Helena weekly herald., 1879-10-23
A Prominent Citizen of Helena Inter-
views President Billings.
Who Promises that the Road Shall
be Pushed to the Yellowstone
Next Year.
And Says Many Things that will Interest
the People of Montana.

"
that company and it's prospects in the nea
future. Mr.. Billings Identification with tn
company has infused new life into the organ
ization, which is felt in every department
He is one OF the great capitalists of the coun
try. and has more money in the enterprise il
its reorganized shape than any other person
He is genial, active man, in the prime o1
life, used to great enterprises, possessing the
confidence of others, and fortunately pos.
sessed of confidence in himself. Something
of his own personal vigor has taken hold OF
| the entire management, and his ambition to
complete another trans.continental railway
promises early and complete realization. Mr.
Billings does not content himself with stating
! what has already been done. Still less is he
querulous or faultrfnding as to past delays or
failures. He recognizes that the financial
panic, now happily at an end, stood, so long
as it lasted, an insurmOuntable obstacle to
success, and congratulates himself that his
administration of the great trust has fallen on
happier times. He states that next year the
road will reach the Yellowstone valley near
the mouth of Glendive creek and perhaps be
constructed westerly some distance. He says
his company found it necessary to build a
large ferryboat to transfer cars from Bis
marck to Mandan, and that after such an one
was built and placed in position it was capa-
bic of carrying six loaded cars across the
Missouri at that point. Shortly after this
boat arrived the water in the river at that
point became unprecedentedly low; but this
would not have seriously impeded the pro-
gress of the work had not bar formed in
the river necessitating detour of eight or
ten miles To overcome this difficulty, which
is temporary in its character, track has
been laid from one bank OF the river to this
bar, and the obstruction is thus avoided
Upon the western end of the road like activ-
ity characterizes the management. The route
via Pen d'Oreille Lake had, been provision
ally selected, but the citizens OF Lewiston
had asked reconsideration on this, and q
re-examination of the Clearwater route, gen.
erously offering to bear the expense. This
was accorded, and Mr.. Doane, the engineer
of the road, made the examination, which re-
suited in the adherence to the northern route.
Mr.. Billings spoke in high terms of Mr.
Roberts formerly Chief Engineer of the road,
and said that his acceptance of the prince
ly offer of the Emperor of Brazil had de-
prived the company of much valuable
knowledge of the topography of Montana.
In reply to interrogatories Mr.. Billings
stated that the preliminary route through
Montana would not necessarily be the one
ultimately adopted, and that the chief en-
gineer would visit the Territory before long to
observe the gradients to be avoided, the de-
tours desirable to make, and to see what i'm
provements the company could avail itself of
as to their line over the present proposed
route, at which time the Yellowstone and
Muscleshell valleys will be examined and the
passes over the Belt and Rocky Mountains,
the new pass of Priests, be meas
ured and their desirability be judged from |
practical points of view. The road is being |
constructed in the best possible manner, will |
be at all hazards first-class road, and such |
economy in constructing will be rigidly main
tained as is consistent with creating first
class property.
Mr.. Billings further stated that the rapid
construction of the Utah 8 Northern railroad
nto Montana, was recognized help to the
Northern Pacific in calling public attention
o Idaho and western Montana which were
lot known as they deserved to be, and that
le had advised MIR. Dillon to push that road
long. Mr.. Billings further said that some
lelay has already been caused his company
y the refusal of Congress to act promptly
n extending the time for the completion of
be road, made nescessary by the financial
isasters which overlook the country six
ears ago. If the company had been willing
make trades this difficulty could have been
voided, but considering their enterprise a
,eritorious one and desiring to avoid all
the company has stood out
nd would stand aloof from all entangling
lliances, not doubling that the sense of !
astice of Congress would ultimately find ex-
ression in just legislation. The former ad-
Illustration has awaited somewhat on the
;tion of Congress, but it was the resolve Of
le present administration to build the road,
tting Congress in its own good time do I
at which seemed just to an enterprise of 4
lch magnitude which has made such sacri- ]
;es, and in it's infancy has wrought for the i
'untry at large such benefcent results. Mr..