The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-07-26

~ - oJl4 AS1HJ SlitAii ! a.
as much as a Benton and Helena rail-.
roa1, it could offer much cheaper rates
for freight and passengers, and yet pay
dividends upon the Investment.
tt is easy enough TO make assertions,
as above, but to substantiate them is 4
different thing. The RIVER Press and
the citizens OF Benton would be hank
ful to the editor Of our capital contem-
porary If he would only explain how a
railroad from Benton to the falls would
| pay dividends OH the investment. We
take it that with the Northern Pacific
at Helena's doors very little freight
would be shipped by way or the river,
and even during the season Of nayiga-
ton there would be very little to do for
the railroad from Benton to the falls;
but once navigation closes, the occupa-
ton Of the road would be absolutely
gone. For at least seven months Of the
year it would be a dead expense to oper-
ate it, as anybody who understands the
situation must well know, and it the
Independent expects to convince any
OOdf l10t idlllOduiIS O1l III plI1ASIpi1
will pay dividends or the investment"
it must seek out some susceptible In
dams and preach to them. The railroad
from Benton to Helena. however, can
b eoperated the year round, and there are
good reasons for believing it would be a
paying investment. But our contem-
porary clinches its argument in the fol
lowing closing paragraph:
The railroad from Benton around the
falls, used in connection with the upper
river, would accommodate q much
wider scope Of country than a Helena
and Benton railroad. The latter would
only run through Lewis and Clark.
The former would reach out for the
trade Of Meagher, Jefferson, Gallatin,
| Madison, Beaverhead and Silver Bow,
all lying contiguous to the upper Mis-
| souri, and its tributaries. The upper
Missouri is undoubtedly nayigable for
small packets for q distance OF more
than 800 miles, and in the near future is
destined to become n Of the grandest
arteries OF commerce in Montana. That
Benton should hesitate to link herself
to such a highway through the moun
tains, draining as it does some of the
fairest portions Of Montana, is some
what astonishing in view Of the fact
tnat she looks to the river as her chief
iiopo .o'o'e 'oiniiiei''ai ii'poi a'ee
why not nave included Wyoming
iuano towns Ill the category OF those
that you'd SHIP by the missouri after
a railroad is built around the falls and
Commodore Waters line Of boats OH
the upper river: With railroads passing
through the heart OF Gallatln, Jefferson,
Beaverhead and Silver 0 counties,
giving them direct and quick
cation with the east, 1t Is the mos m
probable thing III the world to suppose
shipments for these counties would be
sent a thousand miles around by way OF
the upper river.
The river as far as Benton isa natural
artery OF commerce, with no obstacles to
prevent boats from landing at u levee
from st. Louis Or any point below, and
under such circumstances it will always
be Q cheaper means Of transportation
than railroads; but when it becomes
necessary to construct and maintain
railroads around the falls or other OBJ
structions. this advantage to a great
extent IS lost. This is more particularly
true where the shipments are light and
the navigation season short-and all OF
these adverse conditions would obtaln1n