Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1878-09-19
GEN. CHARLES HI. TOmPKINs.
His Report Of q Trip OF Some Four Hun.
dred and Fifty Miles on the Line OF
the Northern Pacific Exten.
ttOn..-FavOrable Opin.
ion of the Country.

the Northern Pacific Exten.
tiOn..-FavOrable Opin.
ion of the Country.
[Chicago Tribunel
Gen. Charles H. Tompkins, deputy quar-
termaster-general United States army, and
chief quartermastero of the department of Dako-
ia, arrived in this city yesterday from trip
of about seventy days, during which time he
visited all the principal military posts in
Montana. AS he had splendid opportunity
to observe the condition of the country
through which the Northern Pacific railroad
extension is to run, having followed the sur
veyor some $50 miles, IaS6nme reporter
called upon him at the Sherman yesterday
afternoon to get description of the country,
and to learn if the project was feasible and
practicable, and, if carried out, if it would
pav fair interest on the investment Gen.
Tompkins received thereporter very cordially,
and at once signifed his willingness to give the
Tribune all the desired information. The
General stated that he went up the Missouri
river from Bismarck to Benton. From this
point he went to Shaw, and thence to Helena.
From Helena he made trip to Missoula and
returned again to the former point He also
went to Camp Baker and again returned to
Helena. He left Helena for good, and went
to Fort Ellis, and from this point along the
line of the Northern Pacific survey to Fort
Custer and thence to Fort Keogh. He then
went down the Yellowstone river to Fort
Buford, at the confluence of the Yellowstone
and Missouri rivers; thence down the Mis-
souri, back again to Bismarck. He found In
the vicinity of Missoula one of the finest
agricultural and stock-raising countries he
has ever seen, and it is already we'll settled.
Between Missoula and Deer Lodge the cOun-
try is equally fine and productive, and still
more settled than in the vicinity of Missoula.
Deer Lodge is quite thriving town. Between
Helena and Fort Ellis the country is perfectly
beautiful, and we'll watered. Thousands OF
cattle were roaming all around. This por-
ton of Montana is excellently adapted for
agriculture. He found this part of the coun-
try also very rich in minerals, valuable silver
deposits having been discovered at the head
waters of the Jefferson river. There were
also rich silver developments in the vicinity
of Helena aud Missoula. Between Fort
Ellis and Fort Custer the country is rapidly
filling up with settlers, and the people are
raising large crops of wheat, oats and corn.
At all these points he stopped and conversed
with the ranchmen and settlers regarding
their future intentions. They all contemplate
raising large crops of oats, with the intention
of selling to the government at good prices
They anticipate prosperous future.
Between Forts Custer and Keogh there are
also very fine agricultural and grazing lands
Here he passed over some natural hay fields.
From Keogh down the Yellowstone the
country is not so rich in the immediate
vicinity of the river, but there are spots well
timbered, and coal crops out in many places,
with indications of very thick veins.
Gen Tompkins expresses himself highly
pleased, and strongly advocates the extension
and completion of the Northern Pacific
road. Not only will the carrying out of this
project greatly facilitate the transportation OF
government stores to large number OF mill
tary posts in Montana and the Yellowstone
country, but it will materially diminish the
cost of transportation. For instance, it costs
at present to move one hundred pounds OF
freight from Bismarck to Keogh, SO and
98-1OO cents. This is under an exceedingly
low contract. Last year the cost OF transpor-
tatlOn was double tlat amount. 1ue OuCeIs
of the Union Pacific have guaranteed to de-
liver the government stores at all seasons OF
the year for the same distance over their
road for Sc cents per one hundred pounds.
Like reductions to other points would be the
result. The construction of this road would,
in Gen. Tompkins' opinion, also have q great
tendency to settle the Indian question. as
Indians proverbially recede from civilization.
The above description of the Yellowstone
country fully agrees with the reports made
by Coils. Jas. w. Forsyth and F. D. Grant,
who made an examination of that part of
the country by order of Lieut. Gen. Sheridan
in 1875. @ +.>.