Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-03-08
NORTH AND SOUTH MAR
ROW GAUGE RAILROAD
BILL.

s]SN.>A
Narrow Gauge Progress, should be ca
fully read and preserved for future :,
erence. At time like the present, VIII
the people Of Montara are required
consider the important proposition
f'""'"o .s..Us'uy, .Y"a' ~ one SIAtn
I'll the esscssabie property of the Teri
tory, or in twenty years. All amour. e
ceeding onc-baif the present valuation
All the taxable property, to all mario
gauge road to Montana. it behoov
every resident and legal voter TO careful
consider the subject, and so inform hin
If that he may be prepared to vote i
diligently and for the best interest Of Il
Territory. should thu proposition |
submitted to the people (Which We thin
it doubtless will bel on Tie 10th of ne,
month.
We say. that Incorporation will doub
Joss be submitted to The people, for "
cannot imagine that the ''Goultl-Dll!on
company will! ht state moment a5or
accepting j. unless they see constitutions
or Judicial difficulties in the way of SC
curing the proposed bonds. For surel
The proposition Isl most liberal ono, bcin
in fact, 5000, 900 more than the ccmpan
asked, and perhaps half million MGR
than they ever expected to get.
There is nothing small" or mean. how
ever. about our Montana Legislators o
the people they represent. If their purse
were as large as their hearts they would
be the most liberal people on the face O
the earth. Bat herein lies one of th,
greatest objections to the propose con
tribution, to wit: Our absolute inability
to ray either the interest or principal
especially on that large proportion Of til {
proposed subsidy which will be expended
outside of this Territory, and of course,
unrroductive of revenue to it.
We wish TO be distinctly understood,
here and row, that We are decidedly in
favor of railroads that We entertain
naught but the kindest feelings and pes,
wishes towards Helena AMI the plucky.
cnterprising anil persevcring people of
that burg. That we also know that a
railroad cannot be built and operated to
Helena without tenefiting the entire
Territory. But in an enterprise of this
kind. and especially where the entire
community is asked 10 contribute so
gely-perbaps, beyond all precedent in
proportion to its means-ordinary pru-
dence and business sasacity would dictate
that we view the proposition from a
practical standpoint, become as familiar
as possible with its terms, and estimate
lis probable consequences to the Territory
at large.
Without claiming to have given the
subject that close investigation that its
demands, we can but briefly
slu:'e in this article to few of the most
prominent and formidable objections to
the Act
LIST. As to the proposed road itself
over the route TO which it Is restricted by
the Bill, we are confident that, if built, it
would be u comparative failure. 1t would
fa:l in winter on account of the high alli-
tude. and the deep SHOWS which almost
invariably fail On the high mountain
ranges over which the road must n,ces
sariIy Cross 10 reach the settlements of |,
Montana. From our observation. and all
We have been able TO learn about narrow
gauge railroads. they are under the mos:
favorable circumstances little less than {
ai'ures. especially in localities where +,
'eep cuts are necessary and heavy snow e
storms are OF frequent occurrence. The c
route from franklin TO Monta- Il
IA is perhaps more formidable in these re-
poets than any over which mario " gauge %
Dad has ever been Projected or built.
~. The cost Of The proposed road is q o
natter of the most serious import 10 the a
as-payers of the Territory. With as
lebt Of only half million, they already
eel the taxes 10 b. burdensome. The .
proposed subsidy would necessarily IN. D
reasc the rate 100 per cent the first year. "A
r what would be the same thing; on the E
omplction of the first 100 miles. ard Il
he delivery Of bonds as proyidej.
interest or nearly 100000, IN sddi.
ion 10 the present Territorial indebted
ess, would have to be provided for by
axation. and that. long before the road II
caches. or in any percaptable degree ben
tilted the Territory, and SO Oh in ali in g
reas ng ratio IN il the road shall be com. p
leted. Conceding that the proposition =
'ill be accepted, and that the legal voters :,
the Territory will approve the Bill or a,
be 10th OF April next. the enormous sum te
81 200. 600 will be added to the indebt
ess of the Territory, and the payment OF - :,
le interest by taxation becomes inevitable y,
regardless of what the Territorial bonds p
lay Sell for in the market, or their pres. al
NJ value to the railroad company, the !"
erritory will have TO provide tor the II,
aymeDt of the entire interest at tho rate SC
'ec'tied in the Bill, $40 per cent. per 1t
mum. and pay 100 cents on the dollar m
redeem the bonds at maturity. Our al
'lgstions will be DEFINITE, CERTAIN. q
EyrTABLr, while the ROAD may signally :"
il, either to meet the expectations of its
yocates in rapidly developing the rich
Ineral treasures of tie Territory. In
tgely Increasing our population, or ID wi
y reasonable degree proving a source sc
revenue to Oh. Territory. ev
3rd. Another grave and objectionable w
'tnre Of the Bill, Il the sypendins ., W