The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-11-25
WHY SHOULD WEI

THE NEW NORTHWEST noted last week
certain events that had transpired In relation
to railroad construction, and from them drew
the conclusion that the main line OF the
Northeru Pacific Railroad, which has been
for some months generally conceded - To-
Gated via Mullan Pass and Helena, would be
instead located through the Deer Lodge val
ley and probably through the Deer Lodge
Pass. The fact asserted was that the North
ern Pacific Railroad Co, which has no char
ter TO construct branch roads, had nearly ten
wears since filed Its location on this line, had
never withdrawn IL, and had Just recently lie
contract to build the grade on 40 or oo
miles of said line. As cumulative evidence
the anxiety of the officers for expedition OF
construction and the greater celebrity that the
Deer Lodge Pass offered over the Mullan
Pass were cited. From these the deduction
was drawn. We might have offered other
reasons for suggesting that the main line,
instead Of being built via Helena, would be
built via Deer Lodge, but those given were
deemed sufficient. II Is within the province
OF newspaper TO furnish news. IL Is not
essential that 1t should when furnishing the
same enter into details Of the collation.. If
lbs news is news, and proves reliable, Is the
important matter with Its readers. We have
.no qualification TO make on the railroad
notes of last week.
But the Helena Herald, In avein Of lugu-
prious humor, q sad, satiricai, CHASTITY man.
ner, that appeal to ones sympathies, affects
10 doubt the correctness of our conclusion,
to intimate that In this case the wish Is
father to thought, and to assume In shad-
owy kind Of way that newspaper preferences
somehow effect the location Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad. We had thought the loca-
tion OF the read would be determined by the
engineering advantages or disadvantages, the
length, grades, curvitures, and cos. Of con-
structisn and operation, and The business
tributary, subject TO the conditions of its
charter. IL 1t Is . fact that newspaper
preferences have influence We beg to be put
on the record Ms In favor OF the Mullan
route.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company
has remarkable charter. As an eminent
attorney remarked n few days since, at Is
very ingenio.sly drawn" 1t was drafted
for the railroad company by eminen. lawyers.
Any privilege 10 wished which, plainly ex-
pressed, might imperil Its passage was pro-
vided for with sufficient ambiguity for the
company TO have q legal status with the odds
a.. Ia en,.r .rI aid. fwox. th>.~ IL ~r.~ -
ceptionally endowed. Its land grant ID dou-
ble In amount that granted any other road,
and failure 10 complete the road does not
forfeit II. IL has q guaranteed right OF way
400 feet wide In the Territories, and It's It
torneys claim the title TO this dates from
1864, ante-dating nearly all individual land
rights. Ifthis position Ia sustained Ii could
not be made To pay damages for right OF
way. Again, by its charter the right Of way
"a exempt from taxation, and this 10 held to |
include its roadbed and track. Therefore,
the main line may demand large area OF |
our best valley lands without compensation,
and refuse to pay taxes; whereas branch
road would have to purchase right OF way
and be subject Of taxation. Beside this, q
transcontinental road runs its trains with
reference TO through travel and traffic, while
. short read ID operated for the convenience
Of local trade. The simple fact Of being on
The main line does not, as We sea ID, COM
pensate the disadvantages arising there
from, and 20 far - this town and valley are
concerned, Helena b perfectly welcome 70
hat npon which, from tho testy sensitivsness
" ths Herald. its future depends. The
main line will, however, be bsliit through
Deer Lodge valley, tho NEW NonrH-WEsr
y th4 contrary notwithstanding. Fl