Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-02-08

extent upon the action taken upon the othef
railroad bills.
A very interesting discussion took place
last Monday morning over q bill introduced
by Meadow, limiting the Territorial debt
to $500, 900, and providing that the subsidies
granted by the Territory torailroad corpora
tons should not exceed one hundred thou
sand dollars; Watson, Brown, Cullen Wat
erbury and Mitchell opposing the bill, and
Meadow, Hays and Ford f~ayoring it. The
bill was finally rejected by a vote OF eight
to five.
The resolution offered by Ford, in the
Council, providing that no subsidy shall be
granted to corporations for the building OF
railroads outside of the Territory, came up
on that body like a cyclone in mid-ocean,
and was one of the hardest nuts yet pre-
sented to the friends Of the North and South
road to crack. 1t was demora1izing, in the
extreme. and was passed over with but little
argument in opposition; Hays, Ford, Mo
Adow. Bass and Constans f~avoring it, and
Mitchell, Brown and Waterbury opposing.
On the same day, in Council Committee
of the Whole, Mitchell's North and South
railroad bill was under consideration and
was well ventilated. A motion to change
the terminus of the road from Fish creek to
the mouth of Boulder. brought out al in
teresting debate-Mitchell and Watson OPP
posing the change. Mitchell took the ground
that the point designated in the bill (Fish
creck) was the best point for a terminus, for
~, ,,o,cn,, +Iat ~ xyoc tho 60 M Iicto;3ra from
Helena, Virginia, Deer Lodge and Bozeman,
Watson's reason for opposing the change
of terminus seemed. to be because it might
effect a change in the route and bring the
road down the Madison valley, over the
Henry lake route, which would leave Bea-
yerhead county to far to the west, but his
speech was devoted mainly to his position
on the Northern Pacific proposition which
was submitted last. year, except when he re-
ferred to the cost of shipping quartz from
his section. He. even tried toadd a proviso
compelling the roadato run down the Bea-
verhead, and having for its terminus the
Bly, Hole. Mitchell and Waterbury Uttered
with him. They. thought the railroad cont
pany should have the right to construct the
road over the most practicable route, and
intimated that the Henry's lake route would
bring the road so near the National Park
that it might be advisable and preferable to
go that. way. But this argument did not
seem to captivate Hays and Meadow. The
latter gentleman, replying to Mr.. Watson,
made a point which the railroad projectors
could not answer. He. asked who would
pay the subsidy if granted? Who paid the
taxes, the miner who wanted the road for
the purpose of shipping his ore and gold, or
the farmers and stock-nlen Of the country?
He thought that the taxpayers of the DUN
try should be,consulted, and accommodated
as well as the miners. Mr.. Watson made
an effort to get in an amendment to the bill
providing that instead Of paying one million
and a half dollars when the road is com
pleted to the point designated in the Terri
tory, the sum of two thousand dollars per
mile shall be paid on the. road outside Of the
Territory, and six thousand dollars per mile
within the Territory. This amendment was
objected to by Mitchell and other friends OF
the road, and the bill was re-commiUted to
a special committe, of which its true father
is the chairman. 1t is stated that the father
is much dissatisfied with the course his little
narrow gauge has taken, and will probably
let the young pet rest awhile and give it a
few doses Of Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup
to strengthen it. while the House committee
give their newborn bill a trial, and it is
hoped it will nave less inperfectionsatha its
predecessors. This new bill is being pre-