The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-06-17
A WEEK VIA THE CAPITAL.
Railroad Matters--Wickes--Re-
building OF the Works
by the Alta
Montana.

From Our Trayeling Correspondent.
It was bright sunny morning when lett
Deer Lodge for Helena. Instead OF using
my own conveyance for travelling, accom-
panied Mr.. John Hugh, of Helena, and found
him to be very genial travelling companion.
In order to avoid the extreme heat OF the
day. we we're off quite early in the morning.
Our Journey was very pleasant, rs well as III
teresting, for the route lay through a beauti-
full section of the valley, where fine farms
and beautiful homes were to be seen on
either side of the road for some distance.
This section of the valley seems to be well
adapted to agriculture, but may be lacking IN
a plentiful supply of water. Nearly all the
land on either side of the river Is arabic, pro-
ducing the finest cereals, also large crops OF
hay and grass, where the land Is contiguous
to the river and small streams. Seemingly,
stock-raising is the principal branch OF IN
dustry. Large herds of cattle and numerous
bands of horses are to be seen Illuminating In
the hills and valleys, where the reed Is
abundant and nutritious during the whole
year. This fact is so general throughout
Montana Territory, that it makes 1t unequal
ed as a stock-growing country, in many re-
spects. Leaving the valley, our course was
directed towards the "divide." This Is
where the tedious part of the travelling comes
in, in "crossing the range not in the sense
of Montana parlance, you understand.
Arriving at the Capital, noticed numer-
Gus changes since my last visit, in the way OF
fine completed buildings, and Others in the
course of erection. The railroad question is
the important one now among the business
men and capitalists of this prosperous city.
The fever seems to have attacked the people
with unwonted severity.
The yigor and mechanism of modern fancy
employ themselves in building railroads In
stead of air-castles. People talk of it by day
and dream of it by night Every mountain
| pass has its peculiar advantages in the way OF
an easy grade or a practicable route.
Every canon Is the scene of present or pro-
spective labor Ne one is satisfied unless he
is fortunate enough to possess the piece OF
| ground on which the depot and machine
shops are to be located and q town site estab'
| lished on or near their premises. One very
surprising result of all this talk and survey
| ing is the discovery . so many low passes
over the main range, each last discovery
| better than all before known. Even where
passes are impracticable, and the company
are obliged to tunnel, doubt not that in the
end this will pay them, for the rich mineral
veins are so numerous that ultimately it will
pay better to tunnel than to hunt a route
over them Imaginary wealth gives just a.
much satisfaction as the actual Life is MOI
wasted, as many suppose, in n vain chase
after shadows.
On my arrival at Jefferson City, though
it we'll to visit Wickes-the Alta-Montan;
Company's works. The work of building
and removing the debris from the grounds i
being prosecuted as rapidly as possible. Thu
building might 60 on more rapidly, but ow
ing to the scarcity of bailding material, it i
somewhat delayed. The mill is expected Il
be put in operation by the 10Th of July. TIL
works will be more extensive than thew wer
before the fire, and the amount expended OF
the present. works will probably reach tw
hundred thousand dollars by fall. The com
pany are employing two hundred men now
and more will be employed when the mill !
put in operation and work fairly begun.
My next point on the trip was Boulde
City. Here 1 spent the night, and finishe
my business at this camp, SO that ] was o
the following morning for Basin City. Som
rich discoveries have lately been made in tn
vicinity of Basin City, of which shall max
mention in my next communication. Ais
the business outlook of the place, and II
future prosperity and expected wealth.
GEO. FL. SCOTT.