The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-05-31
THE TERRITORY.

The Herald of last evening had a capital
joke on the surveying party of the N. P. r. r.
now engaged on the line up the Little Black
foot and across the range to Helena. 1t rep
resents them as proposing to cross the summit
OF the Rocky Mountains Oh ~trestles one hum
dred feet higher than the summlt-a sort of
elevated railway as it were. The sober. and
unadorned fact is that what is known as
railroad Pass is a gorge 80 narrow that a track
for a railroad cannot well be constructed
through it, and in order to get beyond the
pass-not over the summit--the surveyors are
contemplating the propriety of bridging the
gorge just as they would any other ravjne,
and this bridge, if constructed, would be per-
haps at some points 100 feet above the bed of
the gorge. But the company will not we ap-
prehend, endeavor to increase the altitude of
their line by raising it 100 feet in mid air
above the summit Of the Rockies.--Indepead-
,ent.
Pursuant to orders from the Postoffica De-
partment, the mail route from Virginia City
to Mammoth Hot Springs was discontinued
on the 10Th inst. 1t is generally coDceded
that the establishment Of a daily mail to the
Springs was unnecessary, and the recent cut
ting down of the service was a wise and
economical act of the government. To
ahollst it entirely, however. and inst at the
season OF the year when it is most uepded, is
rushing to the other extreme, and will be o:
great Inconvenience to a large and growing
settlement on the line. The establishment
or a mail route, in. accordance with a petition
OF many OF the best citizens of Madison val
ley and its tributaries, which was forwarded
to the department last summer, is not only
desirable but necessary, and should be eff
tected. AT the July lettings, we hope a
reasonable service will again be placed Oh the
route which ha. lst been ahandoned.-Mdd-
isOniOn.
Tom Lynch aud Sam Mitchell crossed their
cattle over the He'll Gate on Thursday. They
have still another band to gather up below
Missoula, but when they leave tor the upper
country they will drive out somewhere in
the neighborhnOl OF 1000 head.-MissoutiGn.
We are. pleased TO learn that Mr.. Jacob
Switzer, one tf Helena:S leading business
men, was married on the 18TH int, in L.eav-
enworfh, Kansas. We extend sincere COLI
gratulations.-Independeat.
The Associated Stock Growers of Sun Riv-
er have contracted tor 100 blooded bulls for
their range. The price paid was $40, OOO, land
they are TO be brought from Illinois and
landed here by boat this sulnmer.-Record.
A lovc-sInit*cn Chinaman Of junction city
suicided this week BECAUSE his Indian wife
came to the conclusion that her people, the
Crows, were better adapted to her ways. Tie
Chinaman deliberately planned the dire deed
and telegraphed to some Of his countrymen
hare that he intended to take his lie. This
Is about the only time on record where an
IHdial has been beneficial to this country.
California could probably utilize all the
squaws in the Grow nation with great benefit
to herself Yellowstone Journal.
We are Informed that the surveyors on the
line up the Little BIaclsfoot toward Helena
haYe found much easier grades than were ex-
pected. From the Little Blackf0ot for five
remaining three miles to the summit does
not exceed 50 feet to the mile. The summit
at Railroad Pass is 5,7S0 feet above sea level
The summit at Dry Cottonwood Pass, on the
Boulder Route, is 6,455 feet high, or more
than 500 feet higher than Railroad Pass.
This is such a difference that, # none :lcrc
favorable is found during the explorations Of
the engineers, the road will pass by Helena
to the mouth of Little Blacl!oot. 4-Hcr0'G.
The party Of railroad engineers who were
surveying the Bozeman Pass, reached Coal
Banks last week, and, returning, are COW MA
king a survey over the Tail Creak Pass
thence Town to and through the lower ca %
Of the Yellowstone. i is reported t1at tie
grade from l1nppor's &t4tjon to tie summit
was found to be about 80 feet to the milo.
An easier grade eau be obtained, however,
by commencing III" ascent sevv'ai rUiles east
Of I!"pEc2's.- CoCyicr.