Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-02-15
HISTORY OF THE NORTH
AND SOUTH RAILROAD
! PROPOSITION.
From the New North West. I

From the New North West.
Now that this railroad question is again
being agi,ated, it may be we'll to refer to
letters received here last winter by Gen.
Brisbin from officials of the Union Pacific
road. Being well-known 10 that comp my.
soon after his arrival a, Fort Ellis he re.
,csiyed COMMUNICATIONS from two promi-
nent officers Of the company, that from
Mr.. Test being given below, viz:
UNION PACIFIC II. r Co.,
OMAHA. Neh. Jan. %, 1876. !
Gent JAS s. Brisbin, f. Elm, Montana
My DEAR SIR-Appreciasiny the warm
and active interest you have always taken
in public enterprises in the East, wish
to write you on subject that is claiming
the attention of many of our peopk, and
which in your new associations. and field
If duty, will likely he Of no ordinary in
hrest to yourself.
The trade of Montana is one of vast and
growing importance, principally fed by
the EaSt, and reached by two principal and
available channels, one of them accessible
only a short time during the year. These
routes are the Missouri River to Benton,
and the Union Pacific railroad to Ogden
thence horthwsrd by the regular Montana
stage route to Helena, Virginia City aud
| RoZeman.
7 The objective point of what have to ask
lis how Can we best reach Montana and the
| Yellowstone Park by railf What route
Il in your opinion would be most direct and
practical? The route that will combine
these TWO great qualities will be the one
that should he the inlet to 'WOndeI
Land" and the outlet of Montana.
Leaving the Urion Pacific at Bryan,
Point of Rocks, or some intermediate
point, could q railroad be ruu north by
way of Wind River 10 the Yellowstone?
Delegate St. Gle has bill before Cen
lgrcss asking an appropriation IF $50. tNt
to construct wagon road over this route,
and MIR. Maginnis, | am told. Is working
hard for All Inlet to this country rs an ad-
juDct TO the North I'm Pacific.
1t is not my mere individual wish, but
the wish of many OF your friends here and
elsewhere, that you should address your
self TO IN investigation Of all matters
connected with the building of railroads to
Montana, and give Is the result of your
inquiries. Yours trnly.
(Signed) E F. TEST, U.P.R. r.
In response to the request advanced,
Gen. Brsbin, after exhaustive txamina.
ltior of the resources Of the Territory, and
Of the various routes IN and
out, male probably the most elaborate
and inclusive report ever prepared upon
the subj ct. l, at the time, attempted
Iprocural of copy Of said letters and re-
port, but he declined acquiesccnce, as he
f. AIRED no result might follow the then
desire of the U. p. road to enter Mou-
tana. Applying to him now l fluid, to my
regret, that he retained no duplicate of a
paper which has TO doubt had much, if
not Everything, to do with The pres n,
proposition of the gr' at trans continental
road. In this report, willie the various
resources of the Territory were fully de
|scribed::and exhaustive figures and Stats
tics given. its mineral opportunities were
!etated as but partially developed, ard its
agricultural and stock facilities as yet in
their infancy. 1t was referred to Mr..
superintendent Clark, who, am inform
led. laid it before the Board Of Directors,
by whom it was, in turn, referred TO
Nj ssrs Dillon and Gould for their action.
IEhave merely time to add that have
reason 10 belieye such notifications can
be obtained as will more fully suit the
~. P.'s proposition to the des,res and
necessities Of the Territory than can re-
suit from 1t as it now stands.
In this connection may state that one
result of Lieut.. Doane's survey is the loo a.
tion by him Of new line of travel, which
not only decreases by IS to 100 miles the
distance from Franklin 10 Helena, but
would carry railway through a section
of country superior in every respect to the
greater part of the present stage route. l
shall at the proper time give you figures
and description. j. V. BOGERr.
BozEMAN, January 20, 1877.