The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-08-12
sPEcrALrIRs OF A COMMON TOPIC.

With but two railroads In Montana, and
they Just entering It, there Is an anxiety
concerning their lines OF location and con-
corning railroad matters generally not
equalled elsewhere that we know of, and
which will not likely be repeated In the his
tory of this Territory. A propos Of this
general public which may be Cleared up:
Not long since railroad company was in
corporated with line starting at the Ma
tional Park and running uia Bozeman, Hele-
ma and Little Blackfoot 10 Butte, with q
branch from Helena to Benton. Last week
another company was incorporated whose
lines apparently radiated from Butte and
took in all the remaining unoccupied valleys
Of Montana. These interpretations were not
made for fun, although It might look so to
the unlnitiated. The construction of the
Northern Pacific and Utah and Northern
main lines will, 1t Is anticipated, be followed
by the construction Of branch roads in this
Territory. 1t is necessary to incorporate
these in the. Territory. Each company SO
incorporating, beside other requirements,
must grade at least ten miles Of road each
year or forfeit its charter. A number Of
projected branches may, however, be COM
bined so that work done ON any part will
serve for all, justas representation" on one
claim will continue title TO an entire lode,
and thus some accommodating railroad
lines have been projected and incorporated.
This is essentially the era Of railroad
building in America. The great old West
and the great new West are alike witnessing
an unprecedented amount Of railroad con-
struction--in the old the duplication and
cris-crossing Of lines In already well sup.
piled districts In the new, systems Of ex-
tension that promise speedily TO traverse ey-
cry valley and scale every range. Railroad
construction has become an American ma
mia and Is augmented by the plenitude Of
money, low rates Of interest aud the won
derful prosperity of the country. IL will end
with crash some day, and It may not be
very distant. Concessions, subsidies and
exemptions are no longer thought of; the
sole question seems TO be some place TO
build road. We. trust Montana will be-
well accommodated before the crisis comes.
The day Jay Cookies paper went to protest
Montana began an isolated toll as long rs
jacob served for Rachel, and IL is not de-
sirable to be deceived as he was and hare to
wait seven years more for the fulfllment of
our desires. However, IL Is not anticipated
any ordinary financial conynlsion would
shake the Northern Pacific credit, aud a
mild financial squeeze on less firmly backed
projects would release labor and render itless
difficult to obtain material and rolling stock.
The Northern Pacific, IL will be remembered,
Is compelled by the terms of lis charter TO
use American rails, and the American roll
ing mills are now ip the condition Of bar
Der shop on Sunday morning.
The war of rates on freights and fares In
the midwest IL rabid enough to be q mid
summer madness, but there Is deliberate
method in II cold-biooded enough for De-
cember. The construction of SO many new
roads II an asgravation to the old companies
who had arranged their systems by pooling
and had adjusted things 20 money could be
made comfortably al around. With the
construction Of many new roads the ques-
tion arose how TO dispose of these iinnova-
ting enterprises that swere cutting out the
traficAof the old ones aud disturbing the
programme. There was Z difference Of
opinion among the old bosses rs to the
method Of sappressing them. Some proposed
to let construction Of the new roads 90 on
another year or two, and then by system
attic and sanctuary cutting Of rates while
the new companies were heavily involved,
force them under the hammer and take them
in. Others deemed It best to discourage
the construction Of more roads BY cut of
rates that would frightcn capital from In
vestment insthe stocln or the new concerns
and the war was thereupon commenced.
This Il the Inside history Of the war wAich
has reduced iatss half Or swo-thIrds, and
the object In view indicates II VIII b con-
tInued until winter stops constrscfion and
will likely be repeated next seasoa.