Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-03-09

Yellowstone .slley-The Blaek
1ssSs-(;en. Clusters Stories
Of Gold Verified.
-lFrom the Pittsburgh (Pa> Telegraph,
Gen. Stark, Vice President, and W. Mil
nor Roberts, Chief Engineer of the n. ?. X.
H., passed through our city (Feb 14th) on
their return to New York from winter visit
to Montana. The train stopping half hour at
the Union depot afforded opportunity for
pleasant interview with these gentlemen
They had gone out in the early part of Janu-
ary to confer with the Legislature and the
people of the Territory with a view to some
mutually advantageous plan for pushing for
ward the road into business portions of
Montana.
They presented a memorial to the I.cgis-
lature setting forth the conditions of the Com
pany; showing that nine-tenths of the bonded
debt had been voluntarily exchanged for
preferred stock, that the floating debt was
rapidly being extnguishcd, that about five
hundred and fifty miles of the railroad had
been completed, already paying considerably
more than the running expenses, that the
line was we'll stocked with locomotives and
cars, and referring to the importance to
Montana mining and other interests Of an
early outlet by way of the Northern Pacific
line % Lake Superior and Chicago, and
thence into connection with the railroad
systems of Canada, New England, and the
United States generally.
By invitation Gen. Stark and Mr. Roberts
met both branches Of the Legislature, and
many Of the business citizens ct the Terri
tory in the Court House in Helena, and de-
livered addresses on the subject which were
received. They also answered various ques-
tons put by members and citizens which
aided IN further calculating the plans under
consideration.
The proposition made 10y the agents of the
Company embraces tho feature OF guaran-
tee, applying tue income of the road west Of
Bismarck, derived from Montaua, to ine
payment of the interest on the territorial
bonds, and 10 provide sinking fund for the
redemption Of the principal within twenty
five years. The Montana people pay every
year more than million OF dollars for wag-
oning their freight to and from the Union
Pacific Railroad, SO that even with greatly
reduced rail charges, and allowing for no
increase in the volume of business to te done
there appears ample assurance that the road
will be able to meet its obligations.
Under present arrangements it is a pretty
hard journey to take in mid winter from
New York to Montana, tho travelling alone
to Helena and back occupying nearly e
month. The route these gentlemen took
was by way of the Pennsylvania and Ft
Wayne roads to Chicago, the Northwestern
to Omaha; the Union Pacific to Ogden. the
Utah Northern (narrow gauge to Franklin,
and thence by stages alternating with sleds,
four hundred and thirty miles, among and
over the Rocky Mountains, to Helena. In all
going and returning, nearly six thousand
miles, These gentlemen report the snow in
some places over three feet deep on a level;
in other places the roads for many miles
were dusty. This was the case in passing
through that portion of Idaho which lies
between Utah and Montana. After passing
the main range of the Rocky Mountains near
Pleasant Valley, and fairly entering Montana,
no difficulty from snow was experienced.
Most of the way was travelled in coaches, on
Try roads entirely free from snow.
Since leaving Helena, on their way East,
he gentlemen have received telegraphic dis
patches announcing that the upper branch of
he legislature had passed bill by vote Of
eleven to one, appropriating the credit of the
Territory, for the purpose named, to the
amount of three and half million of dollars,
md that it had passed the House of Repre-
entatiyes by a vote Of twenty three to three.
t is to be submitted to vote of the people
If Montana.
The opening Of this railroad to the heart
# the mining regions of this important terri
Ory, will be an event of vast consequence
,ot merely to the people of Montana, but to
he great railroad and business interest Of the
United States. \ very large area of this ter
itOry contains numerous mines of gold and
liver, lead and copper, &c, many Of which,
wing to the great cost of shipping them at
be present time under the present inadequate
nd costly arrangements for their transpor-
alton, must remain unworked. BY the con-
truction of about five hundred miles more
# the Northern Pacific line, now running
0 the Missouri river ut Bismarck, this mine
f national wealth will be tapped at its centre
" first class railroad, extending overfavor-
bic ground across Dakota, and along the
1ellsWst0ne-the finest unOccupied railroad
alley on the continent. Then instead of the
ong, costly and tedious route, which we have
escribed, there will be about one thousand
liles of continuous railroad from the heart
+ Montana to the head of navigation of
AXE Superior, about thirteen hundred miles
} Milwaukee, and about fourteen hundred
lilies to Chicago. Then instead Of taking
welve to fifteen days, as it does now in the.
inter. the trip can be made, all rail, from
lew York to Central Montana in five days,
'ithout fatigue. Bismarck, the point where
le railroad crosses the Missouri river will
1en become the great transfer and shipping
oint between the railroad and the vast nayi-
alton of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers
EE1 <<cA, <r.--
A MAN has been found who does not com.
lain at the laws delays. He lives in
ouse which is the subject of lawsuit, and
aving been ordered by both litigants to pay
<c otho ho hn