Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-10-19

about one-third the proposed rates or the
North Pacific So, on the 10000 tons OF
ore and bullion exported there would be
saving of at least 500 per ton in cheap
freights, equal to $400, 900 per annum.
Deduct from this the interest on wages Tor
months paid as above to employees ($2l0,-
4OO) and we have left $181 600, equal to the
amount saved by cheap freights above in
terest. So, then, If the Benton Rood only eu-
ported 10000 toms Of ore and bullion, and
could be operated but for four months each
year, 1t qoould be acorth to the miners $1S1, 600
per annum more than any otter road that
acould run the gear round.
TIE ADVANTAGES TO MERCHANTS OF DENTON
ROAD COMPARED WITH DISADVANTAGES.
Let us now examine the question in refer
ence to merchandise imported. The 5000
additional miners and operators in machinery
would in turn give employment to an in
creased number of freghters, farmers, hotel
keepers, etc., and including their families,
would add, say Is, 1000 to the population of
the Territory. The Territory would then
consume ~'>e''. double the present amount of
goods, say 13, 900 tons per annum. Inc goods
imported in 1875, exclusive of military goods,
are estimated at 1000 tons. According to the
Auditors report for that year, the money in
vested in merchandise was 81 ,476, $40. At
the same ratio 13, 900 tons would cost So, 742,-
POI. This amount Of capital then, must re-
main invested in merchandise if our mer-
chants buy enough during four months to
carry them through the remaining eight.
Montana merchants now obtain 60 days
credit in the East without interest, and with
good Eastern backing can always get exten-
sions at 10 per cent. per annum. But as
suming that the merchants must borrow at
Montana rates this 2,742, POI to pay their
Eastern creditors, the interest for six months
at say Il per cent. per month would amount
to $246, ,79S. 1t is true that the Audi
tors report for 1875 does uot represent the
full amount invested in merchandise. But
it is also true that the Montana merchants
would not pay interest for full six months, as
constant receipts from sales would reduce the
indeb tedness. So, then, it is fair to assume
that $24G,798 really represents the true in
terest that would be paid by the Montana
merchants and charged to their customers.
But we have heretofore shown that the
proposed rate of Coulson & Co. for imports
($45 per tony is at least 1856 per ton less than
could possibly be obtained by the Utah North
ern, and $56 per ton less than by the North
Pacific, if both these roads were completed
to Helena. So, on the $4,000 tons imported
by the Benton route there would be saved at
least $35 per ton in cheap freights, making a
total of $455, 900 per annum.
Deduct from this the eight months interest
on money investedin merchandise ($246, 1881
and we have $208, 202-equal to the amount
saved by cheap freights above interest on i'm
ports. So then If the Benton road only ins-
ports 13, 900 tons Of goods, and could be opera
ted but for four months in the gear, 1t acoasld
SAGE, after aHoaeing for interest, to the aer-
chants and consumers Of the Territory, $685.
202 more than any other road that acould run
the gear round.
Add to this the amount saved on the O,O00
tons Of ore exported ($1S1, ,600) and we have
a total gain of $3S9,S02. This does not in
clude the amount that would he saved on the
transportation of wool and hides.
THE BENTON ROAD UNQUEsTlONABLY THE BEST
AS WELL AS CHEAPEST.
We have in this calculation conceded all
that is claimed by the opponents of the Ben
ton road. We have conceded that the Utah
Northern or Northern Pacific would run the
year round, which is hardly probable during
the winter months, and that the Benton route
could be only operated for four months in
stead of six or seven. We have as
sumed that the merchant and the miner dur
ing the eight months that they are unable to
transport merchandise or ores must borrow
money at our exorbitant Montana rates to