The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-09-14
44NSZ1Nk y $500
TRACK TALK.
Delegate Maginnis Thinks Benton has
Bright Railroad Prospects.

During Major Maginnis' %sojourn in Benton
last week q RIVER Press representative had
d short conversation with him about Benton's
railroad prospects. Our Delegate is some
what enthusiastic On the subject and seems
to think that Benton is destined to become
one Of the important railroad centers Of the
New Northwest as it has been and is now
the most important shipping point on the
Missouri river. said he in a general way:
81 passed two surveying parties working
oward Benton .onsnay way from Halena
here. They represent the Northern Pacific
and Utah 81 Motherhood and just now
each is striving TO gain an advantage over
the other in the Prickly Pear canyon which
in some places is hardly wide enough to adj
nit Of two lines being laid down, or except
at a heavy cost Of construction"
"'The road that first drives its stakes
through the narrow detle will not have an
exclusive right of way, will it 2" We impaired,
20, no it is not possible to exclude any
road. A statute known rs the "De6ie act,"
which introduced a few years ago, regulates
this matter and prevents any company or
line from m~onopolizing any narrow noun
tain detlle when other roads desire to pass
through it. If there is room only for one
track it must be used in common But OF
course the line that first secures the right OF
way through such a place will enjoy many
advantages over those that follow"
Gin your opinion. Major, which Of the
prospective lines will first reach Benton 2"
SWELL it looks as if it would be a branch
mined by the management Of that road 70
build to Benton and l think the branch will
be under construction even before the main
line is completed. This will be built from
Helena and not from Boz man as the Plnn-
Ger Press had it in its report Of Gen. Cakes
However, | think the day is not far
distant when the Northern Pacific will have
a branch from the Yellowstone to Benton,
through one of the finest sections oi
Montana. | think that such a branch would
leave the main line at Coulson or in its viciE-
lty and not at Pompsy's Pillars as indicated
III the last issue OF the RIVER PRESS In a
mountainous country like this railroads ca.
moi have choice OF routes; they must a"ceII
the lines nature has made for them though
hey are not always the shortest or III 81 da
This branch pass ng thtong:t =
country of great agricultural aud mineral re
would be q very useful feed q the |
Northern P..c,fis and an important line for
town. Bur the greatest at them al, The
oiher northern transconiifenta line, his not
yet neen tnent4oned. / mean the st. Paul s.
road which is t., come up along |
he Missouri river ana probably the Milk
liver to Benton and thence across the CONT
lent to the Pacific. / have been assured by |
Hill that this line will be1pnsued through
o completion as soon as possible and there
8 no boubt but they have the most desirable
,f any of the transcontin-nt.l routes. The
company, which is q very rich one, are con-
tructing the Canadian Pacific line and inst
It the present their attention and energies
engrossed by the same. But they will
Don turn their attention To Montana and as
heir proposed route is almost a natural roaA
led they can bring the iron horse along rap
dly. There IS an intense rivalry between
he Northern Pacific and this company and
he former will not long be permitted to en-
Il monopoly of Montana's business"
Major Maginnis had much more to say
bout Montana railroads, on which subject
le is thoroughly posted, but we conclude
With the above O. the gist Of what was said
bout roads ia which Benton is directly in
crested 1t will be readily seen that the
Iaior has an abundance of faith in the out
ONE of the river metropolis.
--=@Ms t4<Geee {. asa=-
As we might have expected The news in
egard to the fires in the MusselshelI and
Judith countries is very much modified from
THAT it wasea week since. We have con-
.ersed with q number Of persons from these
alleys, all Of whom agree that the stories
ave been greatly multiplied, yet there have
zen a number Of area and the range in
sections have been seriously damaged,
ia one or two instances hay has been
lurned. There has been nofire Oh the Mus
elshell that we can learn of, although there
vas quite q burn on Swimming Woman.
ana Judith fires were also quite seIia,1s. but