The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-08
THE RIVER PR S.

agination than in fact. and which are raised
by interested parties to serve conflicting inter-
ests.
The railroad authorities have expressed
their Intention of carrying the road to the
Black Hills, from whence the most natural
outlet is by the Powder river to Miles City,
and this section Of the road will present the
only considerable DETECTION from an air line
that would be met until after the passage of
the Rockies. From Miles City the road would
be comparatively unobstructed to the head
waters OF the Musselshell, and, in fact, to
the lower Marias pass. From the Musselshell
it could go by way of the Box Elder to the u
dith, In the neighborhood of Camp Lewis,
and thence to Benton, and from thence up the
Marias, to the lower Marias pass, and de-
bouch from the mountains near the head Of
Flathead lake, and from thence westward by
some Of the tributaries of Clark's Fork.
The route above outlined would be subject
to many variations, and it would require
numerous surveys to determine the exact line
to be followed, but the general course we
have noted presents at once the richest of
Montana's territory, the points Of highest
strategic importance considered from the
standpoint of a common c~arrier); opens all of
its varied interests, and, with the single ex-
ception above noted, is practically an air
line. We will not dilate upon the advantage
to a railroad of tapping the head of naviga-
ton on two rivers of such Importance as the
Yellowstone and the Missouri the subject
is we'll worn and the advantage conceded,
and it will suffice to say that the favorable
situation of Benton will have convincing
weight with the managers of any railroad
company, and we are glad to note that the
Benton Board of Trade recognizes its import
ance and has taken the proper steps for its
recognizance where it will do most good.
Perhaps the greatest single advantage this
route presents, both to the populations in the
timberless regions of Montana and Dakota,
through which the road would pass, and to
the railroad company which would supply
the demand for lumber in those regions-a
demand so imperative that it would almost
in itself justify the construction Of q railroad
is that it would bring this road, by the
mostdirect route, into the great timber region
which extends from the Rocky mountains to
the Pacific ocean. Forests of yellow pine,
the most extensive and Iuxuriant on the earth,
will present to the enterprise that assists in
opening it up q degree of wealth that will
fabulously enrich it and add to the prosper
iy of the entire Northwest.
We believe that what we have said Of the
advantages which would accrue to a railroad
will apply with equal force to the population
of the entire Territory, and even more to the
people of Benton, from the heaviest importer
to the poorest laborer and it is of interest to
the people Of Montana, that such railroad
should come to Benton for with its mani
fold advantages as a distributing and ship
ping point, it would enhance the operations
of the railroad and protect the people from
unwholesome monopoly.
There is another railroad interest which
we Of Fort Benton are scarcely less interest
ed in, for, although It is constructed on a
smaller scale, and may hardly be a principal
artery Of commerce., yet, so far as the local
business of Montana is concerned, it will be
fully as important. We refer to the Utah
and Northern narrow gauge, which is now
extended as far north IS Dillon, with the
aVowed intention Of carrying it by way of
Salisbury and the Boulder Divide. to Helena.
1t is not to be presumed that the managers of
the Union Pacific would go to the expense Of
going to Helena solely for the business it
would get from that point, and its mission
would be but half accomplished by going
there, for until it shall come to the head Of
navigation at Benton the important link
which will complete the chain Of its business
requirements will be wanting, and it could
neither do the business required of it by the
public, nor reap its full benefit therefrom.
The cost Of building the road to Helena and
from thence onward to Benton would not be
great, and the difficulties to be s%urmounted
would be much less than they have already
overcome, while from the Birdtail divide to
Benton it would be merely nominal. The
country between Helena and Benton is far
richerin resources than any north of Pleasant
Valley, and even if It was not, the position
Of Benton as the natural entyepot of Mon
tana, is itself sufficient to impel its extension
to this point. But there are still other rea-
sons than those mentioned why it should
come to Benton, and why the people of
Benton should make extra effort to induce