in min
eral, pastoral and agricultural lands, and
are waiting with anxiety to hear the scream
OF the magic messenger and see the head
light illuminating our valleys, that they
might welcome their less v.enturesome
friends to a magnificent empire, and share
with them their beautiful mountain home.
There is not, perhaps, a man in all our Ter
ritory but would hail with delight the ad-
vent of a railroad, but the question which
divides the different sections, is which one
OF the prodosed roads, now spoken of. will
accommouatr tiic pcoprc uest, anu now anu1
by what means can either be obtained.
The Northern Pacific, first in the heart of
every Montanian, is regarded by many as
beyond our reach. The two proposed
roads from the south each muster a liberal
share of supporters, while the road to the
head of navigation has, also, its cordial
friends.
Unfortunately for us, the era when rail-
roads were built for sake of the profit to ac-
crue from the traffic thereon has passed.
The taxpayers of the section to be accom-
modated are now expected to put up most
OF the collateral. But few roads are under
taken III these latter days, except under ar
engagements of this kind. Therefore. stu
afed as Montana is, an oasis in the desert
ayoung civilization bounded by an unin-
habited waste and its border menaced by
reacherous, Warlikc and hostile savages. it
y hardly possible that any road will track
the intervening leagues unassisted by aid
from the people.
Yet, the principle of allowing corporations
TO build their " railroads, " them, and
charge the public for the service rendered is
far the safest. And we would here ~reiterate
tlat we are not in favor of subsidies. and
nave never seen that pressing need which
would warrant US in advocating a subsidy.
our lessons upon this subject having been
too severely taught, for us to see such things
easily. Yet, our Territory has reached that
period in her existence when a large majori-
~ Of our people are ripe for a subsidy. and
the only question, or only work to perform.
Is 70 unite them upon onc project.
We confidently expect to see all the above
mentioned roads knocking at the door of
onr Legislature the coming session, solicit
s,~ n ....l III L. - H