Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1878-10-03
No. 46

depend on either side of the beam, upon
which they move by the grooved wheels
which support them like panniers on the side
of a pack mule. Below this upper beam is
fastened another gooved beam along which
the horizontal driving wheels of the engine,
that are also grooved, travel.
And now come to some of the features
of this novel railroad which especially show
it's adaptability to this country; it can 60
up grades of foot in 10, and the curves can
be laid by eye, or at worst with a bowstring;
it requires but little skilled labor in oonstruc-
ton, and can be put up by unskilled work
men at the rate of one mile per day to every
100 men. Such a railroad would be put up
and placed in running order at a cost of $2,-
400 per mile; or if we take some designated
point on the Missouri, the nearest good land
ing place below the rapids, to Helena, let US
name Carroll, which is about $50 miles from
your city, the entire cost of the completed
road would be $600,00
The line so constructed would run through
the most fertile country in Montana. From
the rich valley of the Missouri it would pass
to the busy and prosperous region OF the
Smith river; thence climbing by Copperopo-
lis. with its vast stores of buried cents, it
would glide down to the Forks of the Muscle
shell. looked forward to as sure place of
refuge for the unwary cattle man whom en-
croaching civilization is fast hemming in
there; taking path nearer to the mountain
than the present wagon road, and rushing
over comparatively level space, the Elysi-
um of cowboys, it would gain the Judith
Basin, which is as fair and promisingly fruit
full a garen spot as can be found anywhere
outside of Eden.
One great objection to my scheme would
seem to be the short time which timber last
when used us posts-only five years; but
even this may be remedied to certain ex-
tent by the application of creosote, which,
without greatly increasing the expense, would
protract the life of the timbers to about
eight years, by which time the road
calculating on 10000 tons of freight yearly,
at $15 per ton, would not only have paid for
itself. but also have earned a handsome in
terest. As increasing trade justified, iron
posts and rails could be substituted for the
wooden ones, forming permanent structure
which would, on account of its location and
cheapness of construction and running, draw
to itself all the heavy freight destined for
Northern Montana.
That such line would offer the weary
traveller much of prospect, so far as Pull
man car luxury goes, am not prepared TO
say, but it will be infinitely superior to
"ierky," and when once American ingenuity
is invited to the subject of creating comfort,
have little fears for the result.
On the other hand, the advantages to be
gained over all plans at present proposed are
numerous: Transhipments would be reduced
in number; The time during which naviga-
ton is open could be better utilized; the de-
lays incident to part water transportation
would be reduced to minimum, and finally
the freight could be delivered sooner, safer,
and fully as cheaply as by any other possible
route.
Such is my scheme, or dream. 1t is prac-
ticable, seems reasonable, and would adyan-
taee Montana if carried out. How to build
it? What to build it with (money)? When
to build it are questions on which l have
not concerned myself but it needs no very
powerful stretch of my imagination to fancy
that the faint curls of blue smoke can see
through my window do not come from the
stage-driver's pipe. but from the smokestack
of my straddling, pulling, putting locomo-
tive. ~ TEDDY OIOOLE.
P. 8. 1t 10 asserted that the experimental
engine, built on this principal, succeeded In
driyng 100 tons II . reasonable rate of speed