The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-07-13
THE UPPER MISSOURI.
a Movement te Place sSoaas Upoaa ii
with "a Railroad Portage ATossa6
tHae Falls.


q gentleman Of ample means, has beer
greatly interested il the navigation OF til
upper Missouri river, above che falls Som
ten days since he started with a crew o
three men from Gallatin City, III a boat, II
examine the river from that point to thE
falls. EJe first provided himself with til,
reports and charts Of Roberts, Maguirs
and Stevenson, as well as the report O
Col Voolfolk to the Helena Board 0
Trade, and guided by these has been max
ing a very thorough and practical examn-
alton Of the river.
Mr.. Waters reached Stubs Ferry last
Thursday and came to Helena to make
some arrangements by mail to have his
boat transported around the falls. The
Independent received pleasant call from
him and he announced himself as greatly
pleased with the river between Gallatin
City and Stubs Ferry. In his opinion,
it only requires the expenditure Of o few
thousand dollars to make it nayigable for
small packets the greater part Of every
season. While in Helena he caused tele-
grams to be sent to Hon. Martin ALaginnis,
by influential parties in the city, strongly
urging upon him to secure al appropria-
ton Of $25, 900 for the Improvement Of the
upper river. Mr.. Waters is prepared TO
| put two boats upon the river at once, if
any reasonable assurance can be had that
| this improvement will be made, and other
arrangements consummated in reference
to the building Of railroad around the
falls. Already some twenty thousand dol
lars has been expended by the Govern
ment in improving the river between
Stubs Ferry and the falls, and Major
Maginnis has repeatedly assured us that
this appropriation would be expended an
nually upon the upper river, if only a
boat was placed upon it.
Mr.. Waters proceeded OH down the river
Friday, and expects to go as fara Benton
by river, He will probably reach Helena
on his return by Saturday next.
Mr.. Waters, we understand, proposes to
obligate himself to expend forty thousand
dollars in the construction Of two splendid
packets for the upper river, provided q
company can be organized to build
A RAILROAD AROUND THE FALLS.
Roberts estimated that such a railroad
would not exceed twenty miles in length.
At cost Of $4,000 per mile, which is q
liberal estfrnate2th entire.expeIs of con-
struction would not expend $780, 900. If
cur friends III Benton, however, desire to
remain the head Of navigation on the low.
er river, they will doubtless contribute
liberally to the extension Of this road from
the mouth OF Sun river to Benton, instead
of having it terminate below the falls.
This would make Il road a little over forty
miles in length. It would run through
section that will soon he crowded with
population and would be paying road at
all seasons of the year, drawing to it the
Sun river trade and that also Of Il large
portion Of Meagher county.
But Helena also would reap a grand har-
vest from such an enterprise. Goods have
been laid down at Benton this season from
st. Louis at $l.40 per hundred. There is
no doubt but that with such road COM
pleted, Helena merchants would receive
their freight from Benton at 10 cents per
hundred, or from 80 to $500 per hum
dred from st. Louis or Chicago. II a small
railroad is built between Helena and
Stubbs' Ferry, as would soon be the case
after the enterprise had started, cars load
ed at Renton would run to Sun river and
there placed upon packets and barges and
transported to Stubbs' Ferry, from whence
they would be drawn TO Helena without
breaking bulk.
This enterprise will greatly add to the
commercial Importance as well as the at
fractions Of this city.
ALL TOURISTS
to the National Park or other portions of
Montana during the summer and fall sea-
son would visit Helena, and return to the
States via the upper Missouri and Benton.
The scenery on the upper river is conced-
ed by those who have seen it, to be mar
velously grand and beautiful-tIe finest
river scenery in the world. An hours
ride by rail and boat, would transport
pleasure parties. from this city at a slight
cost to points on the river beWildering
from their very magnifioence, and where
they would have the finest fishing in Mon
tana. Parties leaving Helena after break
fast, could return to supper, after spend
ing glorious day. No one then could say
there was no place to go for enjoyment in
Helena. Our city would then have all the
commercial and other advantages of river
metropolis, while we would be just far
enough away to avoid the mosquitoes and
gnats, that make sort Of pandemonium
ont of our river towns during the summer
months.
Such an enterprise, SO full Of promise,
SO easy Of accomplishment, SO teeming
with pleasure and profit, should not fail for
lack of a cordial support. 1t will be one
Of the grandest and best paying enter
prises in Montana. A fortune awaits the
company that successfully inaugurates it
and we trust that all enterprising citizens
in Lewis and Clarke, and Choteau coun-
ties will put their shoulders to the wheel
and push it through at once.--Helena IN
dependent.