The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-07-27
A GRAB GAME.
A Company Organized to Take In" the
Subsidy Voted -Four Years Ago by
Lewis and Clarke and Cho-
teau Counties.

teau Counties.
win the Little Scheme Pan Out According
TO Expectations?
We see it stated in the Territorial papers
that g company of Montana capitalists has
been organized for the purpose Of building
narrow gauge railroad from Butte by way of
Helena to Benton, and that it is proposed to
push the enterprise through at once. The
Neeo North Vest has the following on the
subject:
'sAdVices are; received here that company
is organized in Butte and Helena to construct
narrow gauge railroad from Butte via Hell
ena to Benton. There is $500, 900 of the
stock subscribed by number of The heaviest
capitalists in Montana, and arrangements are
made for the immediate commencement of
work and the early completion and opening
Of the road
At first glance this would appear to be q
gratifying scrap of news to all Bentonites,
but there is something behind it to be consie-
cred before the bonfres are kindled or the
bells Of joy set ringing.
It will be remembered that in 1876 the
Legislature passed an act to aid in the con-
struction Of the Helena and Benton railroad,
by the terms Of which act the several coun-
ties OF the Territory, or any of them, were
privileged to donate $500, 900 to Messrs. s. B.
Coulson & Co., il in a specified time they
would bull the road contemplated that at
the next general election Lewis s. Clarke
~
county voted $3.50, 600. in bonds, to assist in
the construction of the road, and Choteau
county $o0,000 for the same purpose. But
as s. B. Coulson & Co. did not accept these
sums before February /, 1878, and proceed
with the construction of the road, the grant
as far as they are concerned, is null and
void
In 1877, however, the Legislature ap-
proved an act to. facilitate the building Of
the Helena g Benton railroad by which the
voting Of those bonds on$the parto Lewis
g &JGlarke and Choteau counties are declared
valid and among other provisions of this
lengthy statute may be found the following
SEo IS. If the said s. B. Coulson &c Co.
shall not proceed to construct said road upon
or it the entire sum, so voted shall not be
secured from the various counties, and the
said s. 3. Coulson s. Co. will not, before
| February /, 1878, accept the sum voted and
| thereafter without unnecessary delay pro-
ceed to construct said road, and any other
| responsible company will accept the amount
| voted, and, according to the conditions and
| terms Of this act, and the act to which this
| act is amendatory, proceed to construct the
same as is by law prescribed, then the boards
| Of the county commissioners Of the several
counties having contributed, Or voted to con-
| tribute, to the construction of said road, may
| meet at Helena, and determine whether they
will substitute any other company than s. B.
| Coulson & Co., and, If SO, what other COM
pany shall be substitnted and at such meet
| ing each county shall have three votes, to be
! cast by its commissioners OF commissioner
present, and such counties, upon said propo-
| sitioD, shall vote by themselves; and if at
! such meeting any county shall refuse to con-
| sent to such substitution, the proposition
ehall be resubmitted to the electors thereof
as to such substitution, in g manner to
| be by such commissioners subscribed and,
| IL ratified the said substitution shall be
deemed and considered binding upon such
county.
| It will be seen By the provisions Of this
section that there is no limit of time, and
that If the commissioners Of Lewis &
Clarke and Choteau see fit they can give this
new company the subsidy voted to s. B.
| Cou1son 81 Go. four years ago, and that they
can do so, il they want, without allowing the
tax payers an opportunity to say nay.
Of course the new corporation has an eye
on this handsome donation, and will put
| forth their best endeayors to secure it. It is
the object OF their speedy organization.
Four hundred and thirty thousand dollars
will go long ways towards building a mar
row gauge road between Helena and Benton,
and doubtless the recently organized COM
pany comprehend the situation.
| 4 railroad from Benton to Helena would
| be of great benefit to both cities, and to the
country between; butit would be a profitable
| investment, and we think the men who are
to reap the dividends should build the road,
and not the tax payers Of Lewis and Clarke
and Choteau counties. The era Of subsdiz-
ing railroads has gone BY there is not one
dollar given By the people now for that pur-
| pose where six or seven years ago there were
hundreds. It has been found out that rail
road companies will construct their own lines
without aid, if they can see profits ahead.
There is no doubt but this subsidy will be
demanded by the company that undertakes
| the construction of road from Helena to
Benton, and the RIVER PREss presents the
| case in advance Of the request, SO that the
/ nonnla can think about Ii ard make un their