The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-02-24
THE UTAH 4 NORTHERN.

Our Helena contemporary the Herald, with
out any reasonable grounds for the con-
clusion, repeats its former assertion that the
Utah & Northern will be constructed di-
rectly to that city and affects to scout the
idea that the main line will run through
Butte. The Herald says: Ibis, from the
information we have seems to be settled be-
yond any controversy" All the information
the Helena paper has received was contained
in a letter published a few days ago from
Sidney Dillon in which that gentleman said,
@ that the company has purchased sufficient
rails for one hundred and thirty miles OF adj
ditional track and expect to have it laid and
the road completed by the list of September,
$780,"
The distance from the present terminus OF
the road to Helena is two hundred and
thirteen miles and we should much like to
know from our esteemed contemporary by
what process of reasoning its editor comes to
the conclusion that the road is to be " COM
pleted " to Helena with only one hundred
| and thirty miles of track. On the other hand
| railroad connection with Butte could be eff
fected by an extension of one hundred and
thirty miles. The conclusion is reasonable
therefore, that if the next winter terminus of
the road is to be situated one hundred and
thirty miles from the present end of the track,
ard if that extension, in the language of Mr..
Dillon, is to complete the road, this city, and
not the territorial capital, is destined to be the
next terminus. 1t is difficult to conceive how
any other construction can be placed upon
the communication of President Dillon and
its plainly implied significance does infinite
credit to that gentleman's business sagacity.
The Eerald statement that the best interests
of the railroad company would be subserved
BY an extension of the track to that city in
stead of to Butte has been demonstrated to be
without foundation. The MINER has con-
| c~lusively shown by figures which never lie,
and which can not be contrOverted, that
Butte is the business center OF a portion OF
the territory whose natural advantages far
exceed those of that section of which Helena
is the sempcrium.' We cited figures to show
that the population of Deer Lodge county far
exceeds that of Lewis and Clarke, that
the territorial assessments and revenues are
much greater; that our increase in population
and wealth is out of all. proportion in excess
of that Of the Helena country, and that the
thousands of tons of ore and bullion
which would be shipped from this camp
are inducements which the railroad company
cannot afford to disregard.
Butte is in no way jealous of Helena's pros
perity. because our own exceeds it, nor are
we unwilling that the capital city should
have a railroad. The only point of conten'
ton is that Butte desires railroad connection
first, for the simple reason that our necessities
for one are greater and because its early eX'
tension to this city will produce the greatest
good to the greatest number. If Helena can
promise a larger business to the railroad
company than Butte and can by facts ant
figures show ability to execute the promise a.
the MINER has shown on behalf OF this cit.
let the Herald come to the front and back VI
its blind and unsupported assertions. Tht
mere statement that Helena is and will con
tlnue to be the principle business centre 0
the Territory will have no weight with thu
railroad officials.