The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-08
OUR RAILROAD INTERE SITS.

terests, which to US are even more important,
are il danger Of being overlooked. Among
the four lines which are projected through
Montana the Chicago and Northwestern IS
displaying an energy in extending its Line
and developing the Western country, hardly
equaled by any of them. Their line is now
westward as far as the Missouri river, at
Running Water, and the management nave
avowed their intention Of eventually pushing
it across the continent. Close behind it is
it's rival, the Chicago, Milwaukee s. st. Paul,
and the struggle between them for the carry
ing trade and the profits accruing in the rapid
development of the matches resources OF
the New West must impel them both, through
the necessity of competition and self interest,
to pursue their policy of extension SO long
as it is a condition of profit to extend, or a
condition Of loss if they fail to ~extend-two
conditions which will remain potent until the
Pacific is reached.
The citizens of Montana generally. and of
this section in particular, have more than a
passing interest in these lines, and especially
in the Chicago and Northwestern, which bids
fair to be the first Of the two to cross Mon
tana, and we should, by a judicious exposition
of our resources and future possibilities,
(Which are everywhere admitted to be the
most extensive, enduring, and most diyersi-
| fed Of any in Montana,) show to the man.
| agement of this company that its best inter-
| ests will be subserved by passing through and
assisting to develop this broad section, which
is drained by the Dumberless tributaries OF
the Upper Missouri, and of which the natural
distributing center is Benton.
The selection of a practicable route has
not, we believe, been made, but it is a fact
that the region of the Yellowstone which is
worth anything is already occupied, and the
availability Of the great plateau of Northern
Montana, which extends from the Rocky
mountains eastward, and which is broken
by ranges of very uncomfortable importance,
when compared with the great altitude and
impossible condition of Southern Montana,
must exert a powerful influence upon shrewd
railroad men, and when this is considered in
connection with the great fertility Of this
section for purposes of agriculture, the va
riety and richness Of its mineral resources,
the expense Of its cattle ranges, the great
abundance and purity of its water, its
illimitable coal fields and tree-clad mountains,
and the two points in Montana which are
most admirably situated for the distribution
of our imports throughout the Territory
and the collection and shipment of our ex-
ports-we refer to Miles City on the Vel
lowstone and Benton on the Missouri
we are confident that our assertion of
the superiority Of this northern section over
all to the south Of it is not in the least over
stated.
1t has been asserted that the route project
ed by the Northern Pacific v5G Bozeman and
the Deer Lodge Pass, though longer than
would be a Northern route, presents fewer
engineering obstacles, and that the passage
of the main range would be less expensive,
which may be true. But there is something
more to be considered ID building atrans-con-
tinental line, than the item of a few hundred
thousand dollars difference in the cost of con-
struction. The only adYantageo OF the Southern
route is that Q single road may take the
course Of certain valleys which run parallel
to the direction of its course. But the val
leys, though productive, are very narrow,
and the bench lands are generally useless ex-
cept for grazing purposes, owing to the diff
Guilty of getting water upon them, and the
fact that owing to their great altitude there is
little rainfall, and a railroad pasaing through
such q country could develop nothing to
speak Of besides mining interests, which
exist in the same plenitude in the Northern
section.
In a few years, competition for the Asiatic
trade will be intense among these lines, and q
difference of fifty miles will be the %favoring
condition which will attract it, and a slight
additional expense ia the cost Of construction
will not weigh a feather IN comparison with
the advantage gained. The Northern sec
ton of Montana presents few obstacles to the
engineer, and the difficulties to be met with In
surmounting them have been greatly magni-
fed. The valleys are wide; and IN many
places are broad plateaus containing thousands
Of square miles, On al of which the rainfall
is sufficient for the production Of most crops.
The altitude is fromtWoto four thousand feet
lower, the relative humidity much great
er, and the absence Of high ranges is con-
duciYe to q more even precipitation Of the
general moisture, than il the south, where
they are so high and cool as to attract ii ali tn