The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-06-21
A Stage Line TO Coulaon.

~ 1tHEH kat 70 SCuiHCG.
In d few weeks the Northern Pacific
railroad will be completed to Coulson,
or Billings, these towns being virtually
one, thus putting Benton in connection
by stage with that road. AS the lines are
al present operated, however, the dis
lance is 20 great that no particular ad-
vantage will result to Benton. Steps
should at once be taken to effect q
change. A line from Benton to Couleon
by the most direct route possible ought
to be established. The route would be
from this place to the Judith by way of
Arrow creek hill, thence to the Gap and
on direct to the railroad. At present
the route is by way OF Barker to the
Gap, then to Martinsdale and from this
point to Coulson. By the first route
| mentioned the distance is shortened
| probably one hundred miles, cutting
, down the distance from Benton to Coul-
son to 20 miles and some say to Us
| miles.
There is now established o mail route
from Benton to the Gap and on to Mar
tinsdale; also one from the latter place
to Coulson, the service in the latter case
being but weekly. To effect the de
sired purposes the following changes
| should be made: a. Establish daily
service instead Of tri-weekly from Ben
ton to TIBET and Okla, ut the Gap. e.
Change the route from Coulson TO Mar
tinsdale SO as to run from Coulson to the
Gap, and chang the service from week
ly to daily. These few changes would
bring about the results desired and until
the Benton branch o. the Northern Pa
ciic is completed would insure one Of
the most important stage lines in Mon
tana.
With a daily stage line from Benton
to CouIson the eastern mail for Northern
Montana would come that way and q
saving of from two TO three days time
would be effected. The travel to and
from the states would also be by this
route, SO much nearer and cheaper than
bv way OF Helena and the Union Pa
cific, thus assuring q large mail, passen-
ger and express business, while at the
same time it would prove an inestima-
BILE benefit to the people OF northern and
eastern Montana.
The Northern Pacific people are a.
much interested in this project s. any
one else. Unless the stage line is put
' ~ ~~>,--I, pc Srl;oafoI fhor lncc on i'm
portant "feeder,n and much travel that
should naturally go that way will seek
other inlets and outlets to the territory.
That this direct line will be established
in time we do not doubt for a moment,
but there should be no postponement,
AS soon as the railroad Is completed to
Billings the stage line direct from that
point to the metropolis of Northern
Montana should be in operation, n i
the proper efforts are put forth this re-
: suit can be attained. It will depend
chiefly upon the mail contractors and
railroad authorities to effect this desired
end, and it is fully time something Were
done in the premises.
A Il1C l1ldll CoAAIA ~ /CAASO -
9 Martinsdale and Martinsdale to Coulso1
: have expressed a purpose of working II
conjunction and taking the "shortes
CUT from Benton to Coulson, but it vii
first be necessary to secure increased
j, service and the sanction of the depart
ment. This cannot be done in a day
! and we would like to see somebody tax
; ing an interest in the matter. !
! proper representations are made to tn
department the arrangement, so import
ant to this section OF country, could cas-
; ily we believe, be effected. Within si1
= weeks the trains will reach Billings ant
! in that time the change of stage r...lte
ought to be made.
The Last Day.