The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-15
THE RIV PR S.

LIE Souto PoooADly ~ ia dIt aQfnuGoSS "
Benton, and all the others a more o less pos
tive injury. That railroads, if they came
here at all, would only come for the
purpose of driving out all competing inter-
ests that would affect their freight and pas
senger business, and leave Benton practically
subject 70 the will of railroad managers.
That as the first named road would only
come as far westward as Fort Buford, it
would naturally foster the river interests Of
Benton above that point, and that it would do
more good for Benton than any other. That
the Utah and Northern, ever from its ter
minus at Red Rock, had worked great injury
to the transportation interests of Benton,
and had driven trade away, and that if at
that distance it would affect our interests to
such a degree, what might be expected when
it should tap the river itself.
It is probably true that the NJ, ST. P. and
NJ. company is more favorably disposed to-
ward Benton than are any of the others, but
whatever of feeling they may have for US
will certainly be subordinated to their inter-
10 WILL GASy buiAl t1C ICdO9 w IAdG iltC1
est will be, as it is with every other road, to
break down all opposition to themselves, and
to further their own interest to the utmost
motives which are as cogent with one road as
istence. If the Manitoba road was to stop at
Fort Buford, and if other roads did not push
ahead Of it and outdank it, then we will adj
nit that such would directly benefit the
moment another road should touch the river
above Buford, or should reach some conven-
lent distributing point ahead of it, eventhough
it was as far inland as Helena, the business
carrying trade and it would be compelled to
move on, and its feeling fer Benton would
probably extend to the fact that, as the head
of navigation on the Missouri, it presents
such an advantage of position that it could
not be further outf1anked, so far as any trade
this side Of the main range is concerned, and
this fact will animate them all equally. But
if the tapping of the river at this point by
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul, the
Northwestern, or the Utah and Northern will
destroy the river trade below it, why will not
the tapping of it by the Manitoba do the
same thing. What business motive can OPP
crate to prevent it from using the very same
means which the others would use, and why
would the destruction of our river interests
be any more pleasant if accomplished by the
Manitoba than if it was done by any other?
Is there any likelihood that any of the others
would defect their lines to Buford when their
object would be SO much better accomplished
by coming to Benton ? There is not the
least. And there is no use to consider any
thing in connection with a railroad except its
interests and necessities.
But will all of them or any Of them stop at
Benton or any other point in Montana?
Would any of them be justified in building so
long a line for any gain that could possibly
be derived here, when the benefits of going
further West would increase bya regular pro-
erosion Could any one Of these wealthy
corporations, even if they were disposed,
stop here in Montana, when rival roads
were continually absorbing the through bus
mess by constant advance westward? We
may be mistaken when we answer all these
questions with an emphatic negative, but the
history of these same railroads, and of all
railroad companies, will justify our position;
and the philosophical necessity which arises
from a conflict of interests, will impel them
onward until they reach a physical limit that
shall affect them all equally, this itself is suf-
fcient to forecast the result Of their action.
The Utah and Northern was sent out as a
feeder of the Union Pacific, and will proba-
bly, cut every transportation artery as far
as the Canada Pacific, but may be satisfied
with only drawing from the Northern Pacific,
Ito the most southern route Of which it is at
present constructed). Bit the advantages of
competition with the river have either been
greatly magnifed, or else the damages inf1ict-
ed are only imaginary. # there has been
advantage, it will certainly come; and if there
is no advantage its coming will do no harm.
But if zone of them should come to Ben
ton would Benton be a gamer? If they
should create other distributing centers else
where in the Territory, would Benton be
any better of in the matter Of competition
in her river interests? She assuredly would
not. Some Of them will certainly be near
enough to indict all the damage they would if
they We're brought directly here. It is as a
center of distribution that the future. Of our
nrnannritu will danond +hot 10 If ro oro IN