The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-09-27
-IINEEF" .-1FTGW-|N TFIVI :
BUTTE AND THE RAILROAD.
Isn't tho Northern Town Making a
Mistake 2
u SILVER Bow, Montana, Sept. IL, 1881.

and Northern Railway, more especially as
your Salt Lake affords an element very es.
sential to the successful development of tn
vast mineral resources of this portion of
Montana-to-wit Salt, which is shipped in
large quantities over this road, yielding its
owners quite a handsome revenue no doubt,
willie at the same time all outlet is furnished
for an article furnished by nature to an Al
most unlimited amount.
Such being the facts assumed, l wish to
place before the certain facts necessary to
be known in order to undeceive persons un-
informed as to these facts, and who are liza
bic to be misled into a hasty and unjust crit
icism Of the policy of the Utah and Northern
Railway company in regard to the effort to
construct a line to Butte City, where large
mining interests are centred. 1 am in no
sense interested in the operations of the rail,
road company, nor in the aforesaid mining
interests, and am therefore in such a posi-
ton of impartiality as to enable ME to speak
without bias.
There seems to b. a disposition on the
part of some Of the people of Butte. including
a portion of the press, to prevent the compile
ton Of the road to that place, and at the
same time to cast the blame of such defeat
upon the railroad company. This is unjust
to that corporation, and | AN satisfied, that
did the people understand the facts, no blame
would attach to the company and it is part
ly for the purpose of explaining these facts
that thi letter is written.
The law Of Congress which chartered the
Utah and Northern Railway company and
gave it authority to construc, a railroad
through Idaho and into Montana, authorized
and required said company to make a con-
nection with the Northern Pacific railroad in
Montana. and this connection, | think, is re-
quired to be made next year. This com
pany, in pursuance of Its contract, has been
progressing gradually with its work, and now
has laid its iron to a point, say some sixteen
miles from Butte. AS a large amount of
business, growing out of the mining and
other interests Of Butte, was carried on over
the line of their road, the officers were very
naturally anxious to lay the track to that
place, but unfortunately that town is not sit.
uAted upon a natural route to connec with
likely to construct its line. In consequence
OF this the Utah and Northern Company,
which has authority under the laws Of Jon
gIess to locate and construct its road, and if
necessary to condemn private property over
which it may be necessary for it to pass,
could not construct an independent line into
Butte it could not condemn private proper
ty, nor did it have the right of way over
United States lands.
Under these circumstances, being as | have
said, anxious to build a line into Butte, a
number of gentlemen, some of whom were
interested in the original line, have lately in
corpcrated a company under the laws Of
Montana, whose design, among ether things,
is to build a road from some point on the
Utah and Northern road into Butte. The
incorporators OF this company, which is
known as the Utah and Northern Railway
Company Of Montana, have taken steps for a
thorough organization, which will no doubt
be completed ere long but as it Is not com-
plete the new company has as yet no power
to condemn property for its right of way, nor
can it DO so until the company has been fully
organized by the election of directors, etc.
Now, as the road in the direction of this
place (Silver Bow was nearing completion,
and as a portion of the citizens of Butte
were anxious to have a line run into that
town, an effort was made to obtain by pur-
chase, Il right of way over certain placer mill
ing ground between this place and Butte.
This effort has, thus far, proved absrtive
through the Intervention, probably, of per-
SONS hostile to the railroad. as well, perhaps,
as the erroneous impressions of certain land
owners who expect to realize large sums of
money from the company for the privilege Of
worthless claims.
The result Of all these complications is
that the railroad company. although, as l
have said, anxious to build into Butte, are
estoppei from doing so at present, and have
therefore, as understand, decided to make
their winter terminus on Silver Bow Creek.
some seven or eight miles west of Butte.
The proprietors of suitable grounds have
arranged to lay off a town at this point, and
l presume the stakes will be driven within n
very few days, and soon after lots will be
offered for sale by the proprietors, Messrs.
Gassett and Dutton.
The situation selected seems to be suitable
for the purpose, and he line of road is 80
located that should the people of Butte make
into their town the company will be pre-
pared to accommodate them, and at the same
time the main line can, and no doubt will, be
speedily extended down Silver Bow, and