The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-08-16
THE LOCATION OF THE N. P.
RAILROAD.
why 1t should be Built Through n
Pipestone Pass.
There Is More Business ON the kOnte- IL
Is Practically Free from SNOW
1t Can be Run at Less Ex.
pepse and Will Not Cost
SO Much 10 Construct
Facts and fig
ures Given.

Our Helena contemporaries in discussing
| the merits of the Mullan Pass route for the
Northern Pacific railroad have drawn more
largely upon their imagination than upon
stern facts and cold figures. While they may
be pardoned for il dulgiDg in pure specula-
ton or in flights Of fancy in presenting the
supposed advantages of their pet route il does
not follow that those who have the interests
of a great corporation in trust will be con-
doned if they fail to look in another direction
! where those interests would be better SUBJ
served. We do not fear a rigid examination
of the comparative value OF the two routes,
for, as we understand it, the choice lies be-
tween the one by the way of the Little Pipe
stone Pass and Butte, aud the other by the
way of Helena and the Mullan Pass, but On
the contrary we court a full investigation of
the advantages which the one may possess
over the other in point of economy in build
ing and operating the road and in the matter
OF business which may accrue to it. We re-
peat it, we challenge a comparison in these
respects, for we believe when due attention
shall be given to these considerations the line
via Butte will be unhesitating,y adopted.
Let us for a moment glance at the two routes.
First, in the point of business to be secured
should the road pass by this city we have this
to say. Four or i've years ago Butte was a
mining camp of less than five hundred peo-
pie. To-day there are between 1000 and
1000 souls in its vicinity who are busily and
proti,ably employed. Over forty mines are
now being probably worked and nearly two
hundred stamps engaged i'll crushing ores
besides several ala>tras and seven furnaces
running night and day. II must be borne III
mind that this is being done nor. when tie
camp is only in its infancy, and when no'
one. fifth of its known mines are being worked.
What it will he able to do when all OF them
shall be worked we must leave TO the future
to tell. Probably no estimate could well be
made that would not tall iar short OF the
output of ores and bullion from the mines in
this vicinity ten years hence.
Helena, Oh the other hand, though a
thriving town, has grown out little during the
past five years. It's voting population has va
ried but little during that time. Though it
h'-'
is claimed there are l@l stamps III operation
in its vicinity, there are really less than 20
engaged the year round in crushing ores.
With the exception of Two or three mines
their product is turned into gold bars and a
two horse jerkey could easily carry away the
semi annual proceeds of nearly all their
mills. Here at Butte the product of the
..l 49,. L,Jy;n, ,,l ,attn
thus atfOrding a profitable eastern traffic to
any railroad that may reach them. Another
point must also he observed. The little Pipe
stone Pass Route, with the exception of the
2G miles in crossing the mountains t~raveists
wide and fertile valleys, while the Null IN
Pass route, with the exception OF a small
acreage near Helena, has but lhtle fertile
land on its route.
To secure the business Of Butte and that
Of the great tracts of agricultural lands in the
jefferson, Boulder, Pipcstone and Upper -eel
Lodge Valleys, it will be necessary to cross
the main range of the mountains over the
Pipestone Pass. When that is done the work
west of Butte down the Deer Lodge valley
Is VI IllC lIShtSot III AN man HIN
built this way, the bushes OF Helena may
be reachedlby a feasible branch Town the
Missouri river, and the construction Of a tun
mel with its heavy approaches may then bt
left to the distant futule. Agar
the route via. the Pipestone Pass IS nctet
for its freedom from snow treighting wtl
wagons being carried on through the pass al
winter. This is an advantage which til,
Pipestone Pass las over the Muilan Pass tia
should moi be overlooked. 1t is practically
route free from snow, while the Helena rout'
-, is proverbially a deep SNOW one. From tr
Three Forks to the Eastern slope Of tn
mountains the line Iuns for forty miles in tn
/ Jefferson valley where the SNOW in the sever
/ est winters, seldom exceeds a few inches !!
depth. West of the mountains the line vii
be on the wide open valley Of the Dee
. Lodge where the railroad would be laid o
entertainments, thus ensuriug freedom ofrol
snow.
i Mullan's Pass is noted for its deep SHOWS
Freightine across the mountains in the winle
! is never attempted. In fact it is with diff
Guilty the mails are carried through fror
Helena to Deer Lodge. it would he but Ii,
tie better from the Three Forks to Helena
y The lorte from the former place instead
! following the bottom lands of the Nilsson
-, runs for sevenly-tive miles across the hig
bench lands where heavy undulatina grad,
and many cuts will he encountered. Thes
will necessarily fill with snow in the winte
There will be then over 100 miles whel
snow blockades are liable to occur, While I'll
Butte route for its entire length will be pra
tically free from snow which is so troubl,
4. some and expensive 10 the operation of ra